Grizzly Awakening 2023

A blistering 4.68 single in the 3x3x3 Cube set the tone in Missoula, Montana, USA, where Luke Tycksen stormed through the main event to capture gold with a 6.65 winning average. The one-day gathering on April 30, 2023, brought together 27 competitors at the University Center for Grizzly Awakening 2023. Speed, precision, and lightning-fast turns defined the showdown across 6 events and 11 rounds of intense Rubik's Cube action.

The premier 3x3 results confirmed Tycksen at the absolute top of the field across three rounds of competition. Lucas Chandler Moorehead secured the second spot on the podium with an average of 10.31, while Clément Cherblanc took third place with an 11.07 mark. The race at the traditional distance showcased top-tier execution, providing a centerpiece for the entire cubing competition in Montana.

Sprint solving reached its peak during the 2x2x2 Cube event, where Clément Cherblanc flipped the hierarchy to take victory. Cherblanc delivered a 2.65 winning average along with a best single of 2.13 across two competitive rounds. Luke Tycksen followed closely in second place with a 3.10 average, and Lucas Chandler Moorehead stepped onto the podium again to claim third with a 3.44 result.

Beyond the traditional short formats, Tycksen continued his winning streak throughout the schedule. In the 4x4x4 Cube, he logged a 30.07 winning average and a 25.35 single to finish ahead of Cherblanc, who registered 35.54, while Chance J. Lockwood earned third with 47.39. Tycksen also picked up top honors in Skewb, posting a winning average of 5.33 against Cherblanc's 5.80 and Vincent Cohea's 8.06.

The non-cubic events maintained the high tempo throughout the afternoon. Cherblanc grabbed his second event title by winning the Pyraminx with an average of 4.63 and a 2.61 single, leading Lucas Chandler Moorehead at 6.93 and Colton Hulin at 7.74. In the Megaminx, Tycksen returned to the winner's step with a 45.47 winning average, followed by Cherblanc at 53.32 and Hulin at 1:31.09, completing a strong French and American showing.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several participants marked significant individual milestones across the table. Wilson Littman took on four events and delivered a 2x2x2 personal best of 4.73, which was 71.8 percent faster than his previous best of 16.77, while also recording a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 of 1:34.78 and a first ever attempt at Megaminx of 2:56.48. Caleb Surdock tackled six events, securing an 8.74 personal best in Skewb that was 42.3 percent faster than his prior 15.16 mark, alongside a 4.12 personal best in 2x2x2.

Josiah Turner achieved a 3.36 in 2x2x2, beating his previous mark by 41.2 percent, and earned a 4th-place best finish in Pyraminx. Cashton Sharp improved his Skewb best to 6.73, an improvement of 21.4 percent, while attempting Pyraminx for the first time with a 9.70 single. Hawke Schwartz entered all six events, logging his first 4x4x4 solve at 2:30.92 and a 2x2x2 best of 7.40. Oliver Pate-Briggs contested five events, notching a first Pyraminx solve of 13.21 and an 11th-place finish. Graeme Gimpelson lowered his 3x3x3 mark to 22.79, a 15.7 percent improvement, while making a first Pyraminx attempt of 9.98. First-time WCA competition entrant Jahmiah Huffman rounded out the notable debuts with a 13.32 single in 3x3x3 and a 7th-place best finish in 2x2x2.

By the close of Grizzly Awakening 2023, the medal count stood at 12 podium positions for the United States and 6 for France. Every division provided lively speed cubing highlights, from first-time stage appearances to sub-seven-second averages in the main puzzle. The tournament concluded an electric day of speedcubing, setting a strong standard as competitors look ahead to the next season on the circuit.