Grante's Inferno

INTRODUCTION

Oh dear here we are yet again. Another atrocious pun on the front cover. Another collection of crazy tricks to surprise, frustrate and generally confuse. The sixth book in the trilogy: just what do I think I’m playing at?

No, I’m not in it for the money (you didn’t exactly see “Stick Grinds and Suicides” knicking Stephen King’s latest from the top of the bestsellers list, did you?) And before you ask, no I’m not trying to become the next Barbara Cartland either!

I keep doing these things because people keep showing me new stuff, pushing the envelope. I also come up with new stuff myself from time to time. It’s good to be able to share all of this with you.

New tricks breed new ideas and keep people thinking about the limitless potential of the diabolo as a prop. If these books help to “spread the world” even just a little, then they’re doing their job and I’m a happy man.

As you flip through this volume, you’ll see the sheer lunacy and heights of folly diabolo play has now reached. Long may it continue that’s what I say!

SUICIDAL TENDANCIES INTRO

It seems like no time at all since the basic suicide was regarded as a full-on hardcore trick. The very idea of letting go of a handstick was sheer folly. Nowadays, of course, with the whole new school of diabolo play, handsticks seem to fly through the air as often as the diabolo itself.

Good old ”Stick Grinds and Suicides” came out in 1992 (!) but really only gave a solid grounding in the more basic stick flailling manoeuvres. Indeed, compared to the whirling horrors in this little volume, it seems quite tame.

Within these pages you will find a greasy handful of the craziest, weirdest dirtbag suicides of the moment. Many of them are show-off moves whose success rates will never rise above ”occasional”. The vast majority are guaranteed to go through handsticks faster than a lodge of ravenous beavers. But hey, if you don’t want to break your sticks, don’t let go of them. Put this back on the shelf and stick with your high throws, you big wuss.....

So flip that page, my dear, and tuck into some of the most awesome trickery to see print so far. Give it another few years and it’ll all look SO tame.

LOOPCIDE

A delicate, long, slow suicide. Audiences often greet it with a ”duuuh, but how can you do that if it’s not tied on?” kind of response. It’s fun to mess with their minds.

1) Loop the string around the INSIDE wheel with the LEFT stick.

2) Swing the diabolo gently to the left. NOT in a complete circle, just to the left about hip height.

3) Release the right stick. It should swing out to the left and around the diabolo.

4) Catch the stick (there will be no twists or loops, so long as you followed step one correctly.)

You can convert this into a double suicide by performing step one, swinging a NORMAL suicide (without the catch, obviously) then letting steps two to four take their natural course. The brains of your audience will be starting to bleed by now.

CHOPCIDE

This is a cunning little suicide trick to loop the string around the axie (such as for Chinese whipping). It also compliments the loopcide quite nicely, but you WILL need a clean string if you expect it to work.

1) Swing the diabolo gently to your left (be careful, it does NOT do a complete circle.)

2) Turn your left stick outwards and throw it downwards with a snap of the wrist.

3) The stick will go around the diabolo quickly, so be ready to catch it as it returns. ready to catch it as it returns.

On it’s own this is less impressive than most other suicides, but it can be used in some awesome combos.

Try chopcide to loopcide to suicide string climb if you’re stuck for inspiration.

SWITCHCIDES

Quite a simple twist on the basic suicide which should lead to a whole host of techno variations, if you put your mind to it. Read carefully to make sure you get the right idea.

1) Swing a normal suicide to your left.

2) Reach across your body with your right hand and take your left stick. DON’T MOVE IT! Keep it where it is.

3) Catch the flying stick with your arms crossed.

Lots of possible variations on this:

i) continuous switchcides alternating left and right.

ii) bodymoves with half/full pirouettes.

iii) behind the back catches.

It’s also a smooth way into moves which start cross-handed, such as eveyone’s old favourite, the genocide.

FIGURE 8 DUICIDE

Do I really need to describe this? Doesn’t the name say it all?

