Torrance Fisher

My story started with cracking a whip I made from rope and tape in 2013, following Adam Winrich’s design for a simple starter whip. I went through several of those while I was learning, and even advanced to two handed whip cracking. Eventually I wanted to learn to braid something a little more durable. I started with nylon whips, following Nick Schrader’s videos. After using those to hone the basics, I dove into all the online whipmaking content I could find, slowly evolving my methods until they were distinctly my own.

For maybe a year or two I also dabbled in cowhide whipmaking, but it didn’t catch on. I made paracord whipmaking my focus until 2019, when I started learning kangaroo leather braiding under the guidance and tutelage of Paul Nolan. Much like my previous evolutions, between Paul’s decades of experience guiding me as well as my dedication to the new medium, I felt my own personal technique coming through. During that same year I traveled across the United States making valuable connections with members of the whip community, and received additional insights and knowledge from Peter Thorndike, Blake Gorey, Todd Rex, and Daniel Borton. There is no replacement for learning directly from people who have put years of hard work into their practice, and I’m very thankful for the guidance they’ve given me as well as their friendship.

Whipmaking will always be a personal journey, and the experiences I’ve sought over the last decade is the story of mine. No two whips are quite the same, and every time you start braiding a whip you have the opportunity to learn something new, try a new technique, or refine a detail. The whips available on this website represent the culmination of what these talented people have taught me, and the individual lessons learned from every whip I’ve made.

The names of my whips come from the swords that fascinated me as a child. The hero’s journey is crafted in many different ways, and while mine brought me to whips instead of swords, I feel that the dedication and craftsmanship is very much the same. Like Joseph Campbell said, “if the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s”.

Accolades

2017 LA whip convention, 3rd place, 2 handed freestyle

2018 LA whip convention, 1st place, 1 handed freestyle

2019 LA whip convention, 3rd place, long whip cracking contest

2019 LA whip convention, 3rd place, 2 handed freestyle

2019 LA whip convention, 2nd place, 1 handed freestyle

2019 LA whip convention, 2nd place, synthetic whip making

2020 LA whip convention, 3rd place, synthetic whip making

2020 LA whip convention, 2nd place, speed and accuracy

2023 LA Whip Convention, 1st place, 2 handed freestyle