Back in Boise 2024

Wade Hawkins set the tone at Back in Boise 2024 by securing the 3x3x3 Cube title with a scorching 7.80 winning average and a single solve of 7.18. Across the 10 rounds held at the Hampton Inn & Suites Boise/Spectrum on March 2, 2024, competitors tackled intense solve formats where precision was critical. In events where every turn counts and a single slip can shatter an entire average, the 61 competitors who converged on Boise, Idaho, USA showed remarkable focus across 9 distinct events.

The one-day WCA competition brought together solvers of all styles to test their skills in modern speedcubing. Eduardo Garcia delivered a formidable demonstration of big-cube control, capturing first place in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 36.95 average to hold off Isaac Myers at 37.92 and Evan Beck at 39.50. Garcia doubled his collection of titles by taking the 5x5x5 Cube in 1:08.69, edging past Wade Hawkins who registered a 1:09.61 and Wilson Hettinger who completed the podium with 1:14.06.

The classic Rubik's Cube final featured a deep field of 59 competitors across two rounds of play. Wade Hawkins topped the 3x3 results by combining consistency with raw speed, staying well clear of runner-up James Wei who posted a 9.12 average and Eduardo Garcia who took third with 9.72. Hawkins also displayed his adaptability in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, taking gold with a 12.85 mark, while Wilson Hettinger earned second place with 14.26 and Isaac Myers claimed third in 18.19.

Short-format puzzles brought extraordinary drama and razor-thin margins throughout the schedule. James Wei won the 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.41 average, narrowly beating Eduardo Garcia who logged 3.44 and Cade Beck at 3.54. Meanwhile, Corbin Rodriguez led the Pyraminx event with a 3.43 winning average ahead of Isaac Myers at 4.48 and Kian Cline at 4.58. In Clock, Wilson Hettinger dominated the field with a 6.53 average, finishing well ahead of Andrew Hart and Cade Beck.

Beyond the championship podiums, several solvers made dramatic strides in their individual speed cubing journeys. Nathan Haban turned in an exceptional performance across 7 events, cutting his Megaminx personal best down to 1:16.56, which was 51.7% faster than his prior mark, while also slashing his Square-1 best to 13.93 for a 53.4% improvement. Mark Richey tackled 6 events, trying Megaminx for the first time with a 2:16.41 and lowering his 2x2x2 personal best by 23.8% to 5.87. Cyrus Paradis took on Clock for the first time with an 18.69 single and dropped his Pyraminx record by 28.6% to 5.80. Jax Krogh improved his Pyraminx benchmark to 9.31, an improvement of 39.3%, while also logging his first ever one-handed attempt in 1:11.58.

The depth of the event roster gave many others the opportunity to step up to fresh challenges at this cubing competition. Luke Wei took on 5 events and posted a 15.12 in his very first Square-1 attempt to finish 7th, alongside his first 4x4x4 effort of 48.51. Cade Wixom entered 8 events, recording his first official Clock solve of 25.80 and his first Pyraminx solve of 10.48. Robert G. Klusaw made his tournament debut, taking on 6 events and posting a 24.77 in his first 3x3x3 Cube solve. Connor King also completed his first official meet, entering 4 events and establishing a mark of 24.40 on Clock and 7.16 on 2x2x2.

Specialty disciplines rounded out the competitive program with strong performances across diverse twisty puzzles. Isaac Buck claimed victory in the Square-1 event with an average of 13.36, outlasting Kian Cline who posted 14.52 and Cade Beck who took third with 14.60. In Megaminx, Cade Beck secured the top spot on the podium with a winning mark of 1:10.24, showing total control across all twelve faces.

The 2024 tournament demonstrated the vibrant community spirit and competitive standard thriving in Boise. All 27 available podium places went to competitors representing the USA, marking an impressive regional showcase across every format on the program. As the final times were locked in and tables cleared, Back in Boise 2024 concluded having delivered both masterclasses from veteran winners and remarkable breakthroughs from emerging solvers.