1) Swing a duicide to the right.

2) Catch it (the string won’t be twisted). Now as smoothly as you can, swing into a duicide on the left.

3) Catch it (there’ll now be a half twist in the string.)

Looks nice after a figure 8 suicide.

Looks even nicer in UV light. If you seek further excitement, try doing TWO to the right followed by TWO to the left? Or throwing in some pirouettes? Or try messing about with double duicides? Or try getting out a bit more, perhaps?

LATE DUICIDE TO MULTIPLEX

Nice finishing move this, as it has a couple of surprising bits in it. First surprise is the late release of the left stick. Second surprise is the multiplex catch. In fact, the only thing which isn’t surprising is that it’s all pretty bloody difficult.

1) Swing a firm suicide to the left, releasing the right handstick just before 12 o’clock.

2) As the diabolo passes 1 o’clock, release the left handstick too.

3) The two sticks should both complete their tours at about the same time. Catch them both in your right hand with a resounding noise.

By experimenting with the timing of the releases, it is possible to make the sticks either simultaneously (one catch) or one just after the other (two very fast catches).

If your audience isn’t already showering you with gold and sacrificing virgins in your name, you may have to try harder to convince them of your godliness.

DOUBLE DUICIDE

On first inspection, this really does look pretty impossible. Hell, for all you, know it might actually BE impossible.

Just because I scrawled it down here is no real indication of the feasibility of such a manoeuvre.

Give it a try anyway: you may surprise yourself.

1) Place both sticks in your right hand.

2) Swing the diabolo gently to the left, then firmly right and upwards.

3) As it gets to about 11 o’clock, snap your wrist down forcefully and let go.

4) The whole affair will career off the air. When it comes down, catch the sticks. The diabolo should still be untangled and spinning.

Remember:

i) a shorter string makes this easier.

ii) it’s the snap of the wrist which is important, not the height of the throw.

iii) this trick is also possible (but somewhat harder) releasing the sticks from both hands individually.

TRIPLE DUICIDE

Look, I don’t really have to draw this for you, do I? All the above rules apply, only more so.

Oh, and you end up with half a twist in your string. I’m sure if you can land a triple duicide, a little half twist isn’t going to present too many problems!

SUICIDEWINDER

This is either a glorious final move or a pointless little lame illusion, depending on how easily amused you and your audience are. The ability to perform a continuous chain of suicides is essential (see under ”Twuicide” in the first book!)

1) Get up a huge dose of speed.

2) Perform continuous suicides to your left. By pointing your left stick straight ahead, you will find that each suicide wraps about an inch of string around the tip of the stick.

3) Keep going until:

a) somebody finally notices that your string has miraculously shrunk to about twelve inches (bear with them, it does take a while.)

or ...

b) nobody notices and you run out of string.

And to think in the first book, I said that there was no real point in learning a ”dodecacide”, eh?

SWITCHEROO

This is a silly little fiddly trick which feels clumsy and ugly at first. It takes quite a bit of work to get it fluid, but once you’re there, it’s a very nice way to end up with your string crossed.

1) Throw the diabolo. Hold your handsticks with your palms facing upwards.

2) Catch the diabolo, absorbing the impact.

3) Now lift, and open your hands, pushing the sticks across so they switch sides.

4) Catch them, and go on to do something incredible of your own invention from a crossed string position.

Remember, it’s NOT the impact of the diabolo which switches the sticks (try this and you’ll see your sticks dragged swiftly floorwards!) It’s the lift afterwards which lets your sticks float gracefully from hand to hand. You’ll see what I mean when you get it right.

SOFT GENOCIDE

Bit of a misleading name this one. Basically, it starts out as an innocent-looking suicide, then goes totally haywire. Read on, and see what I mean....

1) Swing a really feeble suicide. It should be so gentle that it probably wouldn’t make it all the way round.

