[Help Thread] Questions From a New Speedcuber

[pglewis]

Oh awesome thanks! I'm not totally positive the date will work out for me but I will try very hard to get there. One question, if anyone knows the answer to this, what time should i be there? The schedule (in pglewis's post) says registration and 4x4 blindfolded begin at 8 am. If I sign up before online, which it sounds like you have to do anyway, do I still need to be there by 8?
Anyway, if I do come, I'll look for you pglewis! (but not really, that's sort of creepy.)

My only comp was just a few months ago so I'm still a n00b myself, but my experience from my first one is you just need to be there in time for your event(s). There will be multiple heats as they put competitors in groups (consider there will very likely be over 100 competitors), so you want to be early enough to find out what heat you are in. For the comp I attended, the organizers sent an email informing me of what heat I was in the night before the event. There was no further registration at that comp, I simply went up when my heat was called and handed them my cube to scramble.

I should be easy to find if you end up going, very likely I'll be the oldest competitor there

 

[Loiloiloi]

Which cube should I go for: 1) Gan 356 AIR or 2) Gan 356s V2
I'm into speedcubing and I currently own Rubik's brand cube... So basically, I want to buy my first speedcube...Please help....

The Gans 356 Air is basically an upgrade from the standard 356. So definitely get that. The only reason you would like the 356 original more is if you really can't stand light cubes.

 

[Luke Henize]

Ok thanks for the info

My only comp was just a few months ago so I'm still a n00b myself, but my experience from my first one is you just need to be there in time for your event(s). There will be multiple heats as they put competitors in groups (consider there will very likely be over 100 competitors), so you want to be early enough to find out what heat you are in. For the comp I attended, the organizers sent an email informing me of what heat I was in the night before the event. There was no further registration at that comp, I simply went up when my heat was called and handed them my cube to scramble.

I should be easy to find if you end up going, very likely I'll be the oldest competitor there

Ok thanks for the info. It looks like I might be coming after all, cuz my dad says he would love to take me! I'm not in the clear yet, but its looking better than it was yesterday. I'm in the process of learning cll for 2x2 because my times on ortega are pretty bad. And I'm sorry I know I keep on spamming questions (that's practically all this thread is) but are stickerless cubes comp legal? I think I might be using a lingo on 2x2, assuming I go, but I think I asked for a sticker less one. It doesn't really matter though, I think I might just order a weipo or something for the comp just in case.

 

[pglewis]

I'm in the process of learning cll for 2x2 because my times on ortega are pretty bad.

I wouldn't worry about your times too much, all i could muster was an 18.69 2x2 single in my first outing.

are stickerless cubes comp legal?

Yep, as of summer last year I believe: https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#3h2

 

[Roshan CM]

The Gans 356 Air is basically an upgrade from the standard 356. So definitely get that. The only reason you would like the 356 original more is if you really can't stand light cubes.

Thank you

 

[Luke Henize]

Well, I'm officially signed up for my first comp in Dayton, less than a month away. I'm very excited but honestly a little nervous. I expect to be using a weilong gts for it, so was just wondering if I could get some people's input on what lube to use. I should be able to get some before the comp, but I guess if not I'll just solve with it unlubed. And one other thing, when I signed up the competition, it asked if I wanted to judge. Honestly, I think it would be very fun to judge, but I wasn't sure if I had to take some kind of test before I did it, or arrive early. I guess it's not impossible, but I just didn't assume wca would let random people judge without even knowing how.

 

[GenTheSnail]

I'm very excited but honestly a little nervous. I expect to be using a weilong gts for it, so was just wondering if I could get some people's input on what lube to use. I should be able to get some before the comp, but I guess if not I'll just solve with it unlubed

I would suggest simply using a heavy lube on the core pieces.

And one other thing, when I signed up the competition, it asked if I wanted to judge. Honestly, I think it would be very fun to judge, but I wasn't sure if I had to take some kind of test before I did it, or arrive early. I guess it's not impossible, but I just didn't assume wca would let random people judge without even knowing how.

People have proposed a mandatory test in order to judge, but it hasn't been officialized yet. You don't need to show up extra early, though the organizers may have a new-cuber-introduction-talk before the comp starts.
Just make sure that you know the regulations regarding the events that you will want to judge and all the penalties that can be added.

 

[pglewis]

I'll probably be every bit as nervous as you. I'm setting very conservative goals for myself to try to keep the pressure off and if I do better than that... bonus. I'm currently averaging high 30s but I'll be quite happy with a sub 50 average at comp. I haven't even been practicing 2x2 and need to relearn Varasano/Ortega before comp.

 

[Rok]

First tell me ur time or how much u average.

 

[Luke Henize]

Well I don't really keep track of my best average of 5,12, etc., but I can give you a generalization of what I usually get. I only do 2x2 and 3x3. For 2x2, I only average around 12 seconds or so. I am working on learning cll, and am about half way done. When I do get a cll case that I know, I can usually get a solve around 8 or 9 seconds instead. For 3x3 I get about 45 seconds or so using CFOP. For both of these I use Rubik's Brand but that will soon change.

 

[obelisk477]

However, Alexander Lau averages ~7 and is the fastest Roux solver in the world.

Off-topic, but isn't Kian faster now?

 

[GenTheSnail]

Off-topic, but isn't Kian faster now?

I think kian has a sub-7 average of 100, and like a 7.1 average of 1000
iirc I read that Alexander posted a 7.00 average of 100 a while ago

@PenguinsDontFly do you know if you are the fastest roux solver now?


E: looking at his pbs, he has a 6.6 ao100 and a 6.8 ao1000 and global is 6.9

 

[Luke Henize]

I got a Weilong GTS today, and I can say that Rubik's Brand really sucks now. I never really thought this would be what a speed cube feels like, but either way it is awesome. Anyway, the tensions it came in are pretty loose compared to a lot of other peoples cubes I've seen in videos. So i popped off the caps and tried tightening it, but it didn't work. When I put the screwdriver in, I try turning it, but the screw doesn't budge. This is the same for loosening it as well. Any suggestions as to what I should do would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[One Wheel]

I got a Weilong GTS today, and I can say that Rubik's Brand really sucks now. I never really thought this would be what a speed cube feels like, but either way it is awesome. Anyway, the tensions it came in are pretty loose compared to a lot of other peoples cubes I've seen in videos. So i popped off the caps and tried tightening it, but it didn't work. When I put the screwdriver in, I try turning it, but the screw doesn't budge. This is the same for loosening it as well. Any suggestions as to what I should do would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

Most new cubes have some sort of loctite or something similar that makes it difficult to move the screws at first. Push in on the screwdriver and turn a little harder, and the screw should move. Make sure you have the right type and size of screwdriver, too, so you don't strip the head.

 

[Luke Henize]

Guess this thread is about dead, so I guess now would be a good time to wrap it up. Just wanted to say thanks for everyone who helped me out here. And whoever said I should go to a comp, thank you! I went to Dayton Winter 2017 yesterday and it was so much fun. I exceeded my expectations for both 3x3 and 2x2 (my only events.) I'm actually really bummed cuz it looks like there aren't any competitions in Ohio for a while. But anyway, thank you to everyone who helped me out with this post, you guys are the best.

 

[Thecuberrr]

nobody there is going to care or judge you

Apart from the judges

 

[pglewis]

Congrats, that was a great comp debut! I had a great time too and now I'm in the same boat post-comp, I'll be scouring upcoming comps for the next one reasonably close. Don't forget to add your WCA profile link now that you have one.