Impact of the year 2020 on the cubing community

[abunickabhi]

The year 2020 has been inactive in terms of the number of competitions being held throughout the 109 countries. Given that the second world championships was just a decade and half ago, speedcubing is new and evolving activity, and losing one whole year might be significant factor in determining the future course speedcubing might takes.

Personally, I always needed some long vacation or a break as an incentive to take up the cube and start learning newer methods and improve myself (2008-2013 period, which was before my first WCA competition). Over the last 6 years or so, I have seen many new cubers join, and many old cubers quit in a cycle of a few years. So, there is always the flux in the community participation.

Will the participation and enthusiasm increase in the coming years, or will some of the current batch of serious competitors would take a permanent hiatus (and move on to other hobbies/career) and we will get to see a newer batch of cubers who got inspired during this “lockdown” period, to take up speedcubing?


Reference: https://forum.worldcubeassociation.org/t/impact-of-the-year-2020-on-the-cubing-community/10136

 

[qwr]

I think cubing will only grow. I've seen so many new members here who got into cubing over the lockdowns because it's a fun activity you can do at home without being near other people, and I haven't seen evidence of many cubers stopping.

 

[RoundUpCubing]

I dont think 2020 will have any negative impact on the community.
No comps != no cubers
A lot of these new cubers from quarantine (myself included)
Have never been to a comp, therefore arent missing them yet, as they have never experienced them. Thats how i feel at least.

 

[Tony Fisher]

Given that the first world championships was just a decade and half ago,

Thought it was 1982?

 

[abunickabhi]

Thought it was 1982?

Thanks for pointing it out, I edited to the correct information.

 

[abunickabhi]

I think cubing will only grow. I've seen so many new members here who got into cubing over the lockdowns because it's a fun activity you can do at home without being near other people, and I haven't seen evidence of many cubers stopping.

I agree cubing will grow for sure.

The only concern is that many cubers who have been cubing for a few years, may drop out of cubing as their priorities will change in the 1 year without WCA competitions. Some of my friends who were active competitors in 2018,2019 have already quit cubing and moved on.