Writing Article on the Rubik's Cube. Need All Your Help!

[somerandomkidmike]

Background Information: Full name, Age, Where you're from.
Name: Michael Swan
Age: 19
Where you're from: Saskatchewan, Canada

How long have you been cubing and how long did it take to solve your first cube?


I've been cubing since just before the beginning of high school. I think that was in 2006. I can't quite remember my first solve very well.

Can you describe the setting, emotions, and thoughts at the moment you solved your first cube?

The answer to that is no. I can probably assume that I was excited. However, I can remember my first BLD solve. That was at my sister's house in the middle of the night. I remember beating her high score on tetris, then attempting. I was very excited when I actually did it.

How do you challenge yourself to become a better solver?

I just solve it on the bus, and in class, and while I have nothing else to do. I don't really challenge myself as much as I could.

Most memorable cube solving experience?

In Grade 9, I solved it in front of the school at a school assembly. I told them that if I was going to do it, they'd have to replace mine, because it was getting to be impossible to use. The one they got me was from the dollar store, and it actually popped several times during the solve. I was lucky enough to finish the solve before it broke.

Can you attempt to sum up what it means to be a solver? Be as logical or abstract as your mind wants to be.

I solve rubik's cubes.

[PandaCuber]

Background Information:
Bryan Rusinque.
17
American with full Colombian family.

How long have you been cubing and how long did it take to solve your first cube?
Since July 2011. Took me about 20+ minutes. <-- First solve with no notes.


Can you describe the setting, emotions, and thoughts at the moment you solved your first cube?
Setting: Bedroom
Emotion: Happy to solve something most people cant
Thoughts: YAY YAY YAY.

How do you challenge yourself to become a better solver?
I just have fun. I get better cause its fun and I do it more and more.
When you dont worry about your times that much, thats when you become better.

Most memorable cube solving experience?
Learning full 42 CMLL algs. took forever.

Can you attempt to sum up what it means to be a solver? Be as logical or abstract as your mind wants to be.

A solver is someone who solves the cube and wants to be better at it. If you solve the cube as fast as you can and you practice it daily or even weekly, youre a speedsolver.
If that was even what you were asking...

[pdilla]

Justin-Anthony Roberts, 22, Kahala HI, USA

I first picked up a cube, with a true intent to solve it, in my first year in college on Feb. 22 2008. It took me 3 hours to solve it by utilizing Dan Brown's original video on YouTube. I was at the Bus Stop, iPhone in hand, and when I finally finished the last layer, I felt like I just hit the lottery. I DID THE IMPOSSIBLE. I was half expecting the world to end immediately afterwards.

I felt incredibly satisfied with myself, that is, until my curiosity overtook me as I began to question just how fast I could become in theory. So I looked up "World Record Rubik's Cube solve" on YouTube and found Edouard Chambon's former WR solve of 9.18 seconds. Long story short... CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

My most memorable cubing experience was my 6.68 second LL-skip. The solve felt amazing. I felt like I was going Super Saiyan or something. I thought to myself, "Alright! A sub 10 for sure," and then I saw the blocks begin to form... last slot... U2!! OMFG!!!

To be a solver is simple. To yearn to do something that no one else deems possible, and to do it well. VERY well.

[hyunchoi98]

Hyun Choi, 13, Hometown- Seoul, Korea Currently- New Jersey, USA


How long have you been cubing and how long did it take to solve your first cube?
I have started cubing for about 2.5 years, it took me a week to memorize the 'Dan Brown' algorithms to solve the cube.

Can you describe the setting, emotions, and thoughts at the moment you solved your first cube?
I was in front of a computer in the living room, looking at DB's video. I was 'OMG WTF I SOLVED A RUBIK'S CUBE!!!!! MOM I SOLVED A RUBIK'S CUBE!!!! AHHHH!!!!'

How do you challenge yourself to become a better solver?
I'm ashamed of myself... i don't really challenge my self at all.

Most memorable cube solving experience?
1. When i first solved it.
2. When i got my first sub-30 solve.
3. When i first solved my v cube 7

Can you attempt to sum up what it means to be a solver? Be as logical or abstract as your mind wants to be.

A solver is a person/non-person that uses their hands/feet, metal/plastic/glass etc parts that are powered by organic/electrical means to turn the sides of a twisty puzzle which purpose is to have the correct orientation of the stickers/tiles/paint that have a certain color/texture, and the orientation is the same color/texture on each side.

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Most solvers are people
and you are too. (probably)

[claudeccantin]

Background Information: Full name, Age, Where you're from.

How long have you been cubing and how long did it take to solve your first cube?
Can you describe the setting, emotions, and thoughts at the moment you solved your first cube?
How do you challenge yourself to become a better solver?
Most memorable cube solving experience?
Can you attempt to sum up what it means to be a solver? Be as logical or abstract as your mind wants to be.

Background Information: let's say I'm almost a half century old, and I'm from very close to where you are!

How long have you been cubing and how long did it take to solve your first cube?
I solved my first cube while at University circa 1981. A real Rubik's. There was no internet at the time, so it took me a LONG time to solve (weeks?). I don't remember if I solved it without "printed help", but I did eventually buy a book to help me speed my solving skills (I still have that book).

After a while, I put the cube aside; one of my sons picked it up three years ago, and started playing with it. He solved it, then showed his younger brother (that's antoineccantin; he replied to you earlier). I "re-learned" it last fall -- with the help of my kids. This last week, they just showed me "F2L" so I'm practising that in my very little spare time.

How do you challenge yourself to become a better solver?
I just don't have the time, so instead I see me as a catalyst to people who have a LOT more spare time than I do. Look at

http://cubes.lescale.com

It is the speedsolving cube club at their school in Rockland (just east of Ottawa). Look at the "media" tab for past articles, radio interviews and TV appearances the club has had over the last two years.

