The World Cube Association has seen considerable growth in the last few years! We are trying our best to host as many competitions as our collective volunteer effort can handle.

We take much pride in being able to host so many competitions in our free time, but so frequently these competitions reach their respective competitor limits. This means that competitors are often missing out on competitions because they are too late to register. Morever, newer competitors sometimes struggle to advance beyond initial rounds due to strict advancements - and especially strict cutoffs and time limits in the less common events. To address these challenges, we introduce Pretzel Mania, a competition format designed to foster inclusivity and offer ample opportunities for all participants.

We can accommodate up to 375 competitors! This expansive space allows us to set generous cutoffs, time limits, and round advancements, ensuring a rewarding experience for all skill levels. This event provides an opportunity for such a sizable portion of our community to come together and spend the weekend sharing our passion of speedcubing!

Pretzel Mania aims to be a welcoming environment for newcomers and seasoned cubers alike. Our dedicated team of unpaid volunteers is committed to realizing this vision, despite the considerable resources required. Rest assured, we spare no effort in making this event a resounding success, ensuring its continuity in the years to come.

In the coming months, we will be looking into procuring sponsors and coordinating some additional events to further enhance the experience, and the website will be updated accordingly. If you have any ideas and/or contacts, feel free to reach out!

For those of you new to cubing, WELCOME!

We wanted to let you know this event is perfectly fine for cubers of any age and experience. We just ask you know a couple things before coming to compete...

First, please be familiar with the WCA Regulations, found here:
https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/

Of course, those regulations contain a lot of legalese, so we have a video made specifically for new cubers, just to show them the basics of competing. This video will explain most of what any cuber competing for the first time will need to know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPL3eV-A0ww&t=2s

If you have any questions after this video, we will be having a new competitor tutorial, Saturday morning of the competition. That would be the perfect time to ask those questions and clear up any confusion.

If you are stoked to compete and ready to sign up, head over to the registration tab, click register, and fill out the information it asks for. This will help you get set up the WCA's system and one step closer to your first official solve!

Q&A:

Q: Do I use my own cube to compete?

A: YES! You are responsible for your own hardware in order to compete, however, we will have a vendor at this competition, from which you can buy puzzles if your current ones have seen better days.

Q: What is the normal age of competitors at these events?

A: All ages are welcome, but in general competitors are between 10 and 20 years old. Don't let this stop you though, everyone can and should cube!

Q: What is the competition like?

A; Competitions are a bunch of tables where nerds like us get to sit and discuss our favorite thing, Cubes! Of course in addition there is competing, which will occupy one side of the competition hall, where you will see lots of timers flickering with contestants new personal bests. Most competitions have a break for lunch, and the competing is split up into heats, as to better organize who competes when. (Check the Groups tab and listen at the competition for more info on this.)

Q: How do I find results?

A: All results are posted on the WCA page a couple of days after the competition finishes. However, for the day of competing, go to https://live.worldcubeassociation.org/ to find information about current events. This is also where you will find information about 2nd and 3rd rounds of events.

Q: Why am I not on the registration list yet?

A: Make sure you pay you entrance fee in order to be automatically placed on the registered list, which will also guarantee you a spot in the competition. If payment may be any issue, or you are not sure if you can attend, use the contact button to talk to us, and see if we can work out another payment strategy, or have you pay on arrival at the compeition. No matter what you situation may be however, please register online. It is much easier for us to have you register now and pay later, then to have to input information at another time.

Q: Are there age divisions?

A: Nope! All cometitors compete in the same group.

Q: Can I have fun at this event?

A: HECK YES! Cubing is amazing, and we sincerely hope you enjoy the competition!

ALL COMPETITORS MUST READ THIS TAB BEFORE REGISTERING

For First-Time Competitors

All newcomers must be familiar with the WCA Regulations before competing. This video gives a basic overview of the rules.

In addition, please read this document before coming to the competition.

For All Competitors

When you arrive, you will receive a card with personalized information detailing your events and what group you will be competing in for each event. In addition, you will also have judging/scrambling assignments on your card. Every competitor is expected to help out during the event(s) they are registered for. The card will look like the following:

If you do not arrive to help during your scheduled event, and there are not enough staff members, we reserve the right to disqualify you from competing.

The registration fee for this competition is $60.00. The WCA Stripe payment system is being used for this competition. You will be prompted to pay following registration. You are not considered registered until you compete. Any requested changes to registration before the deadline will be honored before registration is closed.

If you paid but don't see your name on the registration list within 48 hours, please email the organizers.

You must register and pay online to compete. No at-the-door registrations or payments will be accepted under any circumstances. We realize this may not be ideal for some people, but this allows us to have an exact count of people attending and lets us use staff resources more effectively the day of the competition. Spectators may attend for free.

If you have registered and are no longer able to attend, please contact us. If it is before May 11th 11:59PM MT you are eligible for a 75% refund. Attempting to file a chargeback for the registration fee will lead to being blacklisted from future WCA events.

To staff at this competition, you must complete this application

Staff will be given a (busy) schedule to follow throughout the competition. Staff for this competition will be limited to approximately 35 applicants, and decisions will be communicated once registration closes.

Your $60 registration fee will be refunded if your application is accepted, but you must register and pay for the competition to be eligible for the refund. Anyone who does not register for the competition will not be able to compete.

Benefits for staffing at this competition include waived registration fee, and free lunch on both days of the competition, and potentially more.

Please note that staff members will be given a very rigorous staffing schedule in return for the perks outlined above. They are expected to be proactive throughout the competition and to inform the organizers and Delegates ASAP if they find they are unable to attend.

Staff is open and encouraged for non-competitors as well!

Groups are to be announced.

We are using stationary seating for this competition where competitors will complete all five attempts in their average at the same solving station. Assigned station numbers for each round can be found at the above website. If you are missing a station number for a round when you are competing, please see a delegate at the start of the round.

Live results will be posted on WCA Live

If the registration limit has been reached, competitors may join the waitlist by paying their registration fee (which will be refunded after the waitlist deadline of May 11th, 11:59PM MT is reached).

To be announced