To sign up for unofficial events, click here. Note that you also need to register for the competition using the Register tab.

This competition will contain a variety of unofficial events: 3x3 One Side, 3x3 with Oven Mitts, Face-Turning Octahedron, 2-Person Mini Guildford, Magic, and Master Magic! For more information on each event, see below.

These events are not recognized by the World Cube Association, so you will have to fill out this form to register for the unofficial events. Filling out this form does NOT give you a spot in the competition; you must also complete the form on the Register tab and pay the competition fee.

The time limits below are not final, and we may modify them depending on registration numbers.

3x3 One Side
Description: Competitors solve one side of a 3x3 Cube. You only have to solve a side, not a full layer! The permutation of the pieces doesn't matter, as long as one side has all of the correct colors. For example, in this picture, one side is solved.
Format: Average of 5
Time limit: 2:00.00 per solve
Competitor limit: 100
Additional regulations:
- There is a 15-second inspection period.
- You may solve any side of your choice, and you don't have to solve the same side each time.
- Usual misalignment penalties apply, e.g. the penalty is +2 if a side is 1 move away from being solved.

3x3 with Oven Mitts
Description: Competitors solve a 3x3 Cube with oven mitts. Yes, we're serious.
Format: Mean of 3
Cumulative time limit: 12:00.00 total
Competitor limit: 100
Additional regulations:
- There is a 15-second inspection period.
- You MUST use standard oven mitts, such as the one shown here. This means one large pouch for four of your fingers, one pouch for your thumb, and a thick layer for heat protection. You may not use gloves with a pouch for each finger, or any other oven mitts that provide an unfair advantage.
- You are strongly encouraged to bring your own oven mitts, but the organizers will have a limited number of oven mitts available.
- You may start and stop the timer using your forearms, but the oven mitts must not be in contact with the puzzle while starting or stopping the timer.
- You may not touch the cube without oven mitts. Penalty: DNF. Exception: During inspection, you may touch the cube without oven mitts.

Face-Turning Octahedron (FTO)
Description: Competitors solve a Face-Turning Octahedron.
Format: Average of 5
Cutoff: 2 attempts to get < 2:30.00
Time limit: 4:00.00 per solve
Competitor limit: None
Additional regulations:
- Normal speedsolving regulations apply (including 15 seconds of inspection).

2-Person Mini Guildford
Description: 2 competitors complete a Mini Guildford. This means they solve the following puzzles: 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, Pyraminx, Megaminx, Skewb, Square-1, Clock, and 3x3 One-Handed.
Format: Best of 1
Time limit: 15:00.00
Competitor limit: 20 teams (40 competitors total)
Additional regulations:
- There is a 15-second inspection period.
- +2 penalties are cumulative, e.g. if 2 puzzles are off by one move, the penalty is +4.
- For solves under 10 minutes: the last person to finish solving stops the Stackmat timer.
- Teams may divide the puzzles however they wish.

Magic
Description: Competitors solve the Magic panels, as shown in this Average of 5.
Format: Average of 5
Time limit: 30.00 per solve
Competitor limit: None
Additional regulations:
- For Magic and Master Magic only, competitors are permitted to bring their own Speed Stacks timers, even if these timers are from older generations that are no longer allowed by the WCA Regulations. For example, if you bring a Gen2 Speed Stacks timer, you are allowed to use it for Magic, even though it is not permitted for official WCA events. This is not required, and as always, competitors may use the timers we supply.

Master Magic
Description: Competitors solve the Master Magic, as shown in this catchy tutorial.
Format: Average of 5.
Time limit: 1:00.00 per solve
Competitor limit: None
Additional regulations:
- Same regulations as Magic.

For those of you new to cubing, welcome!

This competition is great for cubers of any age and experience. We just ask you know a couple things before coming!

First, please be familiar with the World Cube Association (WCA) Regulations, found here:
https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/

This video will explain most of what you'll need to know for your first competition. Please note you're still required to be familar with the regulations above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dSuMG--wm8

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

If you're excited to compete and ready to sign up, click on the "Register" tab and fill out the information it asks for. This will help you get set up in the WCA's system and bring you one step closer to your first official solve!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Am I too slow to compete?

