Grizzly Hibernating 2023

Twenty-nine competitors gathered at the University Center on December 2, 2023, turning a cold weekend into a fast-paced showcase of late-season form. As the year approached its final stretch, Grizzly Hibernating 2023 delivered a dense slate of action across seventeen rounds. Solvers in Missoula, Montana, USA embraced the winter calendar to test their endurance, competing across nine different events ranging from the two-layered miniature to the grueling big cubes.

The 3x3x3 Cube contest stood at the center of the weekend, offering three intense rounds that tested consistency. Luke Tycksen led the charge in the premier event, securing the title with a 7.29 winning average and throwing down a best single of 6.24. Juliette Sébastien claimed second place with a 7.97 average, while Clément Cherblanc secured third at 9.24. These decisive 3x3 results capped a high-level battle for podium spots among the twenty-seven solvers who took to the main stage.

Beyond the standard puzzle, the multi-event program tested mastery across a wide range of official formats. Luke Tycksen extended his winning ways across the heavier hardware, capturing first place in the 5x5x5 Cube with a 50.69 average and a 48.03 single. Tycksen maintained that momentum in the 6x6x6 Cube, clocking a winning mark of 1:33.49, and completed the large-cube sweep by taking the 7x7x7 Cube with a 2:25.87 average. His dominance on the larger layers anchored a commanding series of performances throughout the schedule.

Juliette Sébastien delivered an equally versatile display across the mid-range and twisty specialty disciplines. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Sébastien took the top step with a 30.88 average ahead of Tycksen's 31.62. Sébastien also prevailed in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an average of 10.15 and a 9.05 single, outlasting Tycksen's 11.19. Expanding her reach further, Sébastien won the Megaminx title with a 39.76 average, having posted a top single of 33.57, while Clément Cherblanc locked up third place with a 58.44 mark.

The short formats brought rapid turnarounds and sharp execution on the timing mats. Juliette Sébastien claimed the 2x2x2 Cube title with a 2.38 winning average, besting Luke Tycksen at 3.03 and Lucas Chandler Moorehead at 3.34. In the Square-1 event, Clément Cherblanc demonstrated exceptional control, capturing first place with a 12.30 winning average and a crisp 9.03 single. Tycksen finished runner-up at 17.64, while Ben Streeter took third place with a 24.64 average across the ten-person field.

The depth of this WCA competition showed clearly through the personal milestones achieved across the venue floor. London Gregory Meservy cut their 2x2x2 Cube personal best down to 3.26, an improvement of 51.5 percent from an earlier 6.72, while also taking on first ever attempts at 4x4x4 Cube with a 2:14.14 and 5x5x5 Cube with a 4:56.93. Jacob Rodewald dropped their 2x2x2 Cube mark by 40.8 percent down to 4.23, adding a first 4x4x4 Cube time of 1:36.65 and a Square-1 debut of 54.51. Kegan Stipe knocked 36 percent off their 3x3x3 One-Handed best to record 45.19, while also notching a 1:44.43 in their initial 4x4x4 Cube run.

Other dedicated solvers embraced extensive event lineups to set strong benchmarks. Ethan Doyle took on seven separate events, chopping 34.5 percent off their 3x3x3 Cube best with a 13.14 and logging a first 5x5x5 Cube attempt of 3:32.35. Blake Stipe entered two events, registering a first 3x3x3 Cube mark of 1:06.55 and shaving 33.7 percent off their 2x2x2 Cube best to hit 9.29. Matthew Ryan Orlob took on all nine events on the schedule, logging a 35.56 in their first 3x3x3 One-Handed run and a 5:35.91 in their 6x6x6 Cube debut. Daniel Hewitt tackled seven events, posting a 33.46 in their Square-1 debut and a 42.00 in one-handed solving, while Nash Sauter made first attempts across three disciplines including a 3.49 in 2x2x2 Cube.

International presence defined the overall medal distribution, with French competitors amassing 15 podium places while United States solvers earned 12 across the afternoon. Grizzly Hibernating 2023 offered a comprehensive stage for both elite title races and individual development, highlighting how a tight-knit cubing competition can push personal limits. Whether tackling the complex turns of the classic Rubik's Cube or mastering specialty variants, the gathering celebrated the dedication inherent to modern speed cubing.

As the final timers reset and the tables cleared at the University Center, the event served as a fitting capstone to the regional competitive year. The balanced schedule delivered nine finished events and celebrated breakthroughs across every round. With new personal marks logged in Missoula, the speedcubing community concluded its late-season gathering with momentum to carry into the upcoming cycle.