Older cubers discussions

[Jason Green]

Oh my goodness look at this scramble from cstimer. The only time I actually thought during inspection I might could get a PB it was so easy. Unfortunately my clumsy fingers didn't do that great. I tried it several more times for fun and finally got a 9.66.

Generated By csTimer on 2017-10-25
single: 14.33

Time List:
1. 14.33 U B2 L2 U2 F2 U' L2 B2 F2 U2 L D2 B' L2 B2 D2 U' F2 U2

 

[newtonbase]

Does anybody know the history of xTreme sports whether it was a smooth transition or some kind of controversy between existing organization who developed the community vs big corporate like Red Bulls or Rubik's?

It's quite hard to tell how these things have been received in the main. You'd probably have to look through equivalent forums but there's a few examples of complaints about damaging the purity of sports such as downhill mountain biking and paddle boarding. There has been a lot of controversy over their ownership of RB Leipzig football team. They have a history of taking sports and ramping up excitement levels which they do very well.
Bottom line is that this won't stop us cubing, it won't destroy the WCA and it will bring publicity to our hobby. I don't like how it has been handled but I'm not worried about it and it should be fun to watch.

 

[JohnnyReggae]

Oh my goodness look at this scramble from cstimer. The only time I actually thought during inspection I might could get a PB it was so easy. Unfortunately my clumsy fingers didn't do that great. I tried it several more times for fun and finally got a 9.66.

Generated By csTimer on 2017-10-25
single: 14.33

Time List:
1. 14.33 U B2 L2 U2 F2 U' L2 B2 F2 U2 L D2 B' L2 B2 D2 U' F2 U2

Nice scramble. Got a 12.51 with it

 

[muchacho]

Oh my goodness look at this scramble from cstimer. The only time I actually thought during inspection I might could get a PB it was so easy. Unfortunately my clumsy fingers didn't do that great. I tried it several more times for fun and finally got a 9.66.

Generated By csTimer on 2017-10-25
single: 14.33

Time List:
1. 14.33 U B2 L2 U2 F2 U' L2 B2 F2 U2 L D2 B' L2 B2 D2 U' F2 U2

Nice for Roux, 16.256, but I did CMLL twice

edit: 12.095 at second try

 

[newtonbase]

I've been doing sighted practice on various puzzles in advance of the UKs this weekend. I'm beginning to think that I shouldn't have neglected everything in lieu of blind. My times are pretty appalling so 3BLD is my only real chance of a PB and that's taken a bit of a downturn. I may have to just spend Saturday practicing/judging.

 

[moralsh]

Oh my goodness look at this scramble from cstimer. The only time I actually thought during inspection I might could get a PB it was so easy. Unfortunately my clumsy fingers didn't do that great. I tried it several more times for fun and finally got a 9.66.

Generated By csTimer on 2017-10-25
single: 14.33

Time List:
1. 14.33 U B2 L2 U2 F2 U' L2 B2 F2 U2 L D2 B' L2 B2 D2 U' F2 U2

I was going to write here just to wish good luck for all the British attending UK champs this weekend but couldn't resisst to try the scramble, it was my first ever 11 (11.96). I have also a 9, couple of 10s and several 12s but it's cool to finally have filled all the numbers.

Again, good luck to all of you competing!

 

[Shaky Hands]

Yes, indeed it’s UK Championships imminently and I’ve already arrived, having a practice session with a bottle of ale.

My main hopes of a PB are in FMC and Clock. Will see if I can do so. Have done a fair bit of 3x3 practice whilst learning extra OLL cases (53/57 in the bag now) but not expecting anything amazing there.

Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces too.

 

[Selkie]

Apologies for my absence of late. Just wanted to pop in to wish all my fellow cubing brethren all the best of luck at UKC. Sorry I will not be there this year but go break some Pbs.

 

[mark49152]

Apologies for my absence of late. Just wanted to pop in to wish all my fellow cubing brethren all the best of luck at UKC. Sorry I will not be there this year but go break some Pbs.

We'll miss you mate. Bad luck not making it. See you at Weston for sure though!

 

[Jason Green]

I can't say I'm surprised by what Dana says, in fact I'm very happy about it and it's great she is supporting real cubing still! However I am somewhat surprised at how crooked this whole thing sounds now. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by that.

 

[mitja]

I can't say I'm surprised by what Dana says, in fact I'm very happy about it and it's great she is supporting real cubing still! However I am somewhat surprised at how crooked this whole thing sounds now. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by that.

I wouldn't worry about it. It could only make speedcubing more popular. I know that in our country Red Bull contacted our asociation and asked us to help organize the competition. That way it would be run by people that know what they are doing and it has nothing to do with national or international ranking. The task of speedcubers is to know which is the main organisation and that is WCA.
there is a lot of improvement that WCA could do within:
1. There should be separated judging panel. I see to many children , sorry it doesn't make a serious impression. I would separate children events from adult. Also female, maybe it would bring more girls. I know children can be extremely fast, but anyway it doesn't belong together. Scramblers and judges should not compete.
2. It should be more popularised in media
3. I believe Bld events should be more popular, they look very impressive.
4. One on one elimination does look attractive as it is competition. It could also be done like elimination of 4, 6, 8..
5. Relays could be attractive
6. Using Rubik only brand in Red Bull is the most stupid idea of them all. I am sure it won't last, maybe that's the very thing that will bury the competition.

