2008 was an amazing year in the world of hooping and we applaud all of our nominees and each and everyone of you for participating in this years awards. If you're a hooper, you're already a winner - and there are certainly no losers here at Hooping.org. There were many close races. Here are your 2008 Hoopie Award winners:

1. Event That Promoted Hooping To A Larger Audience:

Of the many events that took place during 2008, our readers narrowed down these as being the most significant in carrying the hooping message to others. In a tight race between two popular American television appearances, we have to agree that there's truly something to be said for our favorite five-year-old hoop diva and Hoopgirl's national television appearance. In fact, it's so close it's a tie: The trophies are going to:

Last year's winner: World Hoop Day

Also nominated this year:
• Hoop La La on Britain's Got Talent
• The Hoopcamp Retreat 2008
• HoopConvergence 2008
• Hoopnotica on The Biggest Loser

2. Online Hooping Video of the Year:

With more than fifty nominated videos submitted and a rather hefty tie that we just couldn't narrow down any further, you had quite a few selections to choose from this year, all of them deserving of an award. And the trophy goes to:

Last year's winner: Hoopnotica's video: Guggenhoopin

Also nominated this year:
• Earth Dreaming: Video by Bunny Hoop Star of Sydney, Australia.
• Mademoiselle's Monsoon Hoopers: Featuring Mademoiselle's Monsoon Hoopers of Los Angeles, California.
• Miss Rosie: Video by Miss Rosie of HeroHoops.com in San Francisco, California.
• Nayeli In The Desert: Featuring Nayeli Michelle of HoopNectar from San Diego, California.
• Rich at Hoop Heaven: Featuring Richard Porter of Isopop in San Francisco, California.
• SaFire Rocks It: Video by Sandra "SaFire" Sommerville of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• Shakti Sunfire at O Dance Studio: Video by Shakti Sunfire of Boulder, Colorado.
• spin0da0rella: Video by Michele aka spin0da0rella of Baltimore, Maryland.
• Fall Hooping In The Park: Video by Jennifer Rice of Tailspin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• Tokyo Hoop Stars: Video by Deanne Tonking in Tokyo, Japan.

3. Best Hooping Song of 2008:

Hooping goes to another level with the right music and these hoop tracks were singled out as the best of 2008. When it came to voting though one received more votes than any other hoopie finalist on the ballot this year. Your favorite hoop track this year has also been added to our listening station again for your enjoyment. And the trophy goes to:

Last year's winner: Bassnectar: Verbing The Noun

Also nominated this year:
• "Hoop" by Glamarchy
• "Bring It On" by Goose
• "The World Should Revolve Around Me" by Little Jackie
• "Say Hey (I Love You)" by Michael Franti and Spearhead
• "The Longest Road" by Morgan Page

4. Oustanding Newbie Hooper (Started in 2008):

Our hooping community continues to grow and we once again celebrate our hooping "newbies" that started hooping in 2008 and are already making their mark. A few of the ones to watch in 2009, the trophy this year goes to:

Last year's winner: Chika aka Hooplur

Also nominated this year:
• Autumn Exiner: Wheaton, Illinois
• Bee Varga: Basingstoke, England
• JC DiStefano: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Jennifer Severo: Livermore, California
• Jodie Urias: Sarasota, Florida
• Justina Flash: New York, New York
• Holly aka Psychadelicious: San Diego, California
• Rob Mills: Bend, Oregon

5. Hoop Community of the Year:

Hooping is a lot more fun when you're doing it with other people. Last year Hooping.org gave one award for "Hoop Group of the Year" which went to The Hoopgirl Allstars. But with the mix of performance groups and community groups nominated in this category, we knew we had to separate the two this time around. Which community stood out above and beyond their locale this year? Edging out the competition by a mere five votes, the trophy goes to:

Also nominated this year:
• Bend, Oregon (Bend, Oregon)
• Bay Area Hoopers (San Francisco Bay Area)
• Boston Hoop Troop (Boston, Massachusetts)
• Hoopswhirled Hoop Club (London, England)
• Madtown Hoopdown (Madison, Wisconsin)

6. Performance Group of the Year:

In another new category resulting from the split, this year we're honoring an outstanding performance group as well. We're excited to be celebrating more performance groups as a result of this change. The trophy this year goes to:

Also nominated:
• GrooveHoops: New York, New York
• Gyronauts: New York, New York
• Hoola Monsters: Florida
• Hoopgirl Allstars: San Francisco, California
• Hoop La La: London, England

7. Oustanding Hoop Instructor of the Year:

With many classes being taught by more people in more places, standing out has become a bit of a challenge, but one instructor rather easily rose above the rest in your ballots. And the trophy goes to:

Also nominated this year:
• Anah "Hoopalicious" Reichenbach: Los Angeles, California
• Christabel "Hoopgirl" Zamor: San Francisco, California
• Miss Rosie: Hero Hoops: San Francisco, California
• Mollie Hogan: Hoopdazzle: Bend, Oregon
• Natasha "Silverstar" Young: Berkeley, California
• Rayna McInturf: Hoopnotica: Los Angeles, California
• Sharna Rose Bevan: Maidstone, England

8. Fire Hooper of the Year:

While all of our nominees for Fire Hooper of the Year are truly hot, one of them burned a little brighter in your eyes this year. The trophy goes to:

Last year's winner: Kamala Mathis: Fire Groove

Also nominated this year:
• Brandon Huston (Spinsterz): Bend, Oregon
• Hannah Mooney (Firegroove): Los Angeles, California
• Katie "Surprise" Desmond: Washington, DC
• Miss Rosie (Hero Hoops): San Francisco, California
• Sandra "SaFire" Sommerville: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
• Satise Dizon: Oakland, California
• Shredder: San Francisco, California

9. Male Hooper of the Year:

In the 2nd closest race in the 2nd Annual Hoopie Awards, we came pretty close to ending up with a three way tie, proving that you all really love these guys. The Hoopie Award for Oustanding Male Hooper of the Year goes to:

Last year's winner: Karis

Also nominated:
• Adam Grieve: Madison, Wisconsin
• Baxter (Hoop Path): Carrboro, North Carolina
• Mondo Mondo: Sydney, Australia
• Rich Porter (Isopop): San Francisco, California
• Tim "Luciån" Keough: Austin, Texas

10. Female Hooper of the Year:

In another super tight finish, the award this year came down to a handful of ballots between three dynamic women, all of whom deserve recognition, but two were so close we're calling it a tie. The award(s) for Oustanding Female Hooper(s) this year go to:

Also nominated:
• Anah "Hoopalicious" Reichenbach: Los Angeles, California
• Bunny Hoop Star: Sydney, Australia
• Miss Rosie (Hero Hoops): San Francisco, California
• Sandra "SaFire" Sommerville: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
• Sharna Rose: Maidstone, England
• Shredder: San Francisco, California
• Veronika "Kit" Petra: Santa Barbara, California
• Vivian "Spiral" Hancock: Vermont

Hooping.org congratulates all of the nominees this year. You're all winners in our book!

A full listing of last year's awards can be found here: The 2007 Hoopie Awards