[Help Thread] Advice and Tips for Competitions

[Sg.Speedcuber]

In this challenges I try to calm myself down because losing to my friend destroys my reputation!

Epic kiasuism.

Typical Singaporean mah!Hence the name :Sg.Speedcuber

 

[Neroflux]

In this challenges I try to calm myself down because losing to my friend destroys my reputation!

Epic kiasuism.

Typical Singaporean mah!Hence the name :Sg.Speedcuber

i like losing in nearly category. watch me mess up the 3x3 finals!

ok i was joking about messing up.

 

[coolmission]

Focus on the cube, take a deep breath and do not think about people watching you. That certainly worked for me. I was shaking during the first 4x4x4 solve (my first official solve ever), but took a few seconds before the second one to clear my head, and the second solve was 20-30 seconds faster. Same with 3x3x3; first solve 45.XX, then I started to focus and git to sub-30.

Hope this helps

 

[Zarxrax]

Focus and try to tune everything out except your cube.

It's pretty natural to get nervous in front of other people, but if you do it often you can get used to it. Do you ever cube in public places? Try doing that sometimes.

 

[whauk]

just take everything cool. like me in aachen: i always had hakans 4x4 and solved it all the time. when the judge took me to the timer i still went on sat down and still went on. after the judge seemed to be ready i put the cube away. if you are always cubing you never get thoughts like:"ok this is gonna be a good solve i wont mess anything up" but you get thoughts like:"hey where is the red green edge again"
cubing in public places is maybe a good idea too. i always do it when going by bus. (but take a non popping cube)

 

[Sg.Speedcuber]

Focus and try to tune everything out except your cube.

It's pretty natural to get nervous in front of other people, but if you do it often you can get used to it. Do you ever cube in public places? Try doing that sometimes.

I always get fast times at home but not in public.

 

[EmersonHerrmann]

Act like you're doing an average at home.

 

[AJelsma]

the funny thing is I cube to calm my nerves try doing that before comp. and make sure your ready and it will help

 

[TurbulentTurtle]

I am going to be attending my first competition this coming month too, so I know exactly how you feel. I always get nervous even when random people are watching me solve, so I end up messing really horribly on soomething, like F2L pairing, OLLs and PLLs. I have even popped several times due to nervousness.

I have an plan though, if I happen to know that my solve is going way above my standard time, I will just solve it as slowly as possible. And even when it is solved, just sit there, looking around at the beautiful scenery, check out the other cubers, maybe cut my nails some, and then when I am good and ready, I will stop the timer.

 

[rachmaninovian]

I MUST GET TO THE FINALS AND USE A KEYCHAIN CUBE IN THE FINALS.

seems impossible...i'm tooooooooooo slow.

 

[tim]

I MUST GET TO THE FINALS AND USE A KEYCHAIN CUBE IN THE FINALS.

seems impossible...i'm tooooooooooo slow.

And it even violates rule 3j:

3j) Puzzles must be clean and must not have any textures, markings, elevated pieces, damages, or other differences that distinguish one piece from a similar piece.

 

[Mike Hughey]

I MUST GET TO THE FINALS AND USE A KEYCHAIN CUBE IN THE FINALS.

seems impossible...i'm tooooooooooo slow.

And it even violates rule 3j:

3j) Puzzles must be clean and must not have any textures, markings, elevated pieces, damages, or other differences that distinguish one piece from a similar piece.

But if you remove the keychain, fill the hole, and properly sticker the cube, then it wouldn't violate any rules.

 

[d4m4s74]

solve a lot in front of people, friends, random people the bus

get used to it

 

[Thompson]

I don't really care about getting nervous in competitions. Just go up there with a good attitude, and focus on the cube. It's not like anyone is going to care if you mess up. Everyone there will just want to support you.

 

[Sa967St]

Doing a lot of practice solves right before you compete can also help calm you down since you'd be more prepared.

 

[reghrhre]

try to imagine that no ones there, also imagine that your at home. And try not to stare at the audience, just look at the cube

 

[MistArts]

Talk with other cubers. Make some friends. Practice/race with them while you are there and eventually think it as a gathering/meeting, not a competiton.

 

[JLarsen]

Talk with other cubers. Make some friends. Practice/race with them while you are there and eventually think it as a gathering/meeting, not a competiton.

Great point. When people on my bus are like do you do that a lot? Then I get used to them, and sort of in a way break the ice with he/she. It's the strangers part that my shaky hands don't like.

 

[TurbulentTurtle]

Picture the cube naked.

 

[Sir E Brum]

Practice under pressure and you will get used to it.