US Nationals 2015

Kevin Hays - Big Cubes (8:30-8:50pm)

Techniques for high-order cubes will be discussed, including tips and tricks for building centers, how to improve edge look-ahead, and how to practice effectively. Kevin Hays is the current and two-time 6x6x6 and 7x7x7 speedsolve World Champion.

Sam Richard - Overcoming Obstacles (8:50-9:10pm)

Sam is a 23 year-old college student, born without the Corpus Callosum, the centerpiece of the brain that connects both the left and right hemisphere. His life is like being a high-functioning “Rain Man,” The Rubik's Cube has changed his life in many ways, including better grades in school, a stronger mind, stronger muscles, and more logical thoughts -- it's proven to be a great stimuli. Sam is the only known cuber with this disorder, and will be featured in a Rubik's Cube documentary that was partially filmed/interviewed at US Nationals 2014. Nothing holds Sam back from being a slightly slower speedcuber.

Chris Tran - Applications of ZBLL and Memorisation of Large Algorithm Sets (9:10pm-9:30pm)

Large algorithm sets display trends and properties which allow for extensive reduction of algorithms to solve all the cases. Various techniques can also be applied to greatly reduce the mental load of learning large sets of algorithms. For those interested in learning ZBLL, a cursory outline of steps to follow will be described. Various recognition systems of ZBLL will be described, as well as methods of improving the use of ZBLL in speedsolving. A statistical approach to the ZB method will be explained, which allows for an improved memorisation and recognition of cases. After the basics and necessities of ZBLL have been explained, various tricks will be described. These tricks include using ZBLL to execute eight piece FMC insertions of both edges and corners, CTLS(Solving LS and LL simultaneously) and the corresponding recognition method, ZBLD to solve corners whilst influencing/solving edges simultaneously, expanding the CTLS recognition system to recognising and executing CPLS for ZZ-D, leading to 100% 2GLL, and MEGAzbll, which is how to selectively use ZBLL algorithms to solve a megaminx oriented last layer in 1-2 ZBLLs.

Corey Sakowski and Keaton Ellis - How to not get nervous in competition (9:30-9:50pm)

This seminar will discuss why competitors get nervous, and ways that a competitor can get around this, including what to do at home and at a competition. Corey and Keaton will be pulling heavily from personal experience, as we both do not get particularly nervous in competitions anymore. This seminar will focus on how to combat nervousness, with multiple different practice options to try and reduce unfamiliarity with competition environments, as well as suggestions at competitions in order to simulate home environments as much as possible.

Walker Welch and Kit Clement - FMC Techniques (9:50-10:10pm)

FMC is a beast of its own. The Seminar will go over the Fewest Moves Challenge event and will have good input and techniques on beginners and advanced solvers. Overall, stressing how to solve the highest number of pieces in the lowest number of moves is the main goal. Techniques including Blockbuilding, Normal-Inverse-Scramble-Switch (NISS), and Insertions (commutators) will be explained to help broaden your knowledge to take advantage of more cases that can come up in an FMC solve. For Beginners, some of these basic FMC techniques (Blockbuilding) will be talked about so people new to the event can implement their existing Speedsolving approaches to better optimize their move-count. For people who want to learn more Advanced methods, NISS and Insertions of all kind will be explained to have more possibilities for achieving low-move-count skeletons and FMC finishes. All types of Insertions including Corners, Edges, and Block Commutators will be described and shown.

Chris Olson - How to Make Better YouTube Cubing Videos (10:10-10:30pm)