US Nationals 2009

It's fun comparing yourself to the qualification times here. I qualify for all the BLD events, and then two surprises: megaminx and master magic. I really stink at megaminx and master magic. I guess that just shows that most everyone else in the USA also stinks at them. :)

I'm also currently the last-place US qualifier at all 3 of the BLD events, and next-to-last for megaminx. It's like you picked the cutoffs just for me! :)

Well, multi you're kinda... 1st...

Actually, no, I don't qualify for multi. The rule (that just got posted) is:
3. In order to qualify for the final round, competitors must achieve 2 points in under 10 minutes, 3 points in under 30 minutes, or more than 4 points in 1 hour.

Since I've never done a multi in under an hour in competition, I don't qualify. :)

Edit: The way I read this rule, only the following US competitors prequalify for multi:
5 Rowe Hessler 4/4 18:34 USA Kearny Kardinal 2008
6 Alex Cook 5/6 36:35 USA Captain's Cove 2008
7 Alexander Yu 3/3 11:03 USA Princeton Open 2008
8 Timothy Sun 3/3 15:08 USA Beijing Spring Open 2008
10 Andy Tsao 2/2 9:02 USA EPGY California Open 2008


The site says there are 16 qualifiers. So either the rule is wrong, the number of qualifiers is wrong, or I am misinterpreting the rule.

I realize that with the regulations in blindfold solving, the qualifications are kind of up in the air and not exactly clear. I do intend for Mike Hughey and his 15/15 attempt to qualify for the multi-bld event. As I feel it's pretty clear he's demonstrated he's competent, and not some n00b.

If there are any questions about the qualifications, please let me know. I think at some point, we should put up a list. Maybe I'll get around to it.
 
I realized that I do not qualify for any events yet. :(
3x3, 3x3 OH and 2x2 are achievable on a good day.
3x3 BLD on a really good day.
4x4 is impossible unless I can use Hi-games.net
Pyraminx and Magic should be easy.
All other events are really impossible.
I won't go unless I go to a few more competitions before that and actually qualify for several events. The 2 attempts for FMC is very attractive.
 
I realized that I do not qualify for any events yet. :(
3x3, 3x3 OH and 2x2 are achievable on a good day.
3x3 BLD on a really good day.
4x4 is impossible unless I can use Hi-games.net
Pyraminx and Magic should be easy.
All other events are really impossible.
I won't go unless I go to a few more competitions before that and actually qualify for several events. The 2 attempts for FMC is very attractive.

I don't understand why qualifying for certain events would make it more attractive to come. Let me put it this way...

Let's say you barely qualify for 3x3 speed solve. Well, chances are you won't make it past the first round because you are competing against a pool that has already all qualified, and you would probably finish close to the bottom there. So you get five solves, and that's it.

Let's say you don't qualify. You still get 5 solves. And that's it.

What's the difference?
 
So you can compete in every single category and get all 5 solves without qualifying for anything? Or do you get 2 solves as in combined finals?

All events have a time limit. For most of the events, the qualification round is an average (except Megaminx, 6x6x6, and 7x7x7). For 3x3x3, the limit is 3 minutes, so if you get 45 seconds, you'll be able to do your average of 5, but you won't be making it to the next round. If you're doing 9 minute 5x5x5 solves, you won't be doing an average, but if you get under 4 minutes, you will be (but won't make it to the next round if you don't get under 160 seconds).
 
So you can compete in every single category and get all 5 solves without qualifying for anything? Or do you get 2 solves as in combined finals?

All events have a time limit. For most of the events, the qualification round is an average (except Megaminx, 6x6x6, and 7x7x7). For 3x3x3, the limit is 3 minutes, so if you get 45 seconds, you'll be able to do your average of 5, but you won't be making it to the next round. If you're doing 9 minute 5x5x5 solves, you won't be doing an average, but if you get under 4 minutes, you will be (but won't make it to the next round if you don't get under 160 seconds).

Yeah, what Bryan said. Look at the time limits for the qualification rounds. If you are under the time limits, you will get all your solves. If you are over the time limit, you will probably only get 2 solves.

I think the time limits are pretty generous. No one serious about 3x3 should take over 3 minutes. (Really, 45 seconds...) and if you take over 4 minutes in solving a 5x5, at least, I think most people can get under 4 minutes on the 5x5 with minimal practice. (I personally can't, but that's because I don't practice.)
 
So you can compete in every single category and get all 5 solves without qualifying for anything? Or do you get 2 solves as in combined finals?

All events have a time limit. For most of the events, the qualification round is an average (except Megaminx, 6x6x6, and 7x7x7). For 3x3x3, the limit is 3 minutes, so if you get 45 seconds, you'll be able to do your average of 5, but you won't be making it to the next round. If you're doing 9 minute 5x5x5 solves, you won't be doing an average, but if you get under 4 minutes, you will be (but won't make it to the next round if you don't get under 160 seconds).

Yeah, what Bryan said. Look at the time limits for the qualification rounds. If you are under the time limits, you will get all your solves. If you are over the time limit, you will probably only get 2 solves.

I think the time limits are pretty generous. No one serious about 3x3 should take over 3 minutes. (Really, 45 seconds...) and if you take over 4 minutes in solving a 5x5, at least, I think most people can get under 4 minutes on the 5x5 with minimal practice. (I personally can't, but that's because I don't practice.)

Ok, cool! Then I would go unless the trip turns out to be way too expensive.
 
I think the change in the qualification rounds to full sets of 5 really make a big difference for us slow folks. Last year it was kind of disappointing knowing you'd only get 2 solves in most events; it's really nice we have the extra day so it'll be possible to do full averages! A very nice change from last year.

I have to admit the likelihood of my coming to this is low. But I won't rule it out - I hope I can manage to come somehow.
 
I have to admit the likelihood of my coming to this is low. But I won't rule it out - I hope I can manage to come somehow.

I'm in the same boat. Not that I would be competing in anything beyond the qualification rounds, but it would still be fun to go and help out.

Maybe we can meet in Chicago and have a Midwest Slow Person Can't Afford to Fly To California Open. :)
 
the odds of my getting to go have just sky-rocketed.

I'm soo looking forward to this. I'm going to have to buy a magic and master magic too, haha. big cube/multi BLDs will be the only events I miss out on.

carpooling options from so-Cal are still open for discussion btw.... :D
 
I don't have a way to pay online, so can I pay at the Berkeley Spring? Or something like that?

The reason that the registration is not online right now is because we don't have the housing situation set up yet. Once we get that negotiated, we will allow competitors to pay for on-campus dorm housing (at a cheap price I hope) with their registration.

If this is not something you need, then it may be possible for you to pay at Berkeley. Though if you live in the area, it might be fun to stay in a dorm with all the other cubers.
 
I don't have a way to pay online, so can I pay at the Berkeley Spring? Or something like that?

The reason that the registration is not online right now is because we don't have the housing situation set up yet. Once we get that negotiated, we will allow competitors to pay for on-campus dorm housing (at a cheap price I hope) with their registration.

If this is not something you need, then it may be possible for you to pay at Berkeley. Though if you live in the area, it might be fun to stay in a dorm with all the other cubers.

Well, I meant that I myself can't pay online because my parents won't let me use their credit cards or anything. I only need to pay for registration though, because I might stay at my friend's house (he lives in Palo Alto).
 
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