The World Cube Association has seen considerable growth in the last few years - particularly in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S.! We are trying our best to host as many competitions as our collective volunteer effort can handle (check out what might be coming up here!).

We take much pride in being able to host so many competitions in our free time, but so frequently these competitions reach their respective competitor limits. This means that competitors are often missing out on competitions because they are too late to register. Morever, newer competitors sometimes struggle to advance beyond initial rounds due to strict advancements - and especially strict cutoffs and time limits in the less common events. To address these challenges, we introduce Pretzel Mania, a competition format designed to foster inclusivity and offer ample opportunities for all participants.

Thanks to our strong partnership with the venue, centrally located relative to key areas of the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, we can accommodate up to 500 competitors! This expansive space allows us to set generous cutoffs, time limits, and round advancements, ensuring a rewarding experience for all skill levels. This event provides an opportunity for such a sizable portion of our community to come together and spend the weekend sharing our passion of speedcubing!

Pretzel Mania aims to be a welcoming environment for newcomers and seasoned cubers alike. Our dedicated team of unpaid volunteers is committed to realizing this vision, despite the considerable resources required. Rest assured, we spare no effort or cost in making this event a resounding success, ensuring that we can continue this for years to come!

In the coming months, we will be looking into procuring sponsors and coordinating some additional events to further enhance the experience, and the website will be updated accordingly. If you have any ideas and/or contacts, feel free to reach out!

If this is your first Pretzel Mania, feel free to head to the following album containing photos from our previous Pretzel Mania: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JNCnHfEIHmfgk8fubtdBGCj6fmD3fOwq. (MAJOR thanks to Sam Widjaja for the incredible photos!)

To those interested in the naming scheme of "Pretzel Mania" -- the name is a spinoff of an earlier competition held in this venue that was called ✏️ Pencil Mania ✏️ as a play on the state name of "Pennsylvania." When the venue returned in 2022, we looked into a name refresh out of curiosity and came across the fact that Lancaster is home to America's first commercial pretzel bakery (source). From here, the spinoff name of "Pretzel Mania" was born!

Since then, Pretzel Mania has become more of a concept to highlight beginner-friendly competitions, and the concept has been brought to the Dallas area with several planned iterations for the future!

For those of you new to cubing, WELCOME!

We wanted to let you know this event is perfectly fine for cubers of any age and experience. We just ask you know a couple things before coming to compete...

First, please be familiar with the WCA Regulations, found here:
https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/

Of course, those regulations contain a lot of legalese, so we have a video made specifically for new cubers, just to show them the basics of competing. This video will explain most of what any cuber competing for the first time will need to know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPL3eV-A0ww&t=2s

If you have any questions after this video, we will be having a new competitor tutorial, Saturday morning of the competition. That would be the perfect time to ask those questions and clear up any confusion.

If you are stoked to compete and ready to sign up, head over to the registration tab, click register, and fill out the information it asks for. This will help you get set up the WCA's system and one step closer to your first official solve!

Q&A:

Q: Do I use my own cube to compete?

A: YES! You are responsible for your own hardware in order to compete, however, we will have a vendor at this competition, from which you can buy puzzles if your current ones have seen better days.

Q: What is the normal age of competitors at these events?

A: All ages are welcome, but in general competitors are between 10 and 20 years old. Don't let this stop you though, everyone can and should cube!

Q: What is the competition like?

A; Competitions are a bunch of tables where nerds like us get to sit and discuss our favorite thing, Cubes! Of course in addition there is competing, which will occupy one side of the competition hall, where you will see lots of timers flickering with contestants new personal bests. Most competitions have a break for lunch, and the competing is split up into heats, as to better organize who competes when. (Check the Groups tab and listen at the competition for more info on this.)

Q: How do I find results?

A: All results are posted on the WCA page a couple of days after the competition finishes. However, for the day of competing, go to Cubecomps.com to find information about current events. This is also where you will find information about 2nd and 3rd rounds of events.

Q: Why am I not on the registration list yet?

A: Make sure you pay you entrance fee in order to be automatically placed on the registered list, which will also guarantee you a spot in the competition. If payment may be any issue, or you are not sure if you can attend, use the contact button to talk to us, and see if we can work out another payment strategy, or have you pay on arrival at the compeition. No matter what you situation may be however, please register online. It is much easier for us to have you register now and pay later, then to have to input information at another time.

Q: Are there age divisions?

A: Nope! All cometitors compete in the same group.

Q: Can I have fun at this event?

A: HECK YES! Cubing is amazing, and we sincerely hope you enjoy the competition!

ALL COMPETITORS MUST READ THIS TAB BEFORE REGISTERING

For First-Time Competitors

All newcomers must be familiar with the WCA Regulations before competing. This video gives a basic overview of the rules. In addition, please read this document before coming to the competition.

For All Competitors

When you arrive, you will receive a card with personalized information detailing your events and what group you will be competing in for each event. In addition, you may also have judging/scrambling/running assignments on your card. Every competitor is expected to help out during the event(s) they are registered for. The card will look like the following:

If you do not arrive to help during your scheduled event, and there are not enough staff members, we reserve the right to disqualify you from competing.

