Cheers Mike. Yes the first four were OLL parity. Can't remember about PLL but at least two. There was one solve where I had an adjacent PLL parity and didn't spot it until I was throwing the cube down - nearly a DNF.
Well, funny you should ask that, because I went to my first comp this weekend (Glorious North). I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was the oldest competitor by quite a margin, and when I first arrived I thought I was going to feel out of place, but that passed after I had talked to a few people and settled in. It was great fun to meet like-minded people and talk about the hobby I enjoy so much, since I don't know anyone else who does it. Glorious North was a smaller event, ~50 competitors, and I can imagine at a larger event like US Nats it would have been a different and probably more difficult experience.
As for results, I went with no expectations or goals, and did better than I thought I might, so wasn't disappointed. Here's how it went, in chronological order.
- 4x4: For my first competitive event I decided to not even think about speed, and just try to get it solved without screwing up. My hands were still a bit shaky though. There was an average cut of 1:30 so I was delighted to get a 1:27 on the second solve, so I could continue. After that I relaxed a bit and even got a 1:14 best, which would be a good time for me even at home. Average 1:29.
- 5x5: Little hope of getting anywhere the 2:30 average cut, so I wasn't too nervous, and got a 3:03 best which would be pretty good for me even at home. Would have been sub-3 if I hadn't mangled the PLL.
- 2x2: Came off the rails early on day two. Although I got a couple of 6s, there were also a 9 and 10, and a shocker of a DNF - screwed up PBL three times over. The first two times I started solving the cube again. On the third screw-up I just hit the timer. It was already on 20-something and a DNF on the score sheet would be less embarrassing
. Final average 8.95. Actually I found 2x2 the hardest event because there's just no time to regain composure.
- 3x3: Tried to stay calm for the main event and was pleased to get three sub-20s in the first 4 solves, including a 17.05. I was in with a real chance of a sub-20 average and that made me nervous for the final solve. I didn't screw it up, but got a bit shaky and came in at 24 for an average of 20.69. Was gutted to miss out on the second round by 0.02 seconds!
So all in all, a good weekend, and even if my results had sucked I think I'd still be happy and up for doing it again. Maybe you could try a smaller comp and see if that works better for you? And if comps are not for you, it doesn't matter, as long as you're still enjoying the hobby.
But with shacky competition hand a whole different story. Nice to see you managed to do well! I bet if you had gone to a 2nd round with less nerves the result might have been even better. Also good job on the 4X4 and 5X5. I did not even register for that. Oh man, that sucks. I bet if you would have made a nice average the whole 'experience' would have so much different. I had a crap first average on my first competition. And on my second... LOL. In fact I have never had a good avarage. I once had a 25 average when I was averaging at home. Now these days I am happy with good singles. If I break my single PB on a competition I had a great day. And competitions are more about talking to people. Not really about times. I care much more about my averages at home. Competition is too much of a short moment in which you can be better than normal or suck major
Well, funny you should ask that, because I went to my first comp this weekend (Glorious North). I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was the oldest competitor by quite a margin, and when I first arrived I thought I was going to feel out of place, but that passed after I had talked to a few people and settled in. It was great fun to meet like-minded people and talk about the hobby I enjoy so much, since I don't know anyone else who does it. Glorious North was a smaller event, ~50 competitors, and I can imagine at a larger event like US Nats it would have been a different and probably more difficult experience.
As for results, I went with no expectations or goals, and did better than I thought I might, so wasn't disappointed. Here's how it went, in chronological order.
- 4x4: For my first competitive event I decided to not even think about speed, and just try to get it solved without screwing up. My hands were still a bit shaky though. There was an average cut of 1:30 so I was delighted to get a 1:27 on the second solve, so I could continue. After that I relaxed a bit and even got a 1:14 best, which would be a good time for me even at home. Average 1:29.
- 5x5: Little hope of getting anywhere the 2:30 average cut, so I wasn't too nervous, and got a 3:03 best which would be pretty good for me even at home. Would have been sub-3 if I hadn't mangled the PLL.
- 2x2: Came off the rails early on day two. Although I got a couple of 6s, there were also a 9 and 10, and a shocker of a DNF - screwed up PBL three times over. The first two times I started solving the cube again. On the third screw-up I just hit the timer. It was already on 20-something and a DNF on the score sheet would be less embarrassing
- 3x3: Tried to stay calm for the main event and was pleased to get three sub-20s in the first 4 solves, including a 17.05. I was in with a real chance of a sub-20 average and that made me nervous for the final solve. I didn't screw it up, but got a bit shaky and came in at 24 for an average of 20.69. Was gutted to miss out on the second round by 0.02 seconds!
So all in all, a good weekend, and even if my results had sucked I think I'd still be happy and up for doing it again. Maybe you could try a smaller comp and see if that works better for you? And if comps are not for you, it doesn't matter, as long as you're still enjoying the hobby.
LOL, wrong PLL.. and then when I try to correct it, again I perform the wrong PLL..Nice solves Marcel. I'm not so sure about the third one though.
I like HuaLong a lot but do not get same times as with the Gans 356. Too many lockups.
Cheers. Yeah I was glad I went to the comp and will definitely try to go to more. The nerves were definitely there, but also I think I had much better focus than when I'm solving at home, so it worked both ways. My only goal was to not utterly screw up and embarrass myself and it was a relief to achieve that goalAwesome Mark! I really really hope I can get a 3X3 average around the 20 secs. At home no problem
Although times where very important to me before now I enjoy the competition more just for being there.
Not yet. I'm learning step by step. I can solve corners BLD, with about 3/4 success rate, and am working on edges now. I can just about solve edges with M2 sighted, and once I feel I have all the algs down, I will learn the letters and memo for edges. For the last few solves I have memorized corners, then solved edges sighted, then closed eyes and solved corners without looking at them again, to test whether I can recall the corner memo after doing something else.
If you really have not tried the Gans 356 I would think you will love it for OH. It is the most forgiving cube there is. But then again, you might hate it like some do
When I am sub 10 on 3X3 then I might look into it again
LOL. I saw your response on Tapatalk and when I saw "when am sub-10", I thought you were referring to Pyra.
How are you getting on with the pointy puzzle btw? I saw you've posted a keyhole video...
I will probably use it on my next competition.
Maybe you should time yourself for an hour... Ao50 / Ao100 can be really quick for puzzles like 2x2 and Pyra.
Did an Ao12 for you because I am not yet used to speedsolving this puzzle:
