‘Absolutely stoked’: Quiet hobby gets dose of adrenalin as speed puzzling grows

WINNIPEG - Speed puzzling, a fast-paced hobby, gained a competitive edge at the first annual event billed as $205.00 + GST for a year. Participants raced in intense conditions, with some, like Kirsty Williams, facing challenges during the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship in Spain due to high temperatures. Williams, now 38, moved from the UK to Brandon, Manitoba, where she has been training twice daily to compete in the world championship next month.

Speed puzzling has seen a surge in popularity, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, with events held at libraries, bookstores, and community centers across Canada. The Canadian Jigsaw Puzzle Association, formed in 2022, saw over 1,000 participants at a recent event in Georgetown, Ontario, while the world championship in Spain drew nearly 3,800 competitors.

Puzzling boot camps and team events have emerged to help participants develop skills and communication strategies to excel in the competitive world of speed puzzling.