Colorado Mountain Tour - Glenwood Springs 2023

A blistering 41.32 Megaminx average delivered by Luke Garrett set the tone for an intense day of niche-format solving in the Rocky Mountains. Garrett was untouchable on the twelve-sided puzzle, registering a 38.92 best single to seal the title. His mastery across alternative challenges headlined Colorado Mountain Tour - Glenwood Springs 2023, where specialty puzzles took center stage alongside traditional brackets. Across six distinct events, competitors tackled non-standard geometries, massive layers, and memory-based solving in an action-packed showcase.

The Glenwood Springs Community Center welcomed 41 competitors on June 13, 2023, for a high-altitude cubing competition packed with 14 rounds of action. Hosted in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA, the gathering drew both seasoned champions and determined newcomers ready to push their personal limits. With a schedule leaning heavily into technical events, the one-day WCA competition highlighted disciplines that demand deep mechanical familiarity and extensive analytical preparation beyond the standard 3x3 cube.

The 7x7x7 Cube presented the ultimate test of endurance and spatial management, drawing a determined field of 20 entrants across a single decisive round. Luke Garrett commanded the big cube final, securing victory with a winning average of 2:33.08 and an event-best single of 2:28.49. Brayden Wroten claimed the second spot on the podium with a 3:08.01 mark, edging Jack Roe, who finished third in 3:08.11 during a tight finish for silver.

Blindfolded solving added another layer of intrigue, where competitors tackled the standard cube entirely from memory after brief inspection. Brayden Wroten navigated the discipline to take the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title, recording a winning single of 51.33 across two rounds of play. Elizabeth Cutting finished as runner-up with an impressive 51.63 single, while Hassan Khanani rounded out the top three with a 53.84 single, illustrating the tight margins separating the top blind solvers.

The distinctive Pyraminx and Skewb brackets produced high-velocity turnarounds throughout the day. Simon Kellum captured the Pyraminx crown with a 2.40 average, including a rapid 1.56 single, ahead of Garrett at 2.58 and Wroten at 3.34. In Skewb, Zayn Khanani took top honors with a 1.94 average and a 1.65 single, leading Wroten at 2.62 and Kellum at 2.66. Both puzzle types demanded intense fingertip control and brief inspection times.

Away from the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the schedule. Karson Bunker entered four events and notched a 17.26 personal best in the 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 30.7 percent, while also completing a first ever attempt at Megaminx in 3:45.48 and a Skewb personal best of 15.59. Jack Craddock tackled Megaminx for the first time, logging a 3:14.87, and lowered his Pyraminx personal best to 5.23, an improvement of 24.2 percent. Caleb CJ Behrman achieved a 15.51 personal best in the 3x3, cutting 19.1 percent from his previous mark, and recorded a 9.76 in his first ever attempt at Pyraminx. Kemal Guder sliced 42.4 percent off his previous Skewb mark for an 8.57 personal best and improved his Pyraminx mark by 22 percent down to 6.72.

The personal breakthroughs continued as Caden Tullous entered all six events at Colorado Mountain Tour - Glenwood Springs 2023, highlighted by a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded in 3:22.44, a 28.7 percent improvement in Pyraminx to 4.40, and a 12th-place finish in Skewb. Albert So Yik Ban took on five events and posted personal bests across three disciplines, including a 6.58 in Skewb, a 5.10 in Pyraminx, and a 2:17.50 in Megaminx. Dimitri Alvey logged a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 17.08 alongside a 22.70 personal best in 3x3. Elijah Maiz contested four events, earning a 16th-place finish in Pyraminx after posting a 6.26 in his first official attempt at the puzzle.

The classic Rubik's Cube drew 40 entrants across three elimination rounds, producing rapid speedcubing action. Luke Garrett added a third title to his collection by winning the final with a 5.76 average and a best single of 5.25. Simon Kellum secured second place with a 7.97 average, while Zayn Khanani followed closely in third at 7.99. The 3x3 results capped a dominant multi-event showing for the podium finishers, who traded top spots across both standard and specialty categories.

The high level of execution demonstrated the depth of talent present at Colorado Mountain Tour - Glenwood Springs 2023. Speed cubing in the region proved strong across every bracket, as the 18 podium spots were filled by competitors demonstrating versatility on varied hardware. As the season progresses, the performances registered in Glenwood Springs established high benchmarks for big cubes, Megaminx, and blindfolded events heading into future competitions.

With six champions decided and personal milestones celebrated across all skill levels, the gathering highlighted the complete spectrum of official solving. The combination of technical discipline, quick thinking, and dedication from all 41 participants made the tournament a standout stop on the tour calendar.