Older cubers discussions

[mark49152]

Oh man. The ghosts of competitions past came back to haunt me today.

I failed two cubes in my MBLD attempt.

Cube 1 - thought I had forgotten to execute parity like I did in London, so I fixed it at the end. But I hadn't forgotten. Cube was correct otherwise.

Cube 2 - executed edge targets as corners! Same reason for my failure at Macclesfield! WTF!!

Apart from those mistakes, my memo, execution and time management were fine, so I will keep plugging away at 8 until successful.

 

[h2f]

Nice Mark. 2nd in mbld anyway.

 

[mark49152]

I think maybe I should practise MBLD more. The problem is clearly that my memo method is different than usual 3BLD, using images instead of audio for edges. I am so accustomed to executing images as corners that I lapse into that. Maybe practice would help.

 

[teacher77]

There's cross on blue with two pairs ready to insert. I'll rearange it for you: https://alg.cubing.net/?setup=xU-_R...D-_L_F-_R&alg=x_L_F-_R-_Uw_L_R-&view=playback

ah damn I'm stupid. I was assuming X on white. Sorry guys.

 

[Shaky Hands]

Time for my usual post-competition analysis:

Saturday

• 2x2 - got a DNF average, don't practice this outside of the Weekly Comp. Not too fussed.
• 4x4 - messed up parity on first solve, slow second solve, disappointing
• Clock - PB single (16.57) and PB average (22.46) - improving, probably not only a competition PB but a better time than I've got at home too... finished 1 place off making the 2nd round
  
• 6x6 - PB single (7:38.93) - 42 second improvement, I'm preferring the Yuxin 6x6 over the Moyu

Sunday

• 3x3 - first round - terrible first 2 solves were sup-30, then the 3rd solve was so inefficient that I got 28.65 despite it being a PLL skip, 4th solve was a competition PB at 23.91, then the final solve was almost the same at 23.94.
• 3x3 - second round - better average than the 1st round despite messing up the 3rd solve badly (wrong OLL plus a corner twist.) Final solve was a +2 but wouldn't have made a PB average anyway
  
• 3x3 OH - nothing special, don't really practice this and I 2-look most OLL and 2-look all PLL except A, U and Y perms
  
• 5x5 - PB single of 3:16.81 - 28 second improvement... this is my favourite event and I'm enjoying making progress in it

Happy to get 5 competition PB's, but as usual the best thing is just being among people that share this great hobby.

To anyone that hasn't yet been to a competition, I can't recommend it enough.

 

[muchacho]

Congrats for those that competed this weekend!

My most to least favourite events right now:
3x3
3x3OH
(Kilominx)
2x2
Skewb
Megaminx
4x4
(Mirror blocks)

And probably BLD will be a high ranked one once I learn it.

 

[mafergut]

Sorry that I've been off the forums form the most part of past week. Last week of vacation so I wanted to get the most out of it. Congrats to all that competed this weekend. If you feel that you did not get the results you wanted remember that there are some of us that have never been to a comp yet so, enjoy the comp and don't get all fussed about it.

Replying to the thread started my @mark49152 ...

Events I compete in: none, sadly, as I said above

Events I like and would compete in: 2x2 to 7x7, 3BLD, Pyra, Skewb, Mega, OH. In order of "most to least liked" it would be something like 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, 2x2, OH, Mega, 3BLD, Skewb, Pyra, 7x7, 6x6

Events I might one day get interested in: FMC, MBLD, 4BLD, 5BLD but all these need a lot of effort to just learn (not to talk about gettting good at) so I might never find the willpower to really practise them.

Events with no appeal to me as of today: sq-1, clock. SQ-1 because I can't seem to get my head around to learning the dang algs, not even to properly do cube shape, otherwise I'd like it. Clock because it's not a twisty puzzle, so I have always wondered what clock is doing as part of the official WCA event list.

Events I could never conceive of even considering doing: feet. Fully agree with Mark here. My reason is different, though. I hate being barefoot as I'm prone to colds, so I could only practise this during July-August

 

[mark49152]

Congrats on the PBs @Shaky Hands. Some nice results in Oregon too.

My comp report is pretty much unchanged from Saturday. Failed again on Sunday to get PB in my main event despite it being well within reach. Did OK in 5x5 and 3x3 although I'm now on my worst run of comp 3x3 averages - four in a row without sub-20.

Overall not a great comp for me in terms of results, although I still enjoyed it thoroughly and that's the main thing. Highlights were 1:05 4x4 average PB, and another silver medal for the collection, in MBLD.

At Guildford, I think I might have to do clock again, otherwise there's a high probability my comp PB run will come to an end .

 

[MarcelP]

Cubing causing marital issues for anyone else?

If it would, I would quit cubing immediatly. No hobby could be as important as my family. I plan competitions way ahead, and go practicing at conveniant times. I make sure I am 100% available for family activities.

