US Nationals and Open 2009

[JBCM627]

Considering Stanford has exams (as well as OSU, where I go, and probably most schools on quarters ) until June 10th, I'd say hold it at the very soonest the weekend after that. And as schools can start in early August, so I'd say July would be ideal.

Out of curiosity, where at Stanford would it be held? Kresge again, like EPGY08? If possible, a place with some tables to cube at would be nice.

I'd definately be for holding it there, and would hopefully be able to come. I know transportation is cheap and getting to the university is not at all a problem, and dont think finding a place to stay would be either.

 

[Lucas Garron]

Considering Stanford has exams (as well as OSU, where I go, and probably most schools on quarters ) until June 10th, I'd say hold it at the very soonest the weekend after that.

That's a good issue. If we hold it at Stanford on June 13-15, I could probably get a good bunch of cubers to stay for the weekend and help organize the competition (even if we get kicked out of dorms on the 12th). If it's held any later, probably only a few dedicated people could help.

(Then again, I think "most" high schools will end on the 13th.)

Out of curiosity, where at Stanford would it be held? Kresge again, like EPGY08?

Kresge was very nice indeed. I'm hoping we'll host EPGY there again next February.
However (and this is still very tentative, so don't take it too seriously - I haven't even talked to Tyson yet), I think Memorial Auditorium is a fantastic place for a cube competition, and I would be willing to do anything possible to try to get that venue. (I think the main considerations for the university would be availability, and cost.)

 

[DavidWoner]

oh poopoo. I never read past the second post of the "girls in this forum thread." well now I feel like a doodoobrain.

 

[blade740]

I think Stanford would be an excellent place to hold the competition. There is a large cubing (and organizing) contingent in the bay area. We can actually, y'know, check out the venue before we go.

Yes, Kresge was an amazing venue. It had a decent-sized stage, good lighting, a sound system, and hundreds of seats. Not only that, but the seats had the little built in tables in case you want something like that. If Memorial Auditorium is anything like that, it will be a great place to hold a competition.

 

[Dene]

oh poopoo. I never read past the second post of the "girls in this forum thread." well now I feel like a doodoobrain.

Hee hee, you are only the last in a long list of those who think or have thought I'm a girl.

 

[DavidWoner]

oh poopoo. I never read past the second post of the "girls in this forum thread." well now I feel like a doodoobrain.

Hee hee, you are only the last in a long list of those who think or have thought I'm a girl.

well I was always a little confused because your mannerisms did not seem very girlish. But I remember hearing it in a few different places so I just kind of accepted it as true. Well at least its cleared up.

 

[AvGalen]

Yippie, Yippie, Yippie, Yippie, Yippie, ...., Yippie

Another US Open at another part of the US I haven't been to. I really don't care when you have it, I will just be there. If my (now ex) wife is still up for it we will be staying in the US for much longer and will do a lot of travelling around. Staying at other cubers house would be greatly appreciated, but youth hostels would be fine also (where else do you stay for 3 nights, only see your bed during 1 of those nights and then have an unknown girl just stepping into your bed (wrong bed) in the middle of the night?). Group activities like bbq etc would also be greatly appreciated. Then I could just reply to everyone on youtube that comments "you have no life" with "I just planned a bbq with friends for the weekend ............... in the US, what are you going to do?"

I agree that the venue in Chicago was better compared to Atlanta, but that was mainly because of the lights. I enjoyed all the passing people that watched the competition. For everyone that doesn't feel safe at night when walking back to their hotel/hostel I have this tip: Make friends with one of the local homeless guys, give him something to eat/drink and he will make sure you get to your desired location safely.

 

[Stefan]

Nonetheless, we would still probably find a hotel for the competition as these things end up being large gatherings in the hotel lobby anyway.

Are residences on campus a viable option?
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/rde/scs/individuals/index.html
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/rde/scs/conferences/youth.html

I just remember something like this from when I studied in Canada, don't know how good that is or how much it costs or when exactly it's available.

I agree that the venue in Chicago was better compared to Atlanta, but that was mainly because of the lights.

Also very much because...

- Better sound. In Atlanta I barely understood anything said on stage (with or without microphone), and when I asked some Americans, even they often hadn't understood it.

- More mystery events, I think because we could start earlier each day and thus had more time.

- No mugging/death threats (as far as I know).

 

[hdskull]

Stanford sounds good, I was wishing that it would be somewhere in the west.

 

[Tyson]

Vault312: You so sure about that?

Tyson: Don't worry about me getting to a competition, I was only joking, I just really wanted to make a post that resembled your "bad idea", just to be the one to do it .
My situation is: UCLA for the semester, back home on the 13th of June (It'll be the 14th, maybe 15th when I'm back in NZ. I'm going to lose a day of my life!) I'm 100% sure that I will make it to a competition at some stage during the period. In fact, US nationals would hardly be worth the effort, since I probably wouldn't qualify for anything (except maybe 5x5/6x6/7x7).

