Please Don't Ban Logoless Cups

Dear WSSA,
This petition has been made so you can hear from us the parents, and the stackers that contribute so much to the sport we love, It is in regards to the new ruling, that logoless cups will be banned from competition as of July 1st 2017. It has been made in the interest of free speech, so you can hear from the people that the new ruling will affect the most, the stackers and their families.

I ask that you hear us out. I’d like to explain to you what happens when we buy a new set of Speed Stacks Cups. My stacker is dedicated, he stacks for up to 3 hours a day, it takes on average, for him, 2-3 weeks to wear in a set of cups to the point where he is confident that they will downstack smoothly. Within another week, the logos start to come off the cups, they get sticky and then he can no longer stack with them as the cups stick together, we get a piece of paper towel to polish the sticky bits off, as they are un-useable at this point. Within another week they are sticky again, once they become tacky the logos just keep coming off, and not long after the that the logos are completely gone. The process of logos coming off is a huge problem for the Stacker, it’s a major impediment to their performance. I totally disagree with the new rule, I think the onus should be put back upon Speed Stacks to improve the design and durability of the logos on the cups. As a parent, we can not afford to, and refuse to, purchase a new set of cups every month or so just because the logo’s durability has a shelf life no longer than a month to 6 weeks for the serious, dedicated Stacker. It’s just not financially feasible or fair.

I would also like you to hear how we and other families, all dedicate our lives to Sport Stacking. At the moment, we, as a family, sacrifice everything to be able to attend tournaments overseas. Our recent trip to the World Sport Stacking Championships cost our family approximately $5,000, just to give my child the opportunity to compete at the international level. To achieve this, we save every spare cent, as well as dedicating countless weekends to fundraising to support our stacker and to help fund our travel to tournaments. Last year we travelled to 3 overseas tournaments, costing our family approximately $16,000, we only earned $40,000 for the year. How much do other families invest into this sport?? Us and countless other families do the hard yards all year round to help make these tournaments a success.

It is extremely difficult to pick up a new set of cups and post anywhere near your best time. Not even close. So, to keep the Stacker happy the cups need to be worn in, and if they were to fall in line with the new rule there would only be a 2 week window where the cups are in a nice worn in condition ready to compete, and still have the logos on them, remembering that during this time you are tackling the constant issue of them being sticky. That would mean you’d spend more time wearing them in than being able to use them in competition. Then we would need to spend another $40 on a new set of William Polly Pro Series 2??? Not fair.

Today, was a sad day, and it was one of the motivations to start this petition to hopefully let the Stackers of the world have their say. Today, I read that 2 time World Champion Josh Hainsel, intends on not competing at any more tournaments out of protest of the new rule. It is so sad that politics, and a seemingly commercial decision has been the downfall of one of the greats of our sport.

For years, we as a stacking community have been battling to have our sport recognised all around the world as a legitimate sport. One of the obstacles we face, is having the manufacturer of our cups, having control over the governing body, over our rules. This decision by the WSSA making it illegal if they don’t have the Speed Stacks logo showing, will just make it impossible to be taken seriously as sport. Can you imagine not being allowed to compete in a running race if you’re not wearing your NIKE shoes?? there would be a global outcry at these dictated terms. The fact is, that every Stacker knows, for example, that they are William Polly Clear Pro Series 2 cups, made by Speed Stacks if they have their logo on them or not.

What will happen to the World Records?? If we are forced to use inferior, not worn in, or sticking cups, no one will come close to the current records! Will there be 2 sets of records? Logos and logoless? Many Stackers are saying that they will join Josh, and not compete anymore……do we really want this for our sport? We are trying to grow our sport, we are all in our own way are trying to help grow the sport! I really hope you hear our collective stacking community, who are just looking out for the good of our sport, and maybe find a solution to keeping the logos on the cups, rather than penalising our kids and families for the failings of the logo, by changing the rule, instead of changing the logo……