It’s a Monday night in a dimly lit, eclectically decorated San Luis Obispo townhome. The hundred-year-old house has its quirks, like a doorknob that can’t seem to stay on – the first thing guests are warned about as they enter – and countless trinkets lining shelves throughout the home.
A dozen people hover around an extra-large folding table, exchanging introductions and making playful jabs about the battle quickly approaching.
They look over the assortment of colorful tops on the table, discussing which they will select for optimal success. Then, the chatter ceases abruptly as a microphone buzzes on the overhead speaker set, followed by a booming announcement – “Alright guys, who’s ready to let it rip?”
Talia Joffe, an industrial packing and technology senior, certainly knows how to bring the energy to the monthly SLO Beyblades competitions.
When the idea of a Beyblade tournament first came up in discussion, it was supposed to be another one of the friend group’s frequent themed get-togethers, according to Joffe.
“We had just put on this amazing Disney Channel-themed party, and we were together brainstorming ideas for our next one,” Joffe said. “It was between a bald cap party and a Beyblade-themed party, and this is what we chose.”
Before their first meeting, none of the club members had extensive knowledge of Beyblades, a brand of Japanese spinning-top toys.
Business senior and club secretary Katie Deras laughs remembering Joffe’s dedication to the concept, even in the face of skepticism from friends, including herself.
“I was like, guys, I think the joke has gone too far. But she was like, no, we need to do it,” Deras said. “It was definitely a joke, but then it ended up being not so much of one.”
After pooling together $25 and purchasing their first set of the spinning tops, the group hung up posters around campus and quickly began receiving feedback from impassioned Beyblade enthusiasts.
“We got these knock-offs on Amazon and thought oh, it’ll be fine,” architecture junior and club president Samatha Tapia said. “But then when some guy came and told us all about his intense collection we were like, ‘Oh crap, maybe we need actual ones.’ And it just kind of went from there.”
Now, boasting a home collection of 10 Beyblades and the competition arena, SLO Beyblades pack up to two dozen competitors in their living room. Deras uses an online generator to create a bracket as people arrive while participants select which Beyblade they want to use.
“Then, we have our announcer Talia say the two names, which beyblades they’ll be using, and then the audience all does the countdown together,” Tapia said.
At the end of the countdown, contestants “let it rip” by releasing the springs in the launcher, and the winner is determined by which Beyblade stays spinning longer.
Despite its unconventional origins, club members shared their appreciation for the club as a way to make new connections and spend time together.
“I mean, some of us just met at the beginning of winter quarter. Then within a week of meeting each other, we were already both on the board of a Beyblade Club together,” Joffe said.
Deras encourages anyone interested in forming a student group on campus to take that leap, even if the interest is niche.
“Even if it sounds silly, just go into it. Even if you feel like it’s nerdy, there’s a community for everything, and maybe you can help provide that community for others,” Deras said.
Those interested in upcoming events can learn more @slo_beyblades on Instagram.