SC woman who can solve a Rubik’s cube in mere seconds will be on TV. How to watch
Some kids want to be firefighters when they grow up.
Others want to be a teacher, superhero or president.
Sydney Weaver, however, wanted to be a professional speed cuber.
Weaver, a Ridgeland resident, has been solving Rubik’s cubes and similar puzzles since she was 14. At 24, she’s turned her favorite hobby into a career that has landed her on television. Viewers can see her on Dec. 3.
“I was bored one day and decided, ‘I wanted to solve this,’” she said. “I finished a guide but wanted to do more.”
In the past decade, she’s honed her skills solving Rubik’s cubes and larger puzzles and competed in events such as the Rubik’s Cube U.S. Nationals championship in 2015 on Hilton Head Island. She’s won nine gold medals, including one for solving a cube while blindfolded.
Now she shares her love of solving puzzles with others. She gives lectures about solving the Rubik’s cube (and more intricate puzzles such as the Megaminx) at universities and conferences with invitations to do so internationally. She also hosts workshops, private lessons and parties when there’s interest.
Somewhere along the way, she added magic to her lineup. Yes, magic.
She’s really good at it, too.
At least the producers for the TV show “Penn & Teller: Fool Us!” thought so when they saw Weaver’s audition tape. The show on the CW Network is a magic competition in which participants perform tricks in front of famous American magician-comedian duo Penn & Teller. If Penn & Teller can’t figure out the how the trick was done, the participant gets to perform as the duo’s opening act in Las Vegas.
Weaver will remain tight-lipped about whether she was able to fool Penn & Teller until her episode premieres at 8 p.m. on Dec. 3, but said she had fun traveling to Vegas in June to film the show.
She plans to watch the episode with friends, family, and fellow members of the Lowcountry Society of Magicians.
Although she said she enjoys competing and performing, her favorite part of her job is teaching others of all ages.
“It’s fun getting others involved, and anyone can do it,” Weaver said. “You don’t have to be good at math to solve a Rubik’s cube. You just need to take the time to do it.”
This story was originally published November 25, 2021 at 4:25 AM with the headline "SC woman who can solve a Rubik’s cube in mere seconds will be on TV. How to watch."