Stationary/Fixed Seating

In this format, there is no competitor waiting area and competitors will complete all their solves for the round at the same solving station. Each solving station is numbered and a cube cover will be already at the station with a matching number.

1. When the competitor’s group is called, the competitor goes up to that stage’s “drop-off” table and collects their scorecard.

2. Competitor goes to any open solving station with their scorecard and puzzle.
   If there are no open stations, please wait a couple of minutes or see a Delegate to see if there are open stations at other stages. A station may open up as competitors from the previous group finish.

3. Competitor makes sure they have the correct numbered cover at their station.

4. If the competitor is in need of a judge, they raise their hand.

5. The competitor drops their solved puzzle and their scorecard into the cube cover. The judge or competitor then holds up the cover to signify it is ready to be scrambled.

6. A runner picks up the cube and takes it to the scramblers. After it is scrambled, a runner knows where to return it based on the station number on the cube cover.

7. The competitor completes all of their solves at this station for the round.

The registration fee for this competition is $80.00. The WCA Stripe payment system is being used for this competition. You will be prompted to pay following registration. You are not considered registered until you compete. Any requested changes to registration before the deadline will be honored before registration is closed.

If you paid but don't see your name on the registration list within 48 hours, please email the organizers.

You must register and pay online to compete. No at-the-door registrations or payments will be accepted under any circumstances. We realize this may not be ideal for some people, but this allows us to have an exact count of people attending and lets us use staff resources more effectively the day of the competition. Spectators may attend for free.

If you have registered and are no longer able to attend, please contact us. If it is before August 18th 6PM EDT you are eligible for a 75% refund. Attempting to file a chargeback for the registration fee will lead to being blacklisted from future WCA events.

To staff at this competition, you must complete this application

Staff for this competition will be limited to approximately 20 applicants, and decisions will be communicated once registration closes.

Your $80 registration fee will be refunded after the competition if your application is accepted, but you must register and pay for the competition to be eligible for the refund. Applicants who do not follow their staffing repsonsibilities may not be refunded.

Benefits for staffing at this competition include waived registration fee, hotel room rebate of $25 per staff member per day, and free lunch on both days of the competition.

Please note that staff members will be given a very rigorous staffing schedule in return for the perks outlined above. They are expected to be proactive throughout the competition and to inform the organizers and Delegates ASAP if they find they are unable to attend.

Staff is open and encouraged for non-competitors as well! Feel free to reach out if you're interested in helping with registration, data entry/checking, merchandise, etc.!

Competition groups will be found on competitiongroups.com. (Competition Link TBD)
* PLEASE note that your groups are not final until the organization team informs you that they are complete.

NOTE: We are using stationary seating for this competition where competitors will complete all five attempts in their average at the same solving station. Please see the process below:

1. When the competitor’s group is called, the competitor will head up to that stage’s “drop-off” table, where they will bring their cube and collect their scorecard.
2. If there is a timing station open on that stage, the competitor heads to that station and raises their hand if they need a judge. The cube covers will have the station number on them, make sure you have the correct numbered cover at your station.
3. The competitor drops their solved cube and their scorecard into the cube cover that will be at the station. The judge or competitor then holds up the cover (with a cube and scorecard in it) to signify it is ready to be scrambled.
4. The competitor completes all of their solves at this station for the round.
5. Competitors are expected to not watch any other competitors solve during their round. If a competitor is suspected of violating this, they risk disqualification from that round and/or the competition.

To all competitors, please remember that you are NOT allowed to watch your neighboring competitors complete their solves, as this raises concerns about gaining additional information about the scrambles. Competitors who are suspected of attempting to gain an advantage may be subject to disqualification.

If you have any questions about this process, you are welcome to reach out to us before the competition! Also keep in mind that we will host several new competitor tutorials - each of which will demonstrate this concept!

You can check the live results for this event on WCA Live. Link TBD

The official hotel for this competition will be Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square. There is a room block available where you will be able to book rooms for a discounted rate of $208. You can book a room here.

There will be discounted parking at the garage next door, $10 if you are parking overnight, and $7 if you are only there for the day. The $10 discounted rate will automatically be charged to your room, and we will be giving out tickets for the $7 discounted parking! You will need both your original ticket and the discounted ticket to receive the rate.

The nearest airports are Lancaster Airport - LNS and Harrisburg International Airport - MDT.

If the registration limit has been reached, competitors may join the waitlist by paying their registration fee (which will be refunded after the waitlist deadline of August 18th, 6:00PM EDT is reached).

With much thanks to our beloved photographer Sam Widjaja, below you can find an album of photos taken at our most recent Pretzel Mania competition!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JNCnHfEIHmfgk8fubtdBGCj6fmD3fOwq

TBD

If you are interested in sponsoring this competition, please feel free to reach out to the Organizers and Delegates!

Due to the competition's resources, 6x6 and 7x7 each have a limit of 144 competitors. If one or both of these limits are reached before registration closes, we will keep a "waitlist" of competitors who wish to register for each of these events.

Competitors must register for these events if they wish to compete in them or be included on the waitlist. If you do not make it off of the waitlist for an event, it will be removed from your registration before the competition.

Please note that this limit may change based on how registration numbers pan out. If this is the case, this will be communicated to all competitors and this tab will be updated to reflect this.