2) Make a big circular gesture with the held stick, lifting the string away from the diabolo in a big arc.

3) Continue the movement so the stick and string go all the way round....

4) ....catching the diabolo again from underneath. The string will (should!) wrap around the axle once, which you can deal with once you can catch the stick again.

Follows on nicely from a couple of ordinary suicides, but it IS bloody difficult. Try it from behind the back, but step back quickly or you’ll batter yourself on the head.

You see, I DO care, otherwise I wouldn’t warn you about these things.

WRAPBACK

Again, a common or garden suicide which has mutated into something altogether more weird. Precision in the wrap/roll is the key to success....

1) Swing a suicide to the left (this move only works to the left; you’ll see why in a minute.)

2) Instead of catching the stick, let the string wrap around your wrist or outstretched fingers.

3) Once it’s wrapped, roll your wrist to the inside.

4) The string will unwrap. Let the stick flip off over the top of the diabolo.

5) Catch it as it comes around the diabolo and pull tight.

Hints? Oh, alright then:

i) learn a suicide string climb first to help you with the final catch.

ii) don’t let the stick wrap around your wrist too often or the diabolo will fly off. Once or twice is quite enough.

iii) for a harder version, try catching the wrap on your foot instead.

MINI DUICIDE TO SUICIDE

Not really sure about how this one works. It all happened by accident once. Still, from the tiniest of errors come one’s greatest discoveries. Supposedly.

1) Swing yourself a nice mini duicide (c’mon, you remember it was in book 2!)

2) As it comes round, catch JUST ONE of the sticks. Either one, it doesn’t matter.

3) Let the other one suicide round a second time.

4) As it comes up, let go of the string and catch hold of it. Somehow, your string will not be twisted.

I dunno, why can’t I make USEFUL discoveries by accident, like Penicillin or something?

DOUBLECIDE

This is a perfect example of how far the world of diabolo has progressed since the first book. Back then, this was unthinkable, nowadays it’s, wellll, still pretty mental. Don’t let that put you off....

1) Swing a normal suicide to the left. Make it a little slower and floatier than usual.

2) After you release the right stick, the movement with the left should be a rapid ”circle and a half” drawn around a diabolo.

THIS IS DIFFICULT and will take a while to master: when you have it right you will feel the weight of the diabolo on the string as you draw it.

3) Catch the stick as it comes around the second time.

i) There are no loops or twists in the string at any time.

ii) It’s timing which makes this work. An extra hard swing at the begining will do no good whatsoever.

But don’t stop there: try doublecides from around the body, from combos from wherever. Triples work on the same principle. I’ve even seen 8s and 9s done in practice, so get to it then!!!

FLOOR FLIP

First impressions last, don’t ya know? Check out this smooth little manoeuvre to open your routine with an air of nonchalant style.

1) Hang the string out vertically to your left. Hold the diabolo in your right hand with your fingers on the axle.

2) Throw the diabolo against the string, imparting as much spin on it as you can.

3) As the diabolo hits the string, it will flip the hanging stick over it.

4) Catch the stick and Chinese whip like a madman.

Be careful, however! Miss the string with the throw and the ”first impression” will be of you chasing into the wings after the diabolo you’ve just thrown over there.

ONE HAND AROUND THE ARM

Let’s face it, this is a posey show-off move if ever there was one! PLEASE try to make this look more difficult than it is. Otherwise the air of nonchalance will make you look like a smug little exhibitionist (unless of course, such is the desired effect....?)

1) Get the diabolo circling around your right arm.

2) Lift your left arm gradually, until you can keep the diabolo circling with the knuckles from both hands touching.

3) Transfer the stick and continue the gentle movement.

This method is much easier than simply ”going for it” as it’s hard to get it started from standing, and looks rather ungainly into the bargain.

Now you have a spare hand with which to juggle, pick up a second diabolo or fondle your ego.

