Overheard: Speedcabling, the sport of champions

The first “speedcabling” competition took place in an art gallery in Los Angeles and was won by LA-based web developer Matthew Howell. Clark Boyd, Close to the wire – the joys of speedcabling

Speedcabling is a competitive sport created by Steven Schkolne, in which contestants race to unravel a bundle of tangled Ethernet cables. Steven has graciously permitted me to reprint his speedcabling glossary so we can all speak about this highly-competitive sport in an intelligent manner.

You can find the rules for hosting your own competition on the official Speedcabling Web site. If you do have a competition, let me know and I’ll promote it!

bundle – one or more cables that are knotted according to official regulations

cable – to separate a bundle of loosely knotted rope or wire

hunt – speedcabling technique in which the course of a single cable through a bundle is traced

set- the collection of cables used in a speedcabling competition

spot – the locale, typically a laundromat, where cables can be uniformly tangled in a dryer

thrash- speedcabling technique in which a knot is loosened via shaking and rapid fingerwork