Happy Tuesday everyone!
Today we have @Slestak75 aka Steve!!! A regular on the forum, and one of the nicest people to boot - it was great to learn more about you buddy!!
Enjoy!!
What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?
I saw a Duncan Wheels when I was 8ish and thought it was so cool. I had no idea what a yo-yo was at all, I just thought it looked cool (I really liked Hot Wheels).
So that got all knotted up and disappeared but around age 10 my dad got me and my brother each a Glow Imperial and I threw that around here and there until I graduated High School. After having kids I tried again for a short while (late 90s early 2000s)with a Fireball and a Stinger. I lost track of them until a tad more than 2 years ago. I found my Stinger and that sent me down the rabbit hole. I found this forum and here I am.
What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!
Well… I’m in a place in life I never imagined being. A cardiac arrest in 2016 caused some damage to my brain and that has just slowly worsened over the years. It’s put me in a place where I can not work. So my goal is to do my best to be at least a little helpful and try to find some enjoyment every day. And of course yo-yo every day.
If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?
It would have to be my half SPEC modded Deep State. That thing makes me smile every time I throw it.
What trick are you working on currently?
I’ve been trying to get consistent with Super Charger and Spirit Bomb
What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?
I don’t know a lot of tricks but for now it’s that darned Beef Hook. Anybody that would associate themselves with that trick is… oh… sorry Beef Hook Queen.
What’s your favorite trick?
Like I said, I don’t know many but at present I’m pretty fond of Matrix.
What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?
I have thrown fewer than 50 yo-yos im sure of it, so I don’t have a lot to go on but I pick up that modded Deep State several times a day every day so… also Yoshicuda X for unresponsive.
What’s the most meaningful throw you have?
That would be this beautiful Metal Harbinger that was gifted to me by BobParty.
What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?
All of my habits are only good all of the time. Remember that.
What kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?
Yo-yos actually brought me back from a place where I was enjoying very little. I always loved outdoorsy things… hiking, fishing, shooting, hunting. These days I enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife and best friend of nearly 30 years.
What song best fits your personality?
4:32Queen - I’m Going Slightly Mad (Official Video)Queen Official
And there’s even a yo-yo in this video.
Favorite restaurant and order?
I’ve never met a restaurant that I liked better than my kitchen at home. My favorite dish is my scratch made chicken and dumplings. I even make the dumplings from scratch.
Favorite movie and or Book?
Movie: Better Off Dead
Book: The Bible
What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?
It means quite a bit. The yo-yo itself has been a healing for me and has also lead me to this fine community filled with amazing people.
What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby?
I’ve not been in it for too long but by far everything and everyone to do with the Boomers Club has been the most memorable.
What’s your best advice for people to get better at yo-yoing?
I mean… practice is the only way to get better at anything. Just be aware that you may not advance as fast as others, or maybe you advance faster. Don’t make it about that, keep it fun, and loose, and enjoy it.
How has the community changed since you started?
Well as stated… I haven’t been here too long. Just got my second cake a little while ago. But as mentioned in a previous profile, I’ve seen the community break through some of our differences and embrace and encourage one another more and more.
Where do you want it to go?
I’d love to see this trend continue.
What are you most proud of from your time in the hobby?
I feel like I have tried my best to be a positive influence on others. I’ve tried hard to encourage patience and better understanding of others. I’m really proud of our little Boomers Club, our oldest member is 78 and we have many teens in the club as well, along with every part of the spectrum in between, and we all just get along. I feel like we would all be super stoked to meet in person… and I’d call that friendship.
What’s your most controversial yo-yo take?
I honestly don’t know how to answer this.
If you never picked up a yo-yo - what would things look like now?
Very, very honestly… bleak
Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?
Always be yourself. Most of us are outliers on some level so that often makes people want to change or compromise in order to fit in. Don’t do that, if people don’t like who you are then find other people. Those who like you because you are different are the best kinds of friends to have, but we are rare.
Whats you want to tell the world?
Ease up would ya???