Ash Black attempts to solve a 7x7x7 cube during early round competition on Friday, Aug. 16 at the Provincial Speedcubing Championships in Nanaimo. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

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VIDEO: Elite speedcubers twisting and turning at Nanaimo competition

Aug 16, 2024 | 4:14 PM

NANAIMO — Some of the best ‘cubers’ in Canada, and some from around the world, are in the Harbour City this weekend.

The Speedcubing Provincial Championships are being hosted at Beban Park Social Centre in Nanaimo, with competition beginning Friday, Aug. 16 and running through Sunday, Aug. 18.

Over 140 competitors representing nine countries are taking part, including 17-year-old Jack Anderson from Bellingham, Washington, who was introduced to cubing in August 2020.

“My aunt recommended this Netflix documentary called ‘The Speed Cubers’, and that’s how I found out about competitions as well because it’s showcased around World Championships 2019. I bought a cube the very next day and went down the rabbit hole from there.”

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Anderson is entered into a variety of events, including the blindfolded 3x3x3, as well as his more favourite events like the 5x5x5 and 7x7x7 cubes.

He said learning to solve any cube, including the typical 3x3x3 is about practice and muscle memory, along with learning various techniques and algorithms to move pieces with purpose.

Studying the cube prior to beginning a solve is crucial as well.

“You look for the four white edges, you just think of the moves to put them in place. Planning the first 10 or so moves of their solve so when you pick up your cube you’re not looking for pieces, you already know what moves you’re going to do.”

Ash Black, also from Washington State, had a similar introduction to cubing.

He received one as a Christmas present nearly eight years ago and was hooked.

“It came with a little guidebook that taught you how to solve it, so I just learned from that. I just kept going from there, I went to my first competition six or seven months after I started, in June 2017 and I’ve just been going ever since.”

Black’s favourite event is the ‘skewb’ which splits a 3x3x3 cube on an angle, creating different shapes.

He’s hoping for a sub-two-second average time from his attempts in the event.

Black said solving a cube comes down to recognizing patterns and understanding how to manipulate the object.

“It’s not so much of a trick, rather just the steps you take to solve a cube. Typically you would solve the white side and make sure all the white pieces match up with each other. Then you’d solve the second [row] of the cube, then the last [row].”

Jack Anderson is competing in a variety of events, but hopes to win the 5x5x5 and 7x7x7 events in Nanaimo. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

One of the youngest competitors at the event is 12-year-old Achilles Standring.

He’s among the top 100 cubers in Canada for the 2x2x2 cube and has goals of reaching the top 100 worldwide in the event.

The line between success and failure in cubing is extremely fine, with times measured in thousandths of a second.

“Luck mostly,” Standring said when asked the difference technique-wise between a fast and slower time. “If you get a really good time, you probably got a bit lucky. But if you get a really bad time, it’s more likely that you messed up.”

Standring’s mother Vicky was watching intently while he competed.

The family now lives in China and cubing has taken them to some varied locations.

“He’s actually competed now on four continents. He’s competed in Egypt, Ecuador, Thailand and last year at the Canadian Championships in Vancouver and now he’s here.”

Events run all through the weekend at Beban Park, with a complete schedule available online.

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