mazei
Veteran
But what Erik says is quite true. Basically, what Erik means is that try to find something that distracts you so that you don't feel nervous since you feel nervous because of your thoughts.
[Help Thread] Advice and Tips for Competitions
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pcharles93
Veteran
If all that is true, then Erik is more awesome than I think he is. You're taking this nervousness way too seriously. In my first competition, I worked all the nerves out within the first 3x3 round. I raced and talked to a few cubers who gave me tips, direction, and I broke my 5x5PB twice. I then shaved 2 seconds off my 3x3 average in the finals placing 10th. If you take the competition too seriously, you'll screw up and miss out on a lot of the friendly atmosphere that is present in any competition, cubing or whatever.
rahulkadukar
Veteran
Well it just happens on the firs few solves later when you become friends with everyone it becomes easy to do. Also dont think about your times too much and concentrate more on the solve
Sg.Speedcuber
Regular
Ok guys,thanks for all of your advice!you guys rock!!!
Crossed
Regular
I was nervous like hell when i was about to solve in Norwegian Open.
But when I started to solve, I concentrated as hell only at the cube.
I got a 28.8X avg of 5, which is very good for me.
But when I started to solve, I concentrated as hell only at the cube.
I got a 28.8X avg of 5, which is very good for me.
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adragast
Regular
this works for me:
3) This works when I'm playing basketball, think yourself as the best cuber out there, it helps a lot, for me at least.
hope that helps
At the norwegian open, I did the opposite... I thought that I was too slow anyway to get to any finals (even though I did qualify for them) or win anything and went quite relax as "nothing was at stake"...
snckdude
Regular
Competition tips
I plan on going to my first competition later this year. I have a feeling that i will get really nervous. Any body have any tips on how to get over this. Or will it go away after the first couple times.
Or any funny stories that happened at your first competition?
I plan on going to my first competition later this year. I have a feeling that i will get really nervous. Any body have any tips on how to get over this. Or will it go away after the first couple times.
Or any funny stories that happened at your first competition?
byu
Veteran
Don't do anything I did.
I'll tell you my story of my most recent comp:
So I mess up completely during my first 3x3 speedsolve by doing a J perm instead of an F perm.
During the second one, I get a pop.
I get a huge pop in the third one, and someone throws the piece at me. Shelley (who was judging me) throws it back, saying that I have to get it myself. So I go off the stage, grab it, come back, put in the piece, and stop the timer, not realizing that it was still 90º away from being solved, so I got a +2 also.
EDIT: Actually, sorry, Shelley didn't throw it back, she asked for it back.
In the fourth solve, I got another pop.
In the fifth solve, I decided to tighten my cube up so much since I was popping that it was too tight and was hard to move.
Then in 3x3 BLD:
First solve, I'm so confident that I'll do good, I've gotten consistent sub-3s. So I memorize the cube in sub-1 minute (that was fast for me back then) and I solve, I'm solving and on the last turn, the cube pops! I stop the timer, and look at it. It's perfectly solved, but the orange-yellow edge is not connected. I DNF since I "didn't solve it blindfolded as the WCA regulations clearly state"
Second solve, I forget the memo since I rush it. DNF
Third solve, I remember the memo from the second solve, somehow, and apply the execution for the second solve instead of the third. DNF.
I'm bad at comps. The only good thing I did there was get a pretty good magic average.
I'll tell you my story of my most recent comp:
So I mess up completely during my first 3x3 speedsolve by doing a J perm instead of an F perm.
During the second one, I get a pop.
I get a huge pop in the third one, and someone throws the piece at me. Shelley (who was judging me) throws it back, saying that I have to get it myself. So I go off the stage, grab it, come back, put in the piece, and stop the timer, not realizing that it was still 90º away from being solved, so I got a +2 also.
EDIT: Actually, sorry, Shelley didn't throw it back, she asked for it back.
In the fourth solve, I got another pop.
In the fifth solve, I decided to tighten my cube up so much since I was popping that it was too tight and was hard to move.
Then in 3x3 BLD:
First solve, I'm so confident that I'll do good, I've gotten consistent sub-3s. So I memorize the cube in sub-1 minute (that was fast for me back then) and I solve, I'm solving and on the last turn, the cube pops! I stop the timer, and look at it. It's perfectly solved, but the orange-yellow edge is not connected. I DNF since I "didn't solve it blindfolded as the WCA regulations clearly state"
Second solve, I forget the memo since I rush it. DNF
Third solve, I remember the memo from the second solve, somehow, and apply the execution for the second solve instead of the third. DNF.
I'm bad at comps. The only good thing I did there was get a pretty good magic average.
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Unknown.soul
Veteran
I can only dream, I had to miss out on many competitions that are only a few hours away
Hadley4000
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Nervousness is natural. I've been to 5, and still get a little bit nervous before my solves. Just try to relax and pretend you are at your desk. Concentrate on the cube, not the area.
Don't be intimidated by the faster cubers. When I went to my first comp(Averaging about 35) and saw Andrew Kang and Jason Baum solving I was like, (What am I doing?!?), but cubers are really supportive, give tips, etc. Sounds cliche, but it's all about having fun!
Try to meet some people. If you talk to some new cubers it helps you relax. Again, at my first comp I knew no one there. After chatting with some people, racing a bit, comparing algs, and general cube discussion, it really helped me chill a bit. I still talk to a lot of those guys.
And like I said earlier, it's all about fun, and you will have LOTS!
Don't be intimidated by the faster cubers. When I went to my first comp(Averaging about 35) and saw Andrew Kang and Jason Baum solving I was like, (What am I doing?!?), but cubers are really supportive, give tips, etc. Sounds cliche, but it's all about having fun!
Try to meet some people. If you talk to some new cubers it helps you relax. Again, at my first comp I knew no one there. After chatting with some people, racing a bit, comparing algs, and general cube discussion, it really helped me chill a bit. I still talk to a lot of those guys.
And like I said earlier, it's all about fun, and you will have LOTS!
byu
Veteran
Well, actually she asked for it back, she didn't throw it back, I edited my post. And for anyone who's wondering, I fixed my cube eventually
Dene
Premium Member
Pick one event that you care about, and don't worry about the rest. That way you will only mess up one event.
Tim Reynolds
Premium Member
Since I've been at college, I hardly ever practice, so I don't really care as much about cubing anymore. It's still fun, I still like going to competitions, but it doesn't matter to me how well I do. As a result, between my last two competitions, I broke about half of my personal records.
Cubing's for fun. It doesn't matter how well you do, it's just supposed to be fun. You've just got to convince yourself that it doesn't matter how well you do, and you'll be more relaxed.
Cubing's for fun. It doesn't matter how well you do, it's just supposed to be fun. You've just got to convince yourself that it doesn't matter how well you do, and you'll be more relaxed.
Bob
Premium Member
After a while, you (I?) just don't get nervous anymore. 
Kian
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No worries. Just take it easy, everyone wants you to do well but if you don't you need have a sense of humor and be able to laugh about it. There's always tomorrow.
Well, unless you're hit by a bus.
Well, unless you're hit by a bus.
Edam
Premium Member
get friends to judge you. i find it much easier to get better times if friends judge me.
Jhong253
Regular
Just chill out.
i luv pants
Regular
First Competition
Advice please?
I am going to LA Open on August 22nd and want to know if there is anything I can use to help me?
Like, how many solves should I do the day before/ day of competition?
Should I lube cube day before?
And just any other tips I should know.
Thanks and I hope to see many of you at LA Open!!
Advice please?
I am going to LA Open on August 22nd and want to know if there is anything I can use to help me?
Like, how many solves should I do the day before/ day of competition?
Should I lube cube day before?
And just any other tips I should know.
Thanks and I hope to see many of you at LA Open!!
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