Don't Turn SLOw Spring 2024

Forty-four competitors gathered at the Historic Octagon Barn for Don't Turn SLOw Spring 2024, setting a lively tone across 11 rounds of official action. Held on March 16, 2024, in San Luis Obispo, California, USA, the gathering brought together seasoned podium contenders and eager newcomers stepping onto an official World Cube Association stage for the very first time. Stepping into a cubing competition environment requires managing nerves, tracking timers, and adjusting to the structured cadence of official regulations, yet the field embraced the challenge across five distinct puzzle categories with focus and enthusiasm.

For those making an initial foray into the speedcubing circuit, the one-day schedule offered an immediate immersion into head-to-head solving. Handling the classic Rubik's Cube under the watchful eye of a judge is a defining milestone for any solver, transforming casual home practice into verified times on the global registry. The atmosphere inside the historic venue reflected that shared journey, where the baseline goals of completing official averages and posting initial marks were celebrated right alongside the hunt for titles.

Among those logging their very first official WCA competition appearances, Jason LeMay took on three events, posting initial marks of 19.00 seconds in the 3x3x3 Cube, 1:40.59 in the 4x4x4 Cube, and 15.47 in the Pyraminx. Nathaniel Vallejo also tackled a trio of events in their debut, registering a 30.08 in 3x3, a 10.34 in Skewb, and an 11.24 in Pyraminx. Hayden Woodsmall made a strong first impression with a 14.90 in the 3x3x3 Cube alongside a 1:59.52 in 4x4, while Saul Alagona rounded out the debutants by notching 30.46 in the main event and 7.86 in the Pyraminx.

Beyond the newcomers, several returning competitors secured massive personal improvements across multiple puzzle disciplines. Owen Scott Dakos delivered a standout day by lowering their Skewb personal best to 6.89 seconds, an improvement of 78.4 percent, while also dropping their 4x4x4 mark by 43.3 percent to 1:10.38 and attempting Pyraminx for the first time with a 7.44. Samuele Pedrocchi took on five events and cut their Megaminx personal best by 55.1 percent down to 2:08.10. Luke Satko logged a 3.83 personal best in Pyraminx, shaving 49.3 percent off their previous standard, and Sean Huffman lowered their 4x4 mark by 41.2 percent to 44.71 seconds.

At the front of the pack, Paul Mahvi set the standard across the larger rotational puzzles. Mahvi claimed the top step on the podium in the 3x3x3 Cube, recording a winning average of 7.60 seconds to lead the 42 competitors in the event. Jack Doyle secured second place with an average of 8.29 seconds, while Mulun Yin finished third with an 8.46 mark. Mahvi also posted the quickest single solve of the three-round event, stopping the clock at 6.01 seconds during an impressive run through the bracket.

Mahvi doubled his gold medal tally in the 4x4x4 Cube, navigating two rounds to capture first place with an average of 28.19 seconds and the round's fastest single solve at 26.53 seconds. The battle for the title was decided by the slimmest of margins, as Mulun Yin finished just two hundredths of a second back in the silver position with an average of 28.21 seconds. Jack Flynn Stewart claimed the bronze medal with a 35.23 average, securing a spot on the podium against a competitive field of 29 participants.

Stewart remained a central figure across the alternative puzzle formats at Don't Turn SLOw Spring 2024, earning a total of four podium finishes during the competition. In the Pyraminx, Stewart captured victory with a winning average of 4.86 seconds, narrowly edging Nipun Das, who recorded a 4.89 average for second, while Jordan Herman took third in 5.01 seconds. Stewart added a second-place finish in Megaminx behind Nico Harper, whose 36.24 winning average proved untouchable, before rounding out the day with a runner-up spot in Skewb behind Taj Bressert's winning average of 3.19.

The 2024 edition of Don't Turn SLOw Spring 2024 demonstrated the rich depth of the speed cubing community in California. Across 11 total rounds, competitors representing the USA took home 13 podium places, while solvers representing China claimed two. Whether posting groundbreaking 3x3 results at the top of the standings or successfully recording that very first official finish under tournament conditions, every solver contributed to a dynamic and memorable day of competition at the Historic Octagon Barn.