Hey guys, Now I have some thoughts in my head & I want you guys to know what you think about it. Now I know there were "where is/are ?" thread here before but now I wanna do a collective thread that will umbrella the same question to a certain subject/topic.(mine will be focusing on companies that are considered "out of the radar" but not completely dead) So, i wanna touch bases & refresh our memories on "PNW DAMAS". Let's us discuss on how they did & try to get deeper on their abscence. Back 2016 where we get a glimpse on PNW as a team of former KenCo players lead/managed by John Akin & Kris Bosch. Couple months till it reaches 2017, we have recieved their first actual dama which is the "Kotodama" which have 2 iterations (Hickory/Padauk & Maple/Oak? i can't accurately remember if it was it sorry) which have done well & successfully pleases everyone that bought it. In between the 2 was the slate which was their affordable beech dama that share the same shape as the kotos & it was the same reception. Few months atlease before KWC, they have released their promods which for me one of the unique & sophiaticated damas of all time. The assembly of different woods done in one of the only few have done in the community & it has a good impression to most if not everybody. Few months after all of their releases, there was less to no activity about PNW. couple more month later & people have been playing other damas & no news of any new stuff. Recently from last year, i have asked kris bosch in FKC from a comment of how was PNW & when will they return. He politely reply & said that they are doing some stuff for the brand plus some other life priorities that kept them busy. He promised that they will deliver & do it again (btw this is how I recall it so pardon me if it gets inaccurate). With that a few old KenCo colleagues (like Troy Montegeudo) also looking forward to it... It's pretty much a year & PNW has been cold. No news, teasers, etc.. So, i wanna know, especially to the core fans & closes acquaintances to the PNW dama of how was your experience playing their damas & any news/facts about their abscence to somehow clear the air & re-ignite people's interest for the brand. (*sidenote: I have never tried nor own one & i myself wanna try some pnw dama sometime soon)
BUMP! If i may ask, where are the guys who first started Kendama USA? I watched their first video, and the only guy I recognize from there was Colin Sander. It's not like KROM where they had Philip and Thorkild (and another dude who I don't know), and at least most of them are still here to this day. I'm genuinely curious. Extends to the WKT members who aren't active anymore.
if the video you watched was a really old KUSA video like form 2008 or so i would bet that most of those guys are actually pro rollerbladers, who just happened to be friends with Jero because back in the day he was a blade photographer for a few magazines. Mattius (sorry not sure on spelling) also founded KROM with Philip and Thorkild i believe Recently i saw a instagram story from Matt Ballard featuring him, keith, nick and zac, and I've hung out with Zac a few times since he tends to come up to Vancouver to visit Alex and Kristin Also to add in to the discussion " wheres the parking lot Kendama Champion " if you know who i mean you get big time dama points
Bump! Anyone know what happened to Miya Song, Joris Schweppe, and Derek Astin? They used to be really active on the KUSA tribe team, but now they're quiet.
I've asked myself that for quite some time now as this was my first ever Pro Model Tama from sweets WHERE IS CHAZ EDWARDS AKA SHREDWARDSS?
Iirc, but i could be wrong, one of the episodes of Damanerds that Matt Sweets is a guest on (ep 2 or 3, can be found on YouTube) sheds some light on where Chaz is.
I wanna say that Derek left KUSA. Cant remember why but I’m fairly certain that he left. Not sure if he still just plays or not though.
Jeremy (Jero) started KUSA, and is still the one behind it today. He can shred some dama as well, but prefers to remain 'behind the lens' and let the company players take the spotlight (Jero was also a pro photographer before starting KUSA). He's quietly done more to spread and support kendama than probably anyone else, legit. Unsung hero status lol
I met Jero for a quick minute this (literal) last MKO and he seemed like a genuine good person. Wish there was more time to get to know the guy then
Shame that some Tribe Members just up and disappear like that, especially when they come in with a lot of hype with their announcement edit. Then again, it also makes room on the team for new members who act as arguably better advocates for the game.
Unfortunately that happens with everyone in any hobby. Doesnt necessarily mean that they stop playing altogether in some cases. I’ve seen at least one sponsored player pivot to other brands, some just quit posting on social media and still play. Some, of course, quit entirely (indefinitely or not) due to conflicting responsibilities, disillusions, and/or just finding a new hobby (we’ve seen many former dama players switch or try to switch to music producing). Ryan Walker formerly of Atlantic Kendamas doesnt really post much on social media anymore, if at all but he was just recently at KWC I believe. Derek Astin has posted a trick as previously as this month so he is still in the game. It’s just a bit unfair imo to call it a ‘shame’ when someone leaves a sponsorship or the game altogether if that’s what they feel is the right decision because maybe they arent getting anything out of it and arent feeling fulfilled anymore