CROSS LEGGED ROUND THE FOOT

No real secret to this, just learn the physical position then learn to get the diabolo going around your foot. Bend the leg you’re standing in to make it a little easier.

It’s not very impressive though is it? A solid run of twenty catches would probably send most audiences off to the land of nod.

However, a quick ”once-around” casually flipped into a sequence can look rather flash.

Try doing them on both sides, alternating, if you want something which looks truly ungainly.

ONE HANDED RICOCHET

Simple, but impressive. If you can already do one-handed around the leg and do normal ricochets, this should present little or no problem. The main difficulty lies in trying to bounce the diabolo too fast when you are learning.

Take it sloooowly at first, absorb each bounce before you flick it back. Only once you have control will you be able to do it quickly.

Try it with the one-handed around the arm elsewhere in this volume too!

STOPKNOT

If you find most magic knots are too fiddly, stoppy-starty or even just too much like being back in the boy scouts for you, try this one for size. It flows nicely in combinations and won’t take you hours of knitting and unpicking to get right.

1) Unwrap on your right.

2) Uncross your arms.

3) Do two stopovers on the right.

4) Throw that monkey.

I have no earthly idea HOW it works, it just does. Maybe it DOESN’T work if you don’t believe in it. Just like the tooth fairy. Only different.

TWO ARM CRADLE

When you’re thundering through all your round both arms variations, don’t you wish you could pause for a little recognition? You do? Well, this trick will allow you to cease your frantic weavings and adopt a smug expression as you begrudgingly acknowledge how much of your life you’ve wasted.

1) Get into ”around both arms.”

2) Pop the diabolo up and cross your forearms. This should form a little cats-cradle-type cross of string. (Practise without a diabolo first: different string lengths demand slightly different arm positions.)

3) Catch the diabolo on top of the cross.

Once the applause (if any) has subsided, escape by popping the diabolo up off the cross, unfolding your arms and continuing with more around both arms shenanigans.

NECK CATCH

Here’s an impressive move which has been freely adapted (stolen!) from classic ball juggling. It IS advised to learn it with a beanbag first before progressing to a diabolo.

1) Get the diabolo spinning VERY slowly (the closer to static, the less chance of it scurrying off.)

2) Toss it up gently on your left hand side. Not too high: I don’t want your medical bills.

3) Turn 90 degrees. Watch the diabolo closely from below. At the last second, bend at the waist and look ahead, catching the diabolo on the back of your neck.

4) After acknowledging the crowd (hard not to in this ready-bowed position), you have to flick the diabolo back into the air. Look down, and when you feel the diabolo starting to roll, look up sharply.

5) This action should impact enough spin to continue. Practice the flick on its own if it gives you any problems.

Harder? Try using the flick to start a second (third?) diabolo. Or even catching one out of a shuffle and putting it back in again (slow it down with a stick grind first!)

CUPID’S LOVE BOW

Vaguely similar to the neck catch, but with an altogether more romantic air to it. Try performing it in springtime whilst reciting sonnets in a blossoming orchid for the desired heart melting effect.

1) Throw the slowly-spinning diabolo from the left. Its trajectory should arc overhead to the right.

2) As the diabolo peaks, turn 90 degrees to your left and raise one leg behind you.

3) Trap the diabolo in the crook of your knee. Raise your handsticks in the obligatory bow position.

4) Attempt to quote something vaguely romantic.

5) Settle for a sly wink/blown kiss/etc.

6) Try to figure out how to escape from this ridiculous position.

TREBLA FLICK

As you cast your weary eyes upon this page, the trick you behold may appear a trifle risky, dangerous even. That’s because it is! ”Risking your future generations for the titillation of the masses” is the name of the game, so be careful.

1) Throw the diabolo so that it comes down behind you. Not JUST behind you, but a good foot or two behind.

2) As you catch behind, swing the diabolo so that it comes between your legs.

3) This forward momentum SHOULD mean that as you pop the diabolo up, it comes through your legs and up in front of you.

