Interview with Charlie Chadson

We sat down for a quick word with the famous Charlie Chadson-- a man who came out of nowhere and took the flipping world by storm, winning FLIPOFF two years in a row, and now sitting on this year's judging panel.

CoC: So Charlie, everybody's wondering why you aren't competing in this year's FLIPOFF. Are you quitting while you're ahead, or do you have something really exciting up your sleeve?

CC: You can call me Mr. Chadson, and no I'm not quitting. It's not like we're rolling dice here, like I just got lucky and passed GO more than anyone else. No. No, we're flipping coins, and I happen to do it very well. Yeah, I've made more than one fortune off of it, but that doesn't mean I wont make another. I think you'll be very excited about what I have up my sleeve. I think you'll all but shit in those silly little khakis of yours. I don't need to compete in FLIPOFF, because there's no competition. I've beaten everybody. I'm the best.

CoC: What about Pete Talesh? Our readers have been clamoring for a real bout between you two, the biggest names in professional coin flipping.

CC: Yeah, well, there's professional, then there's "jerk off for eight years then come back for a pat on the back and the illusion that you're still relevant".

CoC: Whew! Strong words, Mr. Chadson!

CC: Yeah, well look where they're coming from.

CoC: You.

CC: That's right.

CoC: Lets talk about your judging strategy at FLIPOFF. This is the first year they're using a panel of judges with established categories. How will you look at the contestants?

CC: Well I know what a winner looks like, don't I? Not that I'll see one at FLIPOFF (unless I catch my reflection off a spinning coin) but I think it'll be pretty easy to judge people.

Interview with Pete Talesh aka "The Natural"

We finally got the rare chance to sit down with flipping's most successful player, Pete Talesh, or as he's better known-- "The Natural".

CC: You've sort of been unofficially retired the last eight years. Why the sudden return to flipping?

PT: I don't... [really want to talk about that] ...and I'd appreciate it if you didn't print that.

CC: I see. But you are competing in this year's FLIPOFF, correct?

PT: I wanted to just come in and show all these young punks what flipping is really about you know? All these guys thinkin' flippin's all fuckin' about the coins and the money and the girls and it's not about that you know, there's a lot more. There's heart. You gotta have heart to flip coins.

CC: Do you think this year's judging will bring some of what you're saying is the "true spirit" of flipping?

PT: Why are you makin' quotes? I didn't say that. Don't print that I said that. I'm sayin' these guys like [Charlie] Chadson are in it for the fame, zip it, end of story. I've been flippin' my whole life, an I've been flippin' the past eight years too, don't print that I been just sittin' on my hands. But it ain't about the fame and it ain't about the girls... least not more'n anything else. It's about knowin' the coins an lettin' them become a rhythmic extension of yer fingertips. I can tap out a two time bum badda bum badda and my coins is flyin' at a 7/8 bum bum bum bum bada bum bum-- three out of phase, like John [Cage].

CC: So you think of coin flipping as an art form. Do you think professional coin flipping addresses this?

PT: Uh, well no it don't address it, but then again I don't expect it to. I got a lot of problems with [professional coin flipping] but it not bein' pretentious enough ain't one of 'em..

CC: Can we talk about your sunglasses?

PT: Yeah, sure. I get that a lot. I guess I wear 'em for a couple reasons, eh... Well there's the sun o'course. But they're mostly for competition settings, like to keep out distractions an stuff. All I need to see is the glint of th' coins, and that's tough to separate from the crowd without a couple dark lenses. Also it's like poker sometimes an you gotta keep what's on yer face hidden a little, even if there ain't nothin' there, y' know?

Interview with Ghery Reinheidt

What's your fave to flip? We spoke with Ghery Reinheidt of Germany's Lichtenflip team on the coins he's flipped, which is his favorite, and which he thinks should be given the prestigious Grey Wackdagger's Flip-Coin of the Year.

CC: So how long have you been flipping Ghery?

GR: I've been flipping for about seventeen years now Andezc. It doesn't even feel like a motion to me now; I have to think more about breathing than I do about flipping a coin.

