Utah Ice Cubing 2024

Eric Pesci delivered a commanding 7.89-second winning average in the 3x3x3 Cube to set the tone for the new speedcubing season. As the calendar flipped to January 6, 2024, competitive speed cubing returned in full force at the Utah Valley Convention Center. A massive turnout of 202 competitors gathered in Provo, Utah, USA, making Utah Ice Cubing 2024 one of the earliest proving grounds of the year across five demanding puzzle disciplines.

The new campaign brought 11 total rounds of action to the tables, giving contenders an immediate benchmark for their winter training. With 198 solvers entering the main event alone, the 3x3 results demonstrated sharp early-season form. Pesci backed up his sub-eight final average by posting a 7.42 best single during the three rounds of play. Mateo Tiul pushed hard through the final round to claim second place with an 8.14 average, while Canyon Pettitt rounded out the podium at 8.66 seconds.

Pesci was not finished with just one title at Utah Ice Cubing 2024. In the 4x4x4 Cube, which drew 124 entrants across two rounds, he secured his second victory of the day with a 33.13 average and a best single of 30.95 seconds. Tiul again proved to be his closest challenger, capturing the runner-up spot with an average of 34.00 seconds. Pettitt collected another podium placing by securing third place with an average of 38.06 seconds.

Tiul earned his own moment atop the podium in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event. Overcoming a field of 63 competitors, Tiul managed a winning average of 13.76 seconds alongside the day best single of 13.09. Pettitt maintained his busy schedule across the venue by securing second place with a mark of 15.27 seconds. Wilson Hettinger completed the top three with an average of 16.69 seconds in the single-round showdown.

In the 2x2x2 Cube, Peter Augustine set the pace throughout three rounds, ultimately capturing the championship with a blistering 2.01 average. Augustine set the standard with a 1.08 single, finishing ahead of Pesci who averaged 2.68 for second place. Pettitt added yet another trophy to his tally by taking third at 2.96 seconds. The Pyraminx concluded with Corbin Rodriguez taking first place on a 2.67 average and 2.38 single, holding off Colin Barney at 3.94 and Pettitt at 4.21.

Beyond the championship finals, the floor saw dozens of personal milestones that define the spirit of an early-year cubing competition. Milo Stika authored the most dramatic leap of the day, cutting down their 3x3x3 Cube personal best to 11.76 seconds from an earlier mark of 51.25, an improvement of 77.1 percent. Miley Harger also achieved major gains, dropping their 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 58.6 percent to 7.58 seconds while trimming their Rubik's Cube best down to 30.30 seconds. Crew Hudson Butler stepped up across five events, dropping their 2x2x2 personal record by 56.5 percent to 2.59 seconds while logging first-ever official attempts of 36.35 seconds in One-Handed and 10.89 in Pyraminx.

Several other competitors used the gathering to expand their repertoires into new disciplines. Malcolm Barrett slashed their 2x2x2 personal best by 47.9 percent to 2.26 seconds, added a 58.99 personal best on the 4x4x4 Cube, and recorded a first Pyraminx attempt of 6.53 seconds. Carmine Griego improved their 2x2x2 best by 39.1 percent to 2.41 seconds while logging initial marks of 10.97 in Pyraminx and 1:42.86 in 4x4x4. Aiden Child entered five events and recorded initial attempts of 9.28 in Pyraminx, 1:18.39 in 4x4x4, and 34.42 in One-Handed. Eames Nay also took on five categories, posting first-time results of 9.26 in Pyraminx, 1:21.87 in 4x4x4, and 45.86 in One-Handed, while Aaron Challis set a Pyraminx personal best of 8.62 alongside first attempts of 26.23 in One-Handed and 1:03.35 in 4x4x4.

The single-day schedule proved to be a massive success for regional competitors eager to establish a baseline for the competitive year ahead. Organizers efficiently managed 11 distinct rounds for more than two hundred solvers across the expansive hall. With every single podium spot across all five disciplines swept by United States competitors, the event highlighted the depth of talent present in the Mountain West scene.

By the time the final awards were handed out, Utah Ice Cubing 2024 had provided an early seasonal blueprint for both seasoned contenders and fresh faces. The balance of high-end speed from double-winner Pesci and breakthrough personal bests across the wider roster made for an electric winter gathering. As the rest of the 2024 calendar begins to unfold, this WCA competition in Provo stands out as a strong opening chapter for the year.