Daily Inspiration: Meet Connor Scholten

Today we’d like to introduce you to Connor Scholten

Hi Connor, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
At 7 years old once upon a saturday morning I would grab the channel changer and turn the TV on and see coverage of the National Yo-Yo Championships, 20 years later I would win that same event.

I am Connor Scholten or moreover referred to as “that yoyo guy”, I would soon after being inspired by what I saw that I would ask my mother to get me the yoyo and trick book from the Scholastic Book Order from school. From there I would play with it put it back down but fate would have it to have a local yoyo contest nearby and by happenstance meet a yoyo demonstrator and with those experiences I would become committed to playing with the toy ever since, I have been yoyoing for 28 years now.

As a Holland native, I began my yoyo competition career at the Michigan State YoYo Contest in 2004 and my performing career during Holland’s first annual Street Performer Series in 2005. I would compete and work as a freelance performer to pay for schooling and after my degree I worked full time in the yo-yo industry designing yo-yos, coaching the top players in the world, and teaching the modern art of yo-yo play to hundreds of thousands of people online (YoYoTricks.com) along with running a local yoyo club before the Pandemic. I competed in many competitions around the country winning multiple awards, including the first annual Grand Rapids Got Talent in 2013 and the 2017 and 2018 National Yo-Yo Contest.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, amongst the National Champions from first playing with a yoyo to winning my first title took 20 years, a typical incubation period for a new champion is around 7-12 years yoyoing. I would place 2nd place at Nationals 3 years in a row before finally winning. Including in 2014 where I tried while in between emergency room visits. (Excerpt of full story in The People of YoYo book Mr. YoYoThrower 2020)

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Excerpt from my yoyowiki page

Connor Scholten is a two-time U.S. National 2A Champion. He started yo-yoing in 1997 and has been an active competitor ever since 2004.

In addition to being a national champion and placing fifth in two separate divisions of the World Yo-Yo Contest, he also teaches people how to yo-yo, mentors yo-yo players for competition, is experienced as a club organizer as well as a yo-yo performer in Michigan, and is an IYYF judge.

Although his favorite recognized styles of yo-yoing are 2A and 4A, he is competent in all five of them, and would regularly compete in contests in all the divisions at once (Called Iron Man-ing a contest).

Connor was first sponsored by Infinite Illusions/YoYoGuy.com from 2009 to 2012. His interest in teaching people how to yo-yo then led him to employment at YoTricks from 2012 to 2016. Of which many videos would star him including their advanced 1A tricks, as well as 2A and 4A tutorials. Connor announced his plans to retire from competition yoyoing in 2023.

Most proud of the skillset I accumulated over the years spanning all 5 competition styles of yoyo play. This skill set also allowed me to be ranked #1 on the leaderboard of 26,000 of the European based Skill Toy crowdsource app Skill Addicts.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I am a mentor myself, it is mainly about always showing up and persistence until an opportunity presents itself to you.

Pricing:

• Math/Yo-Yo Tutoring and mentorship (30/hr)
• Freelance Yo-Yo Performing (negotiate based on event)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yoyo.fandom.com/wiki/Connor_Scholten
• Instagram: @TricksYouForgot44
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connorjscholten/
• Youtube: @ConnorJScholten
• Other: https://YoYoTricks.com