Arching your back and standing on tip-toe will make this move easier too, but it’s the forward momentum bit which is the most important in avoiding those diabolo-to-groin collisions you’re trying not to think about.

THE WALRUS OF TIME

Assume the position.

Contemplate the infinite, insurmountable passage of eternity as you focus your tusks on the pendulous diabolo, symbolising the endless trickling of the sands of time. And flap your hands together.

OVERHEAD GRIND TO RUBBERWRIST

An interesting way out of an overhead grind or just another stupid blind catch variation which is never going to work 100% of the time? Read on and decide for yourselves....

1) Pop the diabolo up to an overhead grind.

2) Hold it for a second, then let it drop off the top of the stick and over your shoulder.

3) Move quickly! Bring your arm down, bending your wrist down and back. Catch the diabolo in the nick of time.

The bored/masochistic amongst you may well be tempted to rubberwrist bounce the diabolo back up to the overhead position. On your own heads be it (literally).

SHOULDER ROLL

On paper, this looks not dissimilar to an over the head throw. LOOK AGAIN! It goes the other way, because of the direction the diabolo is spinning.

1) Lean forwards.

2) Pop the diabolo up from the right hands side. This has to be a very precise throw onto the shoulder: just a few inches too high and the diabolo will bounce or skid erratically (I’m telling you this for your own good!)

3) The diabolo will roll across the back of your shoulders.

4) Look across to your left ”spot” the diabolo as it comes over.

5) Catch it on the left side of the string. The optimum speed will be determined by the clothes you are wearing and the type of diabolo you are using. For example: high speed + rubber diabolo + bare flesh = bad idea (unless you’re into that sort of thing.) I suppose fire diabolo + shell suit would be pretty unpleasant too....

CAP-TASTROPHE

Ever wondered what that little button on top of your baseball cap was for?

Well, now you know. Any further explanation might result in you actually bothering to try this!

WALKAROUNDS

This isn’t just a new trick, it’s a whole new way of looking at body moves. Remember to start with enough speed, ‘cos the diabolo will be going AGAINST the spin half of the time.

1) Catch the diabolo behind the back on the right. Let it pass behind you and pop it up on the left.

2) Turn 180°. Catch it behind the back on the right. Let it pass behind (yes, I KNOW it’s going the wrong way) and pop it up again on the left.

3) Turn 180°. Continue.

Now think about it: if this works for behind the back, it’ll work for around the leg, legs, arm and a whole host of other moves. Get experimenting.

CHINESE PIROUETTE

Ahhhh! Perhaps THE classic trick from the Far East. It takes speed, precision and timing, so DON’T expect to get it right within even the first few weeks.

1) Get the diabolo low on the right hand side. Cross your feet right over left.

2) With a minuscule pop, pirouette fast to your left. Keep your arms wide and your string tight.

3) As you finish the pirouette, your left hand should be low, catching the diabolo close to the stick. Your feet will now be crossed left over right.

THIS IS SOOOO DIFFICULT AT FIRST, BUT DON’T LOSE HEART...

These pointers will help:

1) Practise the foot positions on their own.

2) Practise the entire pirouette without the diabolo.

3) Practise with someone holding the diabolo as you pirouette (do it slowly first).

You’ll know when you’ve got it right because the diabolo will remain in the same place as you pirouette, and those watching will demand to see it again.

SPLIT ROUND THE WRIST

Not too complicated this one. Shouldn’t even have to explain it really, but it passes the time, y’know?

1) Get into a split string position, with the diabolo on just ONE of the strings.

2) Insert your wrist and circle the diabolo around it by either.

i) gently moving the handsticks left and right.

ii) keeping the sticks still and simply stirring round the diabolo with your wrist.

Once you tire of this on both wrists, proceed to the next trick.

THE TICKLER

As the name suggests, this is a very gentle split-string move. Learn to do it once or twice slowly before trying to crank it up to whirlwind porportions.