Most memorable cube solving experience?
Maybe my first real "in-competition" experience? It was at the MIT Spring 2012 competition this past February. Of the people who finished all their solves, I finished dead last in the competition :-) My time: just below 2 minutes. And I was not the oldest one at the competition.

Next to that would be on the "show floor" of a conference I was at this past November. One of the exhibitors was giving away some cubes with their names on it. There were three challenges for me: there was lettering on one side, so it had to be right-sided; the yellow and orange were "faded", so I could not see the difference between the colours (I'm colourblind) so I had to keep asking which was yellow and which was orange); and the cube was of really cheap quality so would turn even worst than the original, un-lubbed Rubik's cube from the 80's. Anyway, one of the cubes was mixed, so I proceeded to solve it for them. Needless to say, I was glad when it was solved!

I will let the real speedsolvers answer your last question. I enjoy solving it, but I am very slow at it. My excuse (and I'll stick to it for now) is that I have to constantly stop the cube and really look at the colours to make sure I know what they are (I did change a few of the stickers so that some colours are more fluorescent than others to help me).

I hope my post was not too long. If you want to see speedcubers in action, come to our competiton (RCN-NCR 2012) in Rockland on May 19. I guarrantee there will be at least one Canadian record broken (feet). Antoine is also looking to better his own Canadian records in Master Magic...

[insane569]

Background Information: Full name, Age, Where you're from.
Gabriel Luevano, 16, Mexico
How long have you been cubing and how long did it take to solve your first cube?About 2 years. Only 30 minutes to learn a basic method.
Can you describe the setting, emotions, and thoughts at the moment you solved your first cube?None really. I solved it and had an urge to do it again and do it faster.
How do you challenge yourself to become a better solver? Practice alot, In school while walking to class I practice one handed.
Most memorable cube solving experience? My first blindfolded solve in competition. Great time although the time could have been faster I was happy with it.
Can you attempt to sum up what it means to be a solver? Be as logical or abstract as your mind wants to be. Anyone who knows the notation for a cube and can solve it using nothing but their own memory/knowledge.

[NikWilliamNovak]

You guys should've seen my face after seeing and reading all the replies. Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out. I know there's a cube lying somewhere around my house and I wouldn't feel right finishing my article without solving my first cube. And to the Cantin's who live nearby, I added May 19 to my calendar so I will hopefully see you at the competition in Rockland. Thanks again everybody!

[JohnLaurain]

Background Information: Jacob Nishimura, 13, Coralville, IA

I've been cubing for 3.5 months, and my first timed solve took about 2 min.

I was excited that I had actually solved a Rubik's Cube, because I was a bit skeptical at the beginning :3

I challenge myself to be a better solver by trying to lose a second a week from my averages

My most memorable cube solving experience was when I was doing a really good solve, I had finished my f2l at ~8 seconds. I finished 2 Look OLL at ~11 seconds. I was about to get a new pb, but then I popped as I did the last turn for 2 Look PLL.

[UnAbusador]

Nestor Sanchez, 34, Dominican Republic.

the Rubiks cube always fascinated me. In 2010 I bogught one and failed at solving it on my own, so I learned Badmephisto's begginers method and I've been cubing ever since. I actually didn't enjoy my first solves that much as I considered them failures (I resorted to external help). I eventually bought a 4x4 and a domino's and after solving them on my own I was hooked on twisty puzzles. I now own and have solved by myself 50+ puzzles.

I don't challenge myself to become a better solver, I simple enjoy solving twisty puzzles over and over and with practice comes efficency and speed.

My most memorable solve would be figuring out the curvycopter for the very first time, it just felt great! A close second would be my PB of 13" on the rubiks: I had such a great looakhead and everything felt as it simply "clicked" in place.

A solver for me is anyone who enjoys challenges and unreavelling complex puzzles, be them physical or mental. It takes both technical and deductive abilities and passion to become a great one.

[5BLD]

Hey Everyone,

My name is Nik Novak and I am from Ottawa, Canada. I am practising journalism in school and have decided to write an article on the popularity of the Rubik's Cube. I was hoping that you fellows could help me better understand the mind of a solver. I'm looking to use your answers as quotes, so the more responses I get the more colourful article I can write. Thanks to all who participate and feel free to answer as many or as few questions as you have time for. And hell, I'm excited to learn from all you and become a little "cube cultured".

Background Information: Full name, Age, Where you're from.

How long have you been cubing and how long did it take to solve your first cube?
Can you describe the setting, emotions, and thoughts at the moment you solved your first cube?
How do you challenge yourself to become a better solver?
Most memorable cube solving experience?
Can you attempt to sum up what it means to be a solver? Be as logical or abstract as your mind wants to be.

Alex Lau, England, 14

Well I've been cubing for just over a year now- my first solve took ages- couple of weeks of just playing with it then i realised 'moving out of the way' and stuff. Then i left 2 corners and 2 edges iirc and used the beginner booklet...

When I first solved it I was pretty happy that I could do most of it myself. Month later my friend was solving his really fast (50s). He lent me Dan Harris' book which I have read only once because I thought the method was kinda boring.

I tried lots of other methods, including Heise which is still my favourite, then I picked Roux. Joined speedsolving, caused a lot of trouble, took a break and came back much faster... Now one of the fastest- i think this is my most memorable experience when I realised I was actually fast.

How to challenge myself? Well I just sit down and focus at a certain step at a time and push the time and efficiency down (well efficiency up actually). To make myself better I find teaching others helps too.

Solver: one who solves. One who likes to solve and does so often enough to be recognised as, well a solver.

Speedcuber: anybody solving for speed.