In November 2011, Kendama USA hosted the first ever Dama Fest. Kendama enthusiasts from all over the country, and even Europe came to Atlanta GA for this amazing event. Huge thanks to everybody who showed up and helped support it. This includes the Kengarden, Ozora, Sweets, Deal with It, SourMash, Saga, and of course Kendama USA and Tribute Kendamas. Congratulations to all the winners, and our first champion Sebastian Orrego. Hope to see you there next year.
Congrats to everybody who made it into Round 2. The judging was very difficult as the entries get better and better every year. A big thanks and shout out to everybody who participated.
So lets get Round 2 started!! We feel that a Pro should be able to represent Kendama on a variety of levels, and we want to see how YOU would choose to present Kendama to the world in a single edit.
We’ll be judging on a big mix of things. Overall skill level, technical ability, creativity, flow, steez, production value, spot selection, humor, personality, attitude, and originality. Round 1 entries will also be taken into consideration.
The title of this edit should be: This is Kendama. *YourName* Kendama USA Pro Contest Round 2
Edits should be no longer than 3:00
All edits must be submitted by Monday, December 19th at 11:59pm EST.
Just like in Round 1, email your link to contest@kendamausa.com before the deadline.
We can’t wait to see the entries. Have fun making your edits, and prove to us why you’re going to be the next Kendama USA Pro.
Congratulations to all the Round 1 Winners!!! During the Dama Fest weekend, the Pro Team spent hours going over all the edits, and talking about who will move on. It was really tough this year, with so many exceptional entries. Prize packages are going out to all our winners next week, as well as some of the other entries that didn’t make the cut, but still stood out to us. Huge thanks to everybody who took the time to make an entry. We hope you had as much fun making them, as we did watching them.
The Round 2 details will be announced very soon! Stay tuned.
Round 1 Winners
Keith Matsumura Tj Kolesnik Daniel Robinson Gus Carstens Alex Smith Danny Mason Gerard Gotgotao Alex Ramos Dave Mateo Thomas Holzer Jimmy Jacobson Julian Down Daniela von Rohr Damien Klaven
In case you missed the LIVE streaming announcement from Jake at the Kengarden, the ladders for Dama Fest are posted here.
Beginner
Candle stick
Around the block
Pull up spike
Sara grip orbit
Big cup to spike
Airplane
Intermediate
Sara grip around the universe
Base cup Ken flip back to bottom cup then to spike
Swing spike earth sara grip
Under bird to spike
Lighthouse to in to swoop
Airplane jumping stick
Advanced ladders
1. Around the USA Sara Grip
2. pull up tama grip, toss ball/switch grip to bottom cup, to spike
3. one turn light house to lunar to in
4. airplane, switch grip to base cup, switch back to tama grip to in.
5. 1 turn lighthouse, flip to lighthouse, to Ken grab to spike
6. Statue of liberty (pull up spike above your head hold in victory)
Matt, Jake, and Sourmash will be announcing the Dama Fest ladders live on Wednesday night. 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific. You can watch the announcements on the Kengarden Live channel HERE
There may be some new Dama Fest information announced, and some guest calls during the show as well, so stay tuned!!!
Ladders will be posted online after the show is over.
Jake at the Kengarden just uploaded this awesome edit of Mash getting prepped for the ATL trip. I’m sure it goes without saying but… don’t miss DamaFest!!!
Here is a black and white version of our poster that is easy to print out and photocopy. Help us blast these all over GA!!! If you have trouble downloading the image and want to print some out, email us at customersupport@kendamausa.com and we can send you an image file.
Thanks for the support, and see you at DAMA FEST!!!!
Click on this Flyer image to open the High Resolution image
It’s been great to check out so many great Pro Team Contest entries. It’s especially cool to get to know some of the personalities behind so much talent. There are still a few weeks before the contest deadline. Lots of great prizes and opportunities are up for grabs, and making Kendama edits is always a good time. Remember, in addition to the Pro Team spot, there are several spots up for grabs on the NEW Kendama USA team in 2012. We can’t wait to see YOUR edit!! Dama-on.
We can’t begin to tell you how excited we are about Dama Fest!!! This is the first Kendama event hosted by Kendama USA, and we are working hard to make it one to remember!!
WHERE? WHEN?
Dama Fest will be held inside the Gallery Room, at the Cobb Galleria Center, on Saturday November 19th, 2011. This is a great location north of Downtown Atlanta, and easily accessible from Canton, Woodstock, Alpharetta, and of course Atlanta. It’s at the intersection of I-75 and I-285, and the full address is 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339. It’s also next door to the Cumberland Mall, so your parents can do some holiday shopping while you’re getting your Dama on. The doors open at 10am, and close at 5pm. Don’t be late, as you won’t want to miss a moment.
ITS FREE!?!? NO WAY!!!