 

[Selkie]

@mark49152 Nice introduction to the world of clock there mate!! Also some nice PBs and grats on the MBLD podium

@Shaky Hands , Nice summary of events. Those PBs must be really pleasing and 5x5 is a great event to concentrate at as it will help a number of other puzzles mate.

 

[Selkie]

Cubing causing marital issues for anyone else?

Not for me but to be fair my wife is doing a degree as well as works full time so I tend to cube whilst she is studying but we both have interests we do apart and others we do together

 

[deadcat]

If it would, I would quit cubing immediatly. No hobby could be as important as my family. I plan competitions way ahead, and go practicing at conveniant times. I make sure I am 100% available for family activities.

That's a good approach. In my case I suppose it's more of a symptom than the cause...

 

[Jason Green]

That's a good approach. In my case I suppose it's more of a symptom than the cause...

Yeah I was considering how to respond with a similar idea. I am once divorced, things like hobbies usually are just a symptom. Or perhaps cubing is a target at which to aim the feelings from other issues???

Marriage troubles suck, good luck I feel for you.

 

[Chree]

If it would, I would quit cubing immediatly. No hobby could be as important as my family. I plan competitions way ahead, and go practicing at conveniant times. I make sure I am 100% available for family activities.

Here, here.

Yeah I was considering how to respond with a similar idea. I am once divorced, things like hobbies usually are just a symptom. Or perhaps cubing is a target at which to aim the feelings from other issues???

Marriage troubles suck, good luck I feel for you.

Oh wow, so I'm not the only divorced oldie here? Cubing was never an issue in my marriage, although there was some friction early on. My ex met me while I still loved video games, and I met her while she hated them with a passion. That sorta got beaten (not literally) out of me by the end of things. Cubing was one of the hobbies that survived, luckily. But you're right. If your hobbies are being pointed to as a problem in the relationship, chances are there's a larger problem underlying that.

Btw, @Jason Green, I got zero footage or pictures at Oregon 2016... was just too busy running around all day. I saw you taking a ton of videos/pictures. You think there's any footage of any of my solves in there? Particularly Megaminx?

Also, see if you can find me on facebook. Or the Facebook group "Seattle Cubing Society". A lot of our locals are there and would probably love to see any good shots you got.

Also, too... really good meeting you, man hope you had a great time.

 

[Jason Green]

@Chree I definitely got some footage of you, unfortunately probably no megaminx. Sorry about that I would have been happy to get some if I would've known. Actually Jayden asked me about getting his solves from 3x3 finals, so I'm going to try and drop box them or something. If you'd like all the raw footage I'm happy to let you have it (or your solves or whatever). I'm going to try to put together a competition video also.

I'll look for y'all on FB.

 

[Chree]

@Chree I definitely got some footage of you, unfortunately probably no megaminx. Sorry about that I would have been happy to get some if I would've known. Actually Jayden asked me about getting his solves from 3x3 finals, so I'm going to try and drop box them or something. If you'd like all the raw footage I'm happy to let you have it (or your solves our whatever). I'm going to try to put together a competition video also.

I'll look for y'all on FB.

Eeeeeeeexcellent. Thanks man and no worries about the megaminx stuff. I had no idea I was going to do as well as I did, as it was a freakishly good Round of attempts for me, tbh. 1:15.65 single and 1:19.36 average, netted me 3rd overall.

 

[MarcelP]

I am once divorced, things like hobbies usually are just a symptom.

Oh wow, so I'm not the only divorced oldie here?

I am 10 years into my second marriage. I learned the hard way that it takes more than 100% commitment in relationships.

 

[Jason Green]

BTW, I didn't do the spectator interviews at the comp. It was partially chicken I guess, but we were also kind of at the end of the mall and I felt like most of the people watching were there for the comp which is not what I was going for. I was envisioning more passing traffic. Great comp though not complaining about that!

Probably won't get 11 PBs at most comps. Haha. Funny this shows my 2x2 average as PB even though it was a tie.

http://m.cubecomps.com/competitions/1722/competitors/61

 

[MarcelP]

Probably won't get 11 PBs at most comps. Haha. Funny this shows my 2x2 average as PB even though it was a tie.

http://m.cubecomps.com/competitions/1722/competitors/61

You broke all my PB's except 3x3 average and 3x3 single. I give it one more competition.. LOL I told you, you are one of the fast growers..

 

[Jason Green]

You broke all my PB's except 3x3 average and 3x3 single. I give it one more competition.. LOL I told you, you are one of the fast growers..

You guys know so much more than me though. Thank you, I'm humbled.

Edit: Niece dropped my off at airport early and had my first sub 20 ao100, 19.61. The only "cheat" part was when I had to move around seating, or after lunch etc., I deleted a couple re-warmup solves.