Johnnie Delvalle
From YoYo Wiki
Johnnie Delvalle (often abbreviated to JD) is a world champion yo-yo player whose real name is John Steel. Delvalle is often characterized by wearing sleeveless black shirts. Before moving to become a part of Team YoYoJam, Delvalle was a member of Team Spintastics.
In 2002-2004 Delvalle set new 1A play standards, popularizing a style of knot-like complexity, as well as creating grinds, stalls, and freegens (Free Generation, also a term used to define 5A/Freehand Mid-Air Spin Regenerations). These tricks and styles were popularized in freestyles and clip videos made by Johnnie such as Remnant, Grindslave, Hitman: The Final Chapter, and X: The Movie.
He also designed a number of YoYoJam Signature Series yo-yos: the YoYoJam Hitman, the YoYoJam Lyn Fury, the YoYoJam X-Con and the YoYoJam X-ConVict.
Johnnie retired from competition in 2003 after winning BAC, US Nationals and the 2003 World Yo-Yo Contest.However, at the 2007 Johnnie competed in 1A at BAC and got 4th place. He is still very active in the scene, appearing as a judge and demonstrator at a variety of contests.
For a brief period in 2004-2005 Delvalle operated an online yo-yo store called Yo-yo Best Buy where customers had the option of getting the yo-yo they purchased 'pimped' (shims added and the bearing cleaned) by Johnnie himself.
Johnnie also has used a couple of pseudonyms in the past, including Lionel Drake, first used in the video Lion-Flo. In 2006 Johnnie returned as Lionel at the Redondo Pier Contest, taking 1st place in the 1A division.
Johnnie was a judge at US Massachusetts State Contest in 2005 and 2006. He was scheduled to attend the 2007 contest, as a judge, but apparently his plane was delayed, and he was unable to make it.
 Bay Area Classic 2007. Photo by Turbolover |
Contents |
[edit] Achievements
[edit] 2001
- California State - 1st Place
[edit] 2002
- Bay Area Classic - 1st Place
- California State - 1st Place
- US Nationals - 4th Place
[edit] 2003
- Bay Area Classic - 1st Place
- US Nationals - 1A - 1st place
- World Yo-Yo Contest - 1A - 1st place
- Trick innovator of the year award