CC: The beautificous part of professional coinflipping is generally considered to be the chance to flip coins most people have never even seen. Do you agree, and if so what would you say your favorite flipster has has been in these past seventeen years?

GR: Ja, stimmt, I agree. Once, during my second tournament and first time in Copenhagen I had the chance to flip an oldest school Roman dupondius. The flight, it was magnificent, so poetryic. Few I have seen fly with the grace of Julius Caesar incarnate.

CC: So the dupondius was your favorite flip?

GR: Nein, I don't not think that is the case. Have you ever been to Croatia? The most ugly womens in Europe but their coins, ach! Nothing rolls in the air currents like the lipa.

CC: The lipa, eh? You know they say Jahnan Kaleliila, master flipper for the last prince of the Ottoman Empire actually designed that coin to fly like Marduk himself. He was an avid follower of Babylonian religions and the cult of Marduk especially.

GR: No I had not heard that. Exquisitely interesting of a fact. But I think my love of the lipa comes from my grandmother, who used to flip one everyday to decide what meat my grandfather would have with his snake eggs at breakfast. Once I was old enough I was allowed to do the flip, and much honor I had in this task.

CC: Fascinating Ghery. Thanks again for your time, it's always a pleasure talking the heads and tails of the game with you.

GR: Thank you Andezc. Much honor I have gotten from talkings. Take you care in your travails home.

Interview with Brian Grumbel

Brian Grumbel, probably both one of the newest and most respected names to come out of St. Georges' referee program, specializes in contemporary American coins. He made his big flip at 2005's FLIPOFF, giving Charlie Chadson his first much debated win. Grumbel's reasoning proved to be sound though, as Chadson went on to win last year's FLIPOFF and now performs sold out shows in Vegas.

We sat down with Brian to hear his thoughts on the upcoming flip festival.

CC: Hey Mr. Grumbel-- that's still "mr", right?

BG: Ha ha, yeah. I'm still working on that [doctorate degree]. You can call me Brian by the way.

CC: So what can you tell us about this year's FLIPOFF? Will you be the referee?

BG: Well it's a bit odd this year, since we're actually judging as a panel. There's me, Mike Doshel [of FlipSide Magazine], and Charlie Chadson.

CC: So I take it Charlie isn't competing this year?

BG: Ha ha, no. No they wont let him do that. He's told me he wants to take it slow this year while he works out some dangerous flips he wants to add to his routine. I dunno though... I can't imagine Charlie giving up all the spotlight.

FLIPOFF '08

FLagstaffs International Perennial Organized Flipping Festival
That's right, the annual FLIPOFF is upon us. Are YOU ready for it?

FLIPOFF judges in three categories:
Control
Clairvoyance
Charisma

A panel of two judges selected from the flipping community by the festival heads, as well as last year's Grand Master Flipper, will rate contestants on scales from 0-10. The winner takes home a $10,000 purse, as well as all coins put in play that day.

I'll try to focus this week on bringing you some tips on the finer points of flipping, and maybe throw in a little strategy as well. After all, flipping is a thinking man's game.

One Hand Clapping

This is a technique primarily used by beginners to get the feel for flipping (although it can look fairly impressive if you put some flair on it). Basically you're following the motion of your fingers slapping against your palm, only don't slap them just yet-- you'll want to start pretty slowly so you can gauge revolutions.

1.) Open your hand with your palm opening upwards
2.) Lay a coin down over your middle and ring fingers about a coin-width from the tips
3.) Quickly close your hand. You want to angle your hand down in time with your fingers closing up so the coin slides straight up

Try to keep the coin spinning at a constant rate proportional to the speed at which you close your hand. The best way to do this is to close your hand at the same speed and work on your release until you get the coin doing the same number of revolutions consistently, or just shoot for a certain number of revolutions and adjust your handspeed.

Also watch out for the coin backfiring into your face. This is usually caused by beginners slapping their hands closed too hard before understanding all the mechanics, but it's a common injury for pros as well so always be careful!

This variant on the standard flip will give you good control of your coin, as well as make you look pretty suave in the hotel bar. Did she just ask you for a quarter to play pachinko? You bet she did. Flipping just got cool again.