Local Rubik's Cuber Going for Glory in San Fran

Diablo touches base with Fremont resident, Campolindo grad, and Rubik's Cube maestro Dan Dzoan before Sunday's competition at the Exploratorium.

The Exploratorium in San Francisco is one of those places where anyone from two to 102-years-old can have fun—they always manage to present science in a unique and fun way that's accessible to anyone with an inquisitive mind. One of the more eclectic events they hold is the International Rubik's Cube Competition, which is taking place this Sunday. Well, it turns out that Campolindo and UC Berkeley-grad Dan Dzoan is an expert Rubik's Cuber who has held world records in the one-handed and—believe it or not—blindfolded Rubik's divisions. We got ahold of Dzoan before the competition to discuss the Art of the Cube.
 

Also, make sure to check out this video on YouTube of Dan solving a cube one-handed—you won't believe your eyes.

 

Diablo: My first question would have to be: how do you do the rubiks cube blindfolded?

Dzoan: One of the biggest misconceptions about solving a Rubik's Cube blindfolded is that people think the cube is solved without ever looking at it. The way a blindfolded solve is done is first by looking at the cube and memorizing where the pieces need to go. Then the blindfold is put on and you use algorithms you have learned that move very few pieces at a time and in essence, put each piece in the right place, one by one.

How did you first get into the Rubiks? How old were you?

I first tried a cube when I was a kid. I don't remember exactly how old I was but I remember I figured out how to do one side on my own. I never did get it, and don't really remember playing with it much more until I started going to UC Berkeley. When I moved in to the dorms, I met one of my floormates who could solve one in under a minute. Everyone was blown away by it and I learned it from him not too long after.

Do you remember the first time you successfully completed the cube?

 I solved it on my own without notes for the first time sometime around the end of September or early October [his freshman year in college]. I think it took me somewhere around 3-4 minutes.

Do you have to be good at math to solve one?

Absolutely not.  People think you have to be a genius to learn how to solve a Rubik's Cube but anyone can learn how to do it. It doesn't require any math at all. I believe you can use mathematical concepts to help you solve a Rubik's Cube but it is not required.

How did you get into competitive cubing?

I learned about competitions from a friend I met in college and also on the internet. My first competition was at the Exploratorium in January of 2006.

How many competitions do you do per year?

I'm not sure. Ever since I've been at Berkeley, I have been organizing 2 per year that we hold on the UC Berkeley campus.  Even though I'm graduated, I am still involved with the club and work with club members to help organize the tournaments. I also go to tournaments at Caltech and in San Diego. I have also travelled to other tournaments a couple other states and have also competed at the World Championships in Hungary in 2007. 

How much time do you spend practicing?

I don't spend much time practicing anymore. At most, I maybe spend an hour or two on any given day. I'm too busy with work and extra curricular activities lately. When I was in college I would practice at least an hour or two a day and sometimes even 3 or 4 hours.

You’re from the East Bay? Where? What high school?

I live in Fremont. I used to live in Moraga and I attended Campolindo High School.

So, what’s the secret to it?

There is no secret. If you want to learn a Rubik's cube, there are many different ways to learn. There are many web pages with beginner solutions. A simple google search of "Rubik's cube beginner solution" should have many web pages where anyone can learn. There is also an instructional DVD available that has a video walkthrough of the steps of the beginner method. I think you can buy it at Barnes and Noble. For Berkeley students, there is a DeCal I used to teach and is still being taught by the club's members that teaches people how to solve the cube. Lastly, you can learn from someone else who knows how to solve it. The secret to getting fast is to just learn a method and practice a lot. Just like anything you do, if you want to become good, you have to practice.

When you’re not solving rubiks cubes, what are you doing?

Most of my time is at work (this whole full time job thing takes up so much time...) Other than that, I joined a rock climbing gym almost a year ago and have been doing that a lot. I also try and play ultimate frisbee regularly and have a lot of fun doing that. I just started snowboarding too. I just bought snowboarding equipment and have been up to tahoe 3 times in the last month.

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