Hi Dene,

When do you get to UCLA? There should be a great line-up of competitions in Los Angeles and San Diego for you to attend.

As for qualifications, I'm hoping with the better resources, we won't have to do qualifications in the same way. Though really, qualifications is the same as cutting people from the first round into the second round or combined final.

-Tyson

 

[Tyson]

Nonetheless, we would still probably find a hotel for the competition as these things end up being large gatherings in the hotel lobby anyway.

Are residences on campus a viable option?
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/rde/scs/individuals/index.html
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/rde/scs/conferences/youth.html

I just remember something like this from when I studied in Canada, don't know how good that is or how much it costs or when exactly it's available.

I agree that the venue in Chicago was better compared to Atlanta, but that was mainly because of the lights.

Also very much because...

- Better sound. In Atlanta I barely understood anything said on stage (with or without microphone), and when I asked some Americans, even they often hadn't understood it.

- More mystery events, I think because we could start earlier each day and thus had more time.

- No mugging/death threats (as far as I know).

Really what we need to do is just set aside an entire day for nothing but mystery events. Pin the tail on the Pochmann anyone?

 

[Dene]

When do you get to UCLA? There should be a great line-up of competitions in Los Angeles and San Diego for you to attend.

The 4th of January, or around about. Maybe I might be able to make it to SF 09, we'll have to see though.

As for qualifications, I'm hoping with the better resources, we won't have to do qualifications in the same way. Though really, qualifications is the same as cutting people from the first round into the second round or combined final.

Oh I see. Even so, I wouldn't make it past the first round >.<

 

[CharlieCooper]

i really am up for coming to the us for nationals, with arnaud, funds permitting. nothing against that part of america, it will be a new place for me and will be very exciting!

as for the time of year, i think early august would be best for me. exams in england will be happening throughout june, and july is very likely when i shall be moving house and therefore quite busy.

slightly concerned about qualifying for things, but nevermind

 

[Tyson]

i really am up for coming to the us for nationals, with arnaud, funds permitting. nothing against that part of america, it will be a new place for me and will be very exciting!

as for the time of year, i think early august would be best for me. exams in england will be happening throughout june, and july is very likely when i shall be moving house and therefore quite busy.

slightly concerned about qualifying for things, but nevermind

Again with qualifications, I would like to do my best to create a situation where people who are not the absolute fastest and most elite cubers will have a chance to participate as much as possible. At the same time though, I ask for understanding from everyone that with 100+ competitors, time is always an issue, and it's quite difficult for us to let people do 5x5x5 averages when each solve takes 8 minutes.

(Though, we could set up a second room for slower competitors who don't meet a certain qualification time to complete their averages official under the scrutiny of a WCA judge. Utilizing Stanford as a venue should give us ample access to classrooms.)

"Nothing against that part of America"? That area is actually a fabulous part of America! Only topped by Socorro, NM.

 

[CharlieCooper]

Again with qualifications, I would like to do my best to create a situation where people who are not the absolute fastest and most elite cubers will have a chance to participate as much as possible. At the same time though, I ask for understanding from everyone that with 100+ competitors, time is always an issue, and it's quite difficult for us to let people do 5x5x5 averages when each solve takes 8 minutes.

(Though, we could set up a second room for slower competitors who don't meet a certain qualification time to complete their averages official under the scrutiny of a WCA judge. Utilizing Stanford as a venue should give us ample access to classrooms.)

"Nothing against that part of America"? That area is actually a fabulous part of America! Only topped by Socorro, NM.

this is a really good idea. i'm by no means the fastest, but if i'm coming from england i'd like to participate as much as possible!

okay... so maybe i should have phrased it better. i meant i had nothing against it because i know little about it! i would be VERY excited to visit.. is that better?

 

[ajmorgan25]

Well, now that we know a little bit about the US Open...is there going to be a World Championships in 2009?

 

[blade740]

That was one thing I was disappointed in this year at nationals. Only 11 people who were not prequalified actually made it to the first round for 3x3. The slowest single admitted was 16.72. More than half of the averages in the first round were slower than this. I think a few more people should have been allowed to qualify through (perhaps by increasing the difficulty to prequalify)

 

[masterofthebass]

The point of the pre-qualification, was to duke it out between competitors. obviously the average for pre-qualification is going to be higher than the allowed single. The qualification round was to take the top X ppl, not via a certain time.

 

[moogra]

What determines someone as being prequalified? Does having been to a competition count, or does one have to have a preset time to beat? A 16 was needed? Then I also saw that some people with averages way above 16 had a by. Can someone explain how this works?

To stay on topic, I think a Stanford is a great idea. College doesn't really start in the 3rd week of August, but I know high schools here do.

 

[shelley]

Competitors were prequalified if they had an average under 18.00 seconds in competition.