SPIN TO WIN: UNIQUE TALENTS TAKE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Thousands Of Dollars Are On The Line In The Sign Spinning Championships In Las Vegas

As everything else is slowing down for the holidays –people are visiting with friends and family, and eating a few extra desserts – a unique group of athletes is preparing for their annual world championship, where they will use complex dance routines, gymnastics, and a variety of signature moves designed to fascinate and command the attention of passersby. In January, more than 100 professional sign spinners, who have previously qualified from a group of over 2,000, will compete at the World Sign Spinning Championship at the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas. It’s an intense three-day tournament to find out who is the best sign spinner in the world.

With more than 25 individual markets throughout the country represented, plus several international markets in Germany, Korea, Australia, Mexico, Panama, and Peru, there is no telling what spectators will see: backflips, costumes, elaborate choreographed dance routines, and sometimes even magic tricks.

Throughout the year, the employees of AArrow Sign Spinners are logging in thousands of practices, performing moves they learn through group clinics and videos they share on an app that they all use to clock in/out of work, track their pay, and sign up for shifts. They even have their own secret Facebook groups where they often have spinner battles, like a deleted scene in one of the “Bring it On” movies.

The event itself is a celebration for everyone, but a few performers will be highlighted on the final stage in Vegas where they can win thousands of dollars in prize money and some other rewards that come with being the best in the world.

Former champions have earned the opportunity to appear in national commercial campaigns, on television shows, and even in a few movies.

Notable spinners this year include Davis Davis, general manager for AArrow in California; Evan Vaughan, formerly a Portland spinner now located in Tennessee; four-time champion Kadeem Johnson, spinning out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; former champion Jacob Mitchell from Denver; Tyler Cartwright from Atlanta; and Alex Kleible, who is traveling from Germany.

Spinners from Portland and Seattle markets that may be competing include TJ Sims, Chance Jordan, and Tylor Gwin.

All competitors mentioned have either won the competition outright or placed in the top ten spaces consistently over the last five years competing in the World Sign Spinning Championship.

Look for more amazing moves as this competition and art form continues to evolve.