1) Set yourself up for the split-string style.

2) Pop the diabolo up gently.

3) Let go of the string and bring your hand over the top of the diabolo.

4) Grab the string next to the tips of the handsticks.

5) Slide your hand along the string under the diabolo and catch it as it comes down.

If you perform these in rapid succession, the diabolo will virtually stand still as your hand circles frantically around it.

THE WEAVE

I confess, I didn’t understand this one AT ALL when I first saw it. It was so completely different from everything else I knew. Take it nice and easy at first, if you want to get it right.

1) Point both sticks vertically, making an ”M” shape with the diabolo in the middle.

2) Bring the left stick inside, through the right arch of the ”M” out around the front of the diabolo. (NB Be sure that the sticks stay vertical and that your forearm passes UNDER the diabolo.)

3) There should now be a full twist in the string. If not, go back to stage 1!

4) Now bring the right stick inside, through the left arch and out around the front of the diabolo.

5) The twist should now be gone. If not, go back to stage 1 again!

Once you’ve mastered this, you’ll find this weaving action useful for getting out of/into all sorts of ”full-twisty” moves. Play around yourselves and see what you come up with.

PATRICKOCHET

A fast, crazed leg bouncing combination which Patrick used to drive me bonkers before Christmas dinner. Hence the name.

1) From around the leg, pop the diabolo straight up on the left side.

2) Reach across and catch it with the right.

3) Pop it up over to the right.

4) Reach across and catch it with your left.

5) Bounce it back to the left.

6) Reach back and catch it with the left. Phew! This is fast. And tricky. If you really want to you can do it three or four times in succession, but just once is quite sufficient to merit reward. Turkey with all the trimmings is highly recommended.

RUBBERWRIST WHIP

Yes. It’s another of those stupid whipcatch variations. Not only is this one as hit and miss as the others, it’s blind and feels awkward too! No, no, don’t thank me all at once.

1) Get into that split-string situation you all know and love so well.

2) Turn to your left. Pop the diabolo over your right shoulder.

3) Whip down and backwards to snag the varmint before they touches down.

Make sure the sticks are level and well-spread when you whip. No point making this any nastier than it already is!

TWO HANDED WHIPS

You may already have stumbled upon this bizarre little mutant while trying to catch a diabolo which is scurrying away from you on the floor. With some practice, however, these tricks can be just as impressive (and a smidgen more accurate) as their one-handed counterparts.

Let’s start with the basic version.

1) Throw the diabolo to one side of you.

2) Turn and face it as it descends.

3) Keep your sticks parallel and about a foot apart. Aiming between the sticks, whip down on the diabolo.

Caught it? Good, now before the comfortable smugness sinks in...why not have a bash at these other variations....

1) Underhanded.

2) Albert.

3) Trebla (you’ll have to get on tiptoe for this one!)

SKIPWHIP

The most ludicrous of all the two-handed whipcatches. One of the craziest diabolo tricks around without a doubt. The catch is blind and I guarantee you will NEVER get it solid. I even invented this one myself so I guess I can’t blame it on anyone else!

1) Throw the diabolo up on your right hand side. Spot where it’s going.

2) Turn 90 degrees to your left. The diabolo will now be descending directly behind you, and you will start to wonder what on earth you are doing.

3) Leap of faith time! Just before you think the diabolo is going to hit the ground, skip the string, swinging it out behind you.

4) If the gods are smiling on you, you will have whip-caught the diabolo.

Now put a big smile on your face, find somebody to show the trick to and fail repeatedly until they take pity on you.

ONE-HANDED NECK BOUNCE

Neck bounces are a cool trick. But this version is cooler (and not just because it only uses one hand.)

Read on...

1) Get yourself involved in a neck-bounce situation.

2) Transfer both sticks into one hand. Keep on bouncing. Still not very flashy, I know, but the best is yet to come...

