A New Record in the Sky
Solving a Rubik's Cube while standing on solid ground is already a challenging task for many. But imagine doing it while plummeting towards the Earth at over 100 mph. This is exactly what YouTuber Tom Kopke, from Germany, achieved when he set a new record for the fastest time to solve a rotating puzzle cube during freefall. His incredible feat took just 23.333 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 28.250 seconds set by Sam Sieracki from Australia in 2023.
The dive occurred above Mossel Bay in South Africa in February, marking a significant milestone in the world of puzzle-solving and skydiving. Tom, a 23-year-old medical student, first solved a Rubik's Cube at the age of 18. He has since practiced extensively, even creating videos that showcased some of his more daring challenges. In one such video, he mentioned his dream of solving a Rubik's Cube while skydiving.
At the time, he didn’t have the financial means or the time to pursue a skydiving license, so he never followed through. However, he did manage to solve six Rubik's Cubes underwater, tying the Guinness World Records title. He also learned how to solve the cube blindfolded.
The record for most rotating puzzle cubes (3x3x3) solved underwater now stands at 16, set by Daryl Tan Hong An from Singapore. But for Tom, the real challenge was in the sky rather than under water.
"I always wanted to learn skydiving because I have a lot more crazy skydiving videos planned, and I thought it would be really cool to start this journey with a clear goal in mind, which was to break the record," he said.
On the ground, Tom can solve a cube in as little as nine seconds, and he believes his average time is around the 15-second mark. It was his instructor, Arnold van Dyk, who suggested that he try solving the cube while back-flying. This technique is significantly scarier because you can't see the ground approaching, and it requires a lot more practice. However, it reduces wind resistance considerably.
"At the beginning it was a complete disaster, especially because I lack experience—remember, I only started skydiving a few weeks ago, and now I was supposed to fly on my back while also solving a Rubik's Cube. But with a few days of practice and the help of my instructors, we eventually got it down."
One of the biggest concerns was dropping the cube. If it slipped from Tom’s grasp, his dream could have been lost before it even began. He admitted that he was worried initially, but he practiced extensively with the cube in the air, becoming accustomed to the situation. The most dangerous part, he explained, was the handover, similar to a baton exchange in track and field, where mistakes often occur.
He recounted one instance where he was on track for about 18 seconds, but he celebrated too early, lost focus, and messed up the last step. "So technically, no sub-20 solve yet. But I know that if I kept trying, I could probably push the record much lower. For now, I think it's cool to give someone else the chance to beat it before maybe going for it again."
After teaching his skydiving instructors how to solve cubes, Tom might soon face some competition. He couldn’t believe it when he found out he had broken the record, admitting that 23 seconds in the air felt like an eternity. "When I landed, I thought 'no way that was record time.' It felt more like a minute."
Looking ahead, Tom would love to attempt another record by solving puzzle cubes while running a marathon.
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