If you can make the time limit (which is 10 minutes per solve for 3x3x3 Cube), you're not too slow to compete! When it comes to cubing competitions, the truth is, it doesn't actually matter how fast you are. Most people who go to competitions aren't competing to win. Instead, they're competing to beat their own personal competition records. But most importantly, they're here to meet other cubers! Cubing competitions are a great place to make friends who enjoy cubing just like you. If you can solve the cube, you should come!

Q: Do I use my own cube to compete?

A: Yes! You are responsible for bringing your own puzzles to compete. Please refer to section 3 of the WCA Regulations for more information on what puzzles are okay to use in competition. If you have any questions, please reach out!

Q: What is the competition like?

A: Competitions are a ton of fun! They're a great opportunity to meet new cubers, make new friends, and compete and get official times recognized by the World Cube Association. Competitions can be as social of an event as you would like them to be. The community is extremely welcoming and you can always sit at any table and strike up a conversation with another cuber. Competitions are great places to try new cubes as well!

Once you walk into the venue, you will most likely see your nametag at a check-in table. Once you grab your nametag, find a seat and start cubing! There will be a competitor/judge tutorial, which can be found on the schedule. After that, we will begin with the first event and will start calling events up by group. Your group numbers can be found on the back of your nametag. After you compete in an event, you will most likely also be expected to help judge another group. Competitions are very self-sufficient, so we rely heavily on the assistance of parents and cubers like you! Your assigned helping groups should also be listed on the back of your nametag. Once you are done competing in your event, you can go back to your table and continue to socialize!

Q: How do I find results?

A: During the competition, WCA Live will have all of the results manually entered throughout the day. To find the live results, go to the very top of this page, then click "WCA Live". Then, scroll to this competition and you're good to go! Official results will be posted after the competition, typically within a few days to a week.

Q: How do I get a WCA ID?

After official results are posted after the competition (see the above question), you will receive an email with information on your WCA ID.

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

A: Make sure you pay you registration fee in order to be eligible to be placed on the competitor list. If the competitor limit has been reached by the time your registration is completed, you will be placed onto a waitlist, which is listed in the order of when competitors pay. If you are not advanced from the waitlist before the waitlist closes (date found on Register tab), you will be issued a full refund.

Q: What is the typical 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: Are there age divisions?

A: Nope! All competitors compete together regardless of age.

Q: Can I bring guests?

A: Guests are welcome and there is no charge for bringing them.

Q: Is there anything else I should know before attending my first competition?

A: Yes! Attending your first competition can come with a lot of nerves, so try and focus on having fun and meeting new people. Always try your best and don't give up, even if you don't get the best results.

The competition will be held in the Gymnasium at Andrew P. Hill High School. The address is:

3200 Senter Rd
San Jose, CA 95111

We are looking for dedicated staff members for this competition.

Please fill out this form by Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM PST to apply for staff: https://forms.gle/pa41nmLqdiKphEqC8

While we will ask staff members to judge, staff members should also expect to be assigned other tasks (namely running, scrambling, and/or data entry). If chosen as staff, you are expected to stay throughout the competition, fulfill all of your assigned staff duties, and provide help when needed.

Staff benefits include:
- Staff lunch (Pizza)
- Partial registration refund ($15), based on a performance review
- Get to know your fellow staffers

The partial staff fee reimbursement will happen after the competition is over. We reserve the right to deny any reimbursement and staff benefits if you don't fullfill your staff duties.

Note that the staff reimbursement for this competition is $15, rather than the full registration fee.

Want to stay connected with the West Coast community? Join the West Coast Cubing Community Discord Server! Speak with other competitors from NorCal, SoCal, Nevada, Hawaii, and Tijuana and keep in touch with fellow competitors and meet new ones! Find out about competition discussion as it happens in real time, and even announcements for competitions before registration opens!

Click here to be directly taken to the Discord Server!

We also have a NorCal Cubing Community Facebook group!

Waitlist not yet created.

In the case of a waitlist, registrants on the waiting list may be accepted onto the competitor list until Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM PST.

Wondering if you made it to the next round? Click here to check live results on WCA Live. All data has to be entered manually before your final ranking for a round is available, so please be patient as we work hard to enter results.

Live results for unofficial events will be available on Cubing Contests: https://cubingcontests.com/competitions/BayAreaSideEventsDay2025