YES! We are so thankful for all the Kendama enthusiasm and support we’ve received, and this is our chance to give something back. There will be no charge to attend Dama Fest. Parking? Also FREE. You may not want to come empty handed though, because we will have lots of Kendama specials, sales, and some brand new Dama-goodness exclusively at this event. If you choose to enter the main event, there may be a small entry fee. We are still working out those details and will update ASAP.
WHAT TO EXPECT
FUN, FUN, and more FUN. The best Kendama players in the country will be attending, including the entire Kendama USA Pro Team. More players keep contacting us telling us they bought a plane ticket, or that they are road tripping to Atlanta. The list keeps growing! There will be Kendama challenges, games, and giveaways. Unbelievable raffle prizes. Great music. Custom Damas. Plenty more. Our main event will be a unique contest hosted by Jake Wiens of the Kengarden, and the infamous Dave Mateo.
SUPPORTERS
We are really thankful to those helping to make this event happen. Kendama is a great tool to bring together a community, and this event is no exception. Big thanks go to Jake Wiens at the Kengarden, the entire Ozora family, Tyler Marshall at the Kensession Stand, Ryan “OhSnapKid” Purcell, and of course the Kendama USA staff and Team.
If you’re interested in supporting the event, please contact us. If you have ideas about how to make this great event even better, we want to hear them!!!
REGISTRATION
Just show up! There is no registration required to attend Dama Fest, however it would be a huge help to us if you will RSVP on our Facebook Page if you plan to attend. You can RSVP on our Facebook page by clicking HERE. If you plan to enter the main event, you will need to register at the event, and we will have more details about this soon.
HOW TO GET THERE:
If Traveling Northbound on I-75 (or coming from Atlanta Airport):
If traveling north on I-75 take Exit 258/Cumberland Boulevard. Go west on Cumberland Boulevard to the fourth traffic light at Cobb Parkway/US 41. Turn right on Cobb Parkway and go 7/10ths of a mile (5 traffic lights) to Galleria Drive. Turn right onto Galleria Drive. The Cobb Galleria Centre’s main (rotunda) entrance is located immediately on the right. An additional parking facility is located directly across Galleria Drive.
If Traveling Southbound on I-75:
If traveling south on I-75 take Exit 258/Cumberland Boulevard. Go west on Cumberland Boulevard to the fourth traffic light at Cobb Parkway/US 41. Turn right on Cobb Parkway and go 7/10ths of a mile (5 traffic lights) to Galleria Drive. Turn right onto Galleria Drive. The Cobb Galleria Centre’s main (rotunda) entrance is located immediately on the right. An additional parking facility is located directly across Galleria Drive.
Directions from I-285 Eastbound:
If traveling east on I-285 take Exit 19/Cobb Parkway/US 41. At the end of the exit ramp turn right onto Cobb Parkway and move into the left-hand turning lane. At the first traffic light turn left onto Galleria Drive. The Cobb Galleria Centre’s main (rotunda) entrance is located immediately on the right. An additional parking facility is located directly across Galleria Drive.
Directions from I-285 Westbound:
If traveling west on I-285 take Exit 20/Cobb Parkway/US 41. Continue to exit using the lane marked Cobb Parkway. At the traffic light at the end of the exit ramp turn left onto Cobb Parkway and go under I-285. Make a left hand turn at the second traffic light onto Galleria Drive. The Cobb Galleria Centre’s main (rotunda) entrance is located immediately on the right. An additional parking facility is located directly across Galleria Drive.
Directions to the Gallery Room:
The Gallery Room is located adjacent to the Cobb Galleria Centre inside the Galleria Specialty Shops and across from Jocks and Jills restaurant. On Galleria Drive, pass the main entrance to Cobb Galleria Centre and turn right at the second driveway. Park in the parking deck and look for the sign for Jocks and Jills.
Parking
There are more than 2,000 complimentary parking spaces on site. Parking can be found at three main parking decks. A two-level and four-level deck can be accessed from the main (rotunda) entrance to Cobb Galleria Centre, while a five-level deck is located directly across Galleria Drive. This parking deck has an underground tunnel on the 2nd level with direct access to the front entrance of Cobb Galleria Centre. Use this tunnel in order to avoid traffic while crossing the street and also to protect yourself from inclement weather.
Thanks to everybody who entered the sticker pack challenge!! Congratulations to our 2 winners are Daniel Rhodes, and Adam Kingman. Each winner will be receiving a $50 voucher toward anything in our store, a Kendama USA Premiere or Pro Model of their choice, a custom engraved Kendama USA wooden plaque, and a Kendama USA Stencil.
The top 3 runner ups will be contacted via email and be receiving a $15 voucher toward anything in our store, and a Kendama USA Premiere or Pro Model of their choice.
In addition, EVERYBODY that entered the contest will be receiving a special discount code for their efforts.
The sticker pack will be available this holiday season in the Kendama USA shop!
Check out their designs below!
Designs by Daniel Rhodes
designs by Adam Kingman
Adam Kingman also submitted 2 other designs that will be shown in a project launching this December!
