North Idaho Big Cubes 2026

Ten competitors gathered at North Summit Church on April 25, 2026, to take on the demanding world of large twisty puzzles and dodecahedral challenges. Held in Sandpoint, Idaho, USA, the gathering set aside standard three-layered scrambles in favor of tests requiring deeper spatial management and extended stamina. The specialized schedule at North Idaho Big Cubes 2026 put the spotlight squarely on complex events that test finger strength and visual tracking over long single attempts.

The 12-sided Megaminx provided an immediate centerpiece for the weekend, requiring competitors to navigate dozens of moving pieces across twelve distinct colored faces. Luke Rasor delivered a standout performance in the event, capturing first place across two rounds of play. Rasor locked in a winning average of 54.31 seconds alongside the day's best single solve of 51.12 seconds. Samuel Williams secured second place with an average of 1:01.21, while Ethan George Hayes earned third on the podium with a mark of 1:04.59.

Samuel Williams proved to be the dominant force across the remainder of the schedule, capturing titles across the three largest cubic categories. In the 7x7x7 Cube, which featured eight competitors over a single decisive round, Williams assembled a winning average of 3:14.65 and posted a best single of 3:01.46. Hayes followed in second position with an average of 3:32.46, and Rasor earned third place with a 4:10.74 result, mirroring the high-level consistency seen throughout the competition.

The 6x6x6 Cube brought nine competitors to the tables for a single round of intricate edge pairing and center construction. Williams once again led the field, recording a winning average of 1:48.35 and the fastest single of the event at 1:46.56. Hayes took the second podium step with an average of 2:23.48, while Rasor finished third with an average of 2:31.02. The division of podium spots highlighted the technical mastery required when tackling larger variations of the classic Rubik's Cube.

The 5x5x5 Cube served as the largest bracket of the tournament, featuring ten competitors over two complete rounds of solving. Williams took top honors with an average of 1:00.46, closely pursued by Hayes, who claimed the runner-up spot with an average of 1:00.65. Rasor locked down third place with a 1:17.84 average. While standard 3x3 results were absent from the schedule, the technical discipline of high-order cubing was visible in every heat at North Idaho Big Cubes 2026.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their chosen events. Aaryn Cole delivered massive time drops across four events, including a 6x6x6 single of 3:36.76 that was 40.7 percent faster than their previous benchmark of 6:05.42, a 5x5x5 single of 1:53.06 that was 39.9 percent faster than their prior 3:08.02, a first ever attempt at 7x7x7 yielding 5:46.71, and a best finish of fourth in Megaminx. Chris Tabar entered three events and took fifth in 7x7x7, while setting a 6x6x6 personal best of 3:22.95 that improved by 13.3 percent over 3:53.99 and a 7x7x7 personal best of 5:27.73 that was 12.1 percent faster than 6:12.86. Coleman Vaughn tackled four events, claiming fourth place in 5x5x5 and achieving a personal best single of 1:24.53 in the discipline.

Fresh milestones continued throughout the roster as solvers took on new puzzle categories for the first time. Oliver Ratcliffe entered two events and earned sixth place in Megaminx, lowering their Megaminx mark to 2:01.17 for a 9.7 percent improvement over 2:14.26 and securing a 5x5x5 personal best single of 3:15.17, which was 10 percent faster than 3:36.90. Brad Medlock took on four events, finishing seventh in 7x7x7 while recording first ever attempts in Megaminx at 3:03.67, 6x6x6 at 5:49.40, and 5x5x5 at 3:02.17. Trent Spohr completed three events to take seventh in 6x6x6, registering first ever official marks in 6x6x6 at 5:14.72, Megaminx at 2:42.06, and 5x5x5 at 1:53.73. Andrew Baker participated in four events, finishing eighth in 7x7x7, posting a first ever attempt in 6x6x6 at 6:20.47, and lowering their 5x5x5 personal best by 7.6 percent to 2:44.85.

Every round in Sandpoint contributed to the broader landscape of competitive speed cubing, demonstrating how non-standard categories reward specialized preparation. Across the six rounds, all twelve available podium positions were earned by representatives of the host nation. The gathering served as an important test of endurance, where each solve required hundreds of precise turns without pause.

With its focus fixed entirely on big cubes and dodecahedrons, North Idaho Big Cubes 2026 concluded as a distinct highlight of the regional calendar. The single-day speedcubing program proved that dedicated niche tournaments offer an ideal stage for personal development and high-level competition alike. As solvers look forward to another season of WCA competition, the marks established in northern Idaho stand as firm benchmarks for the discipline.