“Is that scrambled enough?” I ask.
My efforts are futile – of course – and I should have known better, really.
Tamahere Model Country School student Dylan Heerikhuisen, 9, holds most existing club records at the newly-established Waikato Speedcubers Club.
He solves the scrambled cube I just handed him in seconds.
It runs in the family. Brother Jaden, 14, a year 10 student at St Peter’s Cambridge this year – is also a speedcube whizz.
Year 10 St Peter’s Cambridge student Jaden Heerikhuisen, 14, with a cube. Photo: Jeremy Smith
Founded in August, Waikato Speedcubers Club has met monthly at Te Kete Aronui Rototuna Library since.
It’s first 2024 gathering is this month, but when members last got together, some friendly sibling rivalry was on display as Jaden and Dylan faced off for first and second fastest in the club before of an in-house audience.
The new club has 12 members Waikato wide, aged seven through to adults. Cambridge High School year 13 student Mikaela Davidson is another.
For the uninitiated, myself included, Jaden sums up the speedcubing – “…essentially, it’s solving a rotating puzzle as fast as possible. That can include cubes and puzzles of many different shapes and sizes.”
Tamahere Model Country School student Dylan Heerikhuisen, 9. Photo: Jeremy Smith
The most well-known, the three by three by three cube, is the siblings’ favourite. Jaden’s best time is six seconds.
“The secret to speedcubing is to solve the cube from bottom to top. And, my favourite part is seeing improvements in my overall speed.”
Dylan’s best time in competition with the same cube is 7.5 seconds.
The three by three cube world record – set last July by American Max Park – is 3.13 seconds.
The Waikato Speedcubers Club was founded by Lauren Bruce after her son Zavier, 11, who goes to Hamilton’s Southwell School, met Jaden and Dylan at the 2022 national championships in Auckland.
“We realised every other region in New Zealand had a club, and that meant they could meet up and practice together before competitions. But, Waikato didn’t.
“Interestingly now, every time we have a meet up, we have walk ins where people see what we are doing and want their child to join,” Lauren said.
Competition wise, the most recent opportunity Jaden, Dylan and Zavier tested their skills was at last year’s nationals in Wellington before Christmas.
Jaden and Dylan achieved personal bests in almost every category they were in.
Among future opportunities is potentially competing at next year’s World Cubing Association World Championship in Seattle.
“One awesome thing about speedcubing, I think, is no matter how fast you get there’s always something new to learn,” Dylan said.
Brothers, nine-year-old Dylan and 14-year-old Jaden Heerikhuisen are speedcube sensations. Photo: Jeremy Smith
