Top Spin (Tuj Lub) – Honoring Hmong Culture, Building Community in Colorado
Tuj Lub, (pronounced Too-Loo)also known as Top Spin, is a traditional Hmong sport that blends physical skill, strategy, and cultural storytelling. For generations, this game has brought families and communities together—celebrated especially during Hmong New Year gatherings and now year-round as a competitive and community sport. Here in Westminster, Colorado, Tuj Lub has not only been preserved—it has made history.
What is Tuj Lub?
Tuj Lub is played with handcrafted or molded tops launched across a court using a stick tightly wrapped with string. Two teams face off, aiming to hit and out-spin each other's tops through a series of defined steps. Each step increases in difficulty, testing the players’ precision, strength, and mastery of the game.
While the core of the game is competition, Tuj Lub holds far more meaning. It represents ancestral resilience, cultural preservation, and a shared love of intergenerational learning. For many Hmong families, it is a tradition passed from elders to youth as a rite of pride and identity.
Orchard Park: A Historic Milestone For Colorado Hmong
Located at 2595 W 72nd Ave, Westminster, CO, Orchard Park (formerly Skyline Vista Park) is home to the first permanent Top Spin court in the United States.
This court was built around 2008 through collaboration between the City of Westminster and local Hmong community leaders. Prior to its construction, Tuj Lub was played on makeshift wooden or plastic platforms in backyards or fields. The creation of a dedicated space marked a significant moment in public recognition of Hmong culture and community presence.
Today, Orchard Park continues to serve as a key gathering place for tournaments, youth practices, mentorship programs, and cultural events such as PABNEEG's Family Fun Day.
Why Tuj Lub Still Matters Today
Cultural Continuity
Tuj Lub plays a vital role in preserving and transmitting cultural knowledge. Through the act of playing this traditional game, younger generations are given a direct connection to their heritage. Elders often pass down techniques, stories, and values during gameplay, making the experience not just recreational, but deeply educational and familial. This shared play across generations helps maintain the cultural thread that ties the past to the present.
Community Empowerment
The presence of a dedicated Top Spin court and an active playing community fosters a strong sense of belonging and leadership. Tuj Lub provides a space where individuals from all backgrounds can come together and celebrate cultural identity through sport. It strengthens relationships within the community and promotes peer mentorship, as experienced players often guide newcomers in both skill and sportsmanship. In this way, the game becomes a powerful tool for building trust, pride, and cultural resilience.
Cultural Visibility
Having a public, city-supported Top Spin court sends a clear message: Hmong heritage is valued, respected, and celebrated in Colorado. It affirms the importance of cultural representation in public spaces and provides a tangible symbol of inclusion. This visibility helps combat cultural erasure, invites broader community engagement, and encourages dialogue and appreciation among diverse groups. The court stands not only as a recreational site but also as a cultural landmark for the Hmong American experience.
Photo: City of Westminster residents enjoying a Tuj Lub demonstration.
Get Involved
Join us at Orchard Park during the summer or at annual events like Family Fun Day to watch live matches, try the sport, and meet the players who keep this tradition alive.
We welcome schools, youth groups, and cultural organizations to experience Tuj Lub firsthand through community demonstrations and outreach events.
Help us preserve this tradition, support our local players, and continue offering free cultural programs to the public.
Support PABNEEG today!
For sponsorships or inquiries, contact: info@pabneeg.org