 

[moralsh]

Awesome Mark, sub 5 4BLD and 13:25 5BLD best of luck on Multi!

 

[One Wheel]

I wouldn't worry about it. It could only make speedcubing more popular. I know that in our country Red Bull contacted our asociation and asked us to help organize the competition. That way it would be run by people that know what they are doing and it has nothing to do with national or international ranking. The task of speedcubers is to know which is the main organisation and that is WCA.
there is a lot of improvement that WCA could do within:
1. There should be separated judging panel. I see to many children , sorry it doesn't make a serious impression. I would separate children events from adult. Also female, maybe it would bring more girls. I know children can be extremely fast, but anyway it doesn't belong together. Scramblers and judges should not compete.
2. It should be more popularised in media
3. I believe Bld events should be more popular, they look very impressive.
4. One on one elimination does look attractive as it is competition. It could also be done like elimination of 4, 6, 8..
5. Relays could be attractive
6. Using Rubik only brand in Red Bull is the most stupid idea of them all. I am sure it won't last, maybe that's the very thing that will bury the competition.

My quick thoughts on your list:
1. Are you saying to hold the events separately, or count the results separately? I would be on board with the latter, but I'm not sure the first is practical. It's an entirely different competition, but I have some experience with showing dairy cattle. In those competitions there are typically separate entries and prizes for "junior" (roughly through high school) and "open" classes, but they compete head to head. As far as scramblers and judges competing, I agree in principle, perhaps corporate sponsorship would allow hiring professional judges and scramblers. Short of that, my suspicion is that this kind of rule would make it very difficult to staff a competition.
2. 100% agreed. I think that Red Bull's format is good in that regard.
3. Agreed.
4. What do you mean by elimination of 4, 6, 8? I do not think that one-on-one elimination would be a good fit for larger competitions, as it makes determining placings below the top few very difficult, but for a media event it's great.
5. Yes.
6. Yes, 100%. I believe that I understood Dana Yi to say in her video that she would not compete if this were not changed. I find it hard to believe that Red Bull would not make a strong effort to open that up if they get the kind of push-back that it sounds like they're getting.

 

[pglewis]

Awesome Mark, sub 5 4BLD and 13:25 5BLD best of luck on Multi!

Just checked cube comps and I gotta say: man, that's a tough crowd on big bld you guys got over there

Way to go Mark, and good luck on the upcoming events.

 

[h2f]

Congrats Mark, @mark49152 Results are awsome.

 

[newtonbase]

That's 2 silvers for @mark49152. Can't wait for MBLD. Hope I can fit in some judging. Competition is likely to be fierce.

 

[mitja]

My quick thoughts on your list:
1. Are you saying to hold the events separately, or count the results separately? I would be on board with the latter, but I'm not sure the first is practical. It's an entirely different competition, but I have some experience with showing dairy cattle. In those competitions there are typically separate entries and prizes for "junior" (roughly through high school) and "open" classes, but they compete head to head. As far as scramblers and judges competing, I agree in principle, perhaps corporate sponsorship would allow hiring professional judges and scramblers. Short of that, my suspicion is that this kind of rule would make it very difficult to staff a competition.
2. 100% agreed. I think that Red Bull's format is good in that regard.
3. Agreed.
4. What do you mean by elimination of 4, 6, 8? I do not think that one-on-one elimination would be a good fit for larger competitions, as it makes determining placings below the top few very difficult, but for a media event it's great.
5. Yes.
6. Yes, 100%. I believe that I understood Dana Yi to say in her video that she would not compete if this were not changed. I find it hard to believe that Red Bull would not make a strong effort to open that up if they get the kind of push-back that it sounds like they're getting.

I was thinking out of my experience from working in World dance competitions. There is also hundreds of events that call them self "world championship". Most of us over the world agree about one official organization ( International Dance Organization) all the rest are just like Red Bull trying to get their piece of a pie.
We also learned on the fly, how to organize events, judges, and appropriate age divisions over many decades
There is always two choices:
To be a serious top lever sports event or to work like a family gathering event/festival. It is up to WCA to be the first but at the same time to organize additional gala spectacles with the best cubers, like a show event on the high level, not like a cheap talent show.

 

[mitja]

Congrats Mark, @mark49152 Results are awsome.

Congratulations

 

[mark49152]

Thanks everyone for the kind congrats. UKC day 1 was successful, great fun, and tiring! As well as the 4BLD and 5BLD, I did three attempts at FMC and got a 41 single, 48.67 mean, using just CFOP. It's the first time I've done FMC and I really enjoyed it. I wish I had enough time to learn some proper FMC techniques and get more into it!

 

[pglewis]

While it's fresh in my mind: @Jason Green, you've been collecting an image list and iirc you're a computer guy, too. I assume whatever you're using supports one of CSV/XML/JSON for exports. A bit of a pet project I'd like to attempt is a networked, shared image repository where you could import your personal image list. The idea is that you could tag some of your images public and when someone else is blanking out on a particular pair they could check what's out there and pick some to import to their list. Plenty of UI and other challenges would have to be worked out but if done well I think it could be a killer time saver for people at this stage. I'm imagining all the web searches I could save myself if something like this were already running and populated.