3) Once you tire of this position (believe me it won’t take long!), bounce the diabolo high in the air.

4) With a deft, one-handed flick, its now possible to remove the string from around your neck and perform a perfect whip catch.

Just be careful of hair clasps, earrings, horns and other such snaggable items as you do this, ok?

OFF-CIDE

Weird one this. Looks best in UV light. Some might argue it looks best in no light at all. Learn it and decide for yourself.

1) Throw the diabolo about 8 feet in the air.

2) Swing a big diabolo-less suicide. Faster the better.

3) Catch the stick, then catch the diabolo back on the string.

Don’t bother trying a double. You’ll have to throw the diabolo so high that no one will notice the pathetic shenanigans you’re committing at ground level.

BEHIND THE BACK MAYHEM

At first glance this trick looks completely baffling. Don’t worry, this is the desired effect. In fact, I even tried this one out on a few members of the general public. Their glazed expressions convinced me that it was well worthy of inclusion in this volume. Don’t expect to land it first time...

1) Get two diabolos going in a behind the back position on the left side (oh, is that all!!??).

2) Pop one diabolo across your body to the right side, then pop the other one straight up on the left.

3) Move the sticks nimbly to your right side to catch the first one.

4) With an equal degree of nimbleness, swing it back to the left side where the second diabolo will now be descending. Catch it and resume shuffle.

Remember to make sure that the second diabolo is popped high enough to allow you to complete the other bit. Not too high however: if you can keep it below head height, the image of crazy two-diabolos-all-around-the-body-mayhem will be all the stronger.

SPLIT-STRING KNOT

For those of you who can’t fathom out the feeble diagrams of the other knots in the other books. A nice big knot is simple, effective and you don’t have to have been in the Boy Scouts to figure it out.

1) Get yourself into a split-string situation.

2) Do a stopover over the sticks, landing the diabolo on both strings.

3) Turn the sticks across your body and put the loop of string in your hand over the ends of the two sticks.

Now you can either pull the diabolos from the knot with an air of pretentious mystery, or throw it free and whip-catch the blighter triumpthantly.

Is this a choice, I hear you ask?

RECOIL

Killer trick of death this. Especially if your public are standing too close when you perform it. Also, it’s best to ensure that your string is firmly attached to your sticks. Because you know that if it flies off it’s going to head into the carriage of the nearest pram with a resounding dull ”thud”. Don’t ask me how I know these things, I just do.

1) Get yourself into a split-string position.

2) Instead of just going for the whip catch (sooo predictable), pop the diabolo six feet into the air.

3) Flick one handstick straight forward. As the string goes tight, snap your wrist so the stick flies back to your hand.

4) Now do your whip catch (either normal or behind the back, trebla, whatever).

You’ll probably be more successful if you do the stick flicking bit on it’s own before you try it with the diabolo. You’ll also be relieved to know that no children have been harmed by this trick...so far.

THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Yes, it’s time for that final page which excuses all my little plagiarisms and liberties taken. If your name ought to be here but isn’t. I’m sorry. If you have some tricks which I HAVEN’T stolen yet, send them in to Circustuff and I promise to nick them the next time around.

Here we go then:

Stewart and Joanne Hutton of Circustuff. The hapless fools, they thought it was only a trilogy.

Matthew Ledding, for inspiring the suicidewinder AND managing to share a house with me in Montreal for a whole year.

Patrick Leonard, for the Patrickochet and for playing 24-hour diabolo with me.

Everyone else at the Ecole Nationale de Cirque for an incredible year.

Fritz Grobe, Jason from New Zealand, Robert Biegler, Martin Mall, Dave ”from Sheffield”, Sam Veale, Ludger and Andy for various ideas which were not my own.

Serge, Irene, and everyone at the Jongleurs Associes de Quebec for adopting me.

And everyone else I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and jamming with at all the conventions. I would have got sick of all this a long time ago without you all to play with.

Please don’t stop.

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