Course

Looking for a break from pounding the pavement? Trade your running shoes for your thinking cap and join us at the Piece of the Mountain Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament—where the course isn’t miles long, but it’s just as challenging! 

This isn’t your typical race. Instead of crossing a finish line, you’ll piece together 300 or 500 tiny finish lines as you race against the clock to complete a jigsaw puzzle! Test your focus, strategy, and teamwork in this fun, fast-paced mental marathon.

Here’s how it works:

• Participants can compete individually (300-piece puzzles) or in teams of up to 4 (500-piece puzzles).
• You’ll complete two rounds, each with up to 1 hour to finish your puzzle. The fastest combined time wins!
• Puzzle provided? Check. High-quality? You bet! You even get to take it home as a keepsake.

Whether you’re a solo competitor or teaming up with friends or family, this is your chance to shine in a different kind of race—one where it’s all about fitting the pieces together, not how fast your legs can carry you.

So, runners, walkers, and puzzle lovers alike: get ready to flex those mental muscles and join us for a race to the ultimate finish line—victory as our first-ever Puzzle Champion!

See you at the Buzz Henderson Center this February. Registration coming soon—don’t miss it!

Entry Fees

Age Groups

The Piece of the Mountain Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament is open to everyone, regardless of age or experience level. Whether you’re a seasoned puzzler, a first-timer, or simply looking for a fun and engaging family activity, this event is for you!

• Puzzles for All Skill Levels: Participants can choose between 300-piece puzzles (individuals) or 500-piece puzzles (teams of up to 4).
• Perfect for Families: This event is a fantastic opportunity to bond as a family, team up with friends, or compete solo for the ultimate bragging rights.
• All Ages Welcome: From young solvers to experienced enthusiasts, everyone can enjoy the challenge and excitement of this unique event.

No matter your age or skill level, the championship is designed to bring people together for an unforgettable day of fun, connection, and friendly competition. Join us and see how you stack up against the best in the mountains!

Awards

Think you’ve got what it takes to be crowned a puzzle champion?  Show off your skills and compete for these exciting awards:

• Top Individual Awards 

  • Fastest individual solver over two rounds (300-piece puzzles).
  • Recognition as the First-Ever Piece of the Mountain Individual Champion!

• Top Team Awards 

  • Fastest team to conquer the 500-piece puzzles over two rounds.
  • Bragging rights as the First-Ever Piece of the Mountain Team Champions!

• Special Recognition Awards 

  • Best Team Name: Creativity counts! Bring your A-game with a clever team name.
  • Most Enthusiastic Solver: For the participant or team showing the most energy and spirit!

What You’ll Win:
Winners will receive:

• Custom event awards.
• Ultimate bragging rights as the fastest puzzlers in the mountains!

This is your chance to leave your mark on the first-ever championship of its kind. Will you be the one to solve it all?

Charity Information

By joining the Piece of the Mountain Jigsaw Puzzle Championship, you’re not just solving puzzles—you’re helping support our community!

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Buzz Learning Academy programs, which provide educational support, resources, and enrichment activities for children and families in our area.

Additionally, any leftover puzzles from the Puzzle Swap will be donated directly to the Buzz Learning Academy, offering hands-on fun and learning opportunities to the kids in our programs.

Every puzzle piece you place is another step toward building a brighter future for our community. Thank you for helping us make a difference!

More Information

If this is your first jigsaw puzzle competition, here’s what you need to know:

• It's All About Fun and Focus: This isn’t just a race—it’s a chance to test your skills, bond with others, and enjoy the challenge of putting the pieces together under a little pressure.
• Prepare to Strategize: Puzzle competitions are as much about planning as they are about solving. Start by finding the edges, sorting by color, or creating a strategy that works best for you or your team.
• Supportive Atmosphere: Whether you’re competing solo or in a team, everyone is here to have a great time. Cheer each other on and enjoy the buzz of friendly competition.
• Be Part of History: This is the first-ever Piece of the Mountain Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament, and you’ll be among the first to help kick off what we hope will become an annual tradition!
• No Experience Needed: You don’t have to be a puzzle pro to join. Come ready to have fun, learn, and maybe even surprise yourself with your skills!

We can’t wait to see everyone gathered around the tables, solving puzzles, making memories, and cheering each other on. Get ready to make history at The Buzz!

In addition to the event-specific guidelines, our competition will adhere to the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association's (USAJPA) standard rules to ensure fairness and consistency:

1. Identical Puzzles: All participants within each category will work on the same puzzle design to maintain uniformity.

2. Unopened Puzzles: Puzzles will be distributed in their original, sealed packaging and must remain unopened until the official start signal.

3. Timing: The competition clock starts simultaneously for all participants upon the official start and continues until the puzzle is fully assembled.

4. Completion Verification: Once a participant or team completes their puzzle, they must signal a judge, who will verify the completion time and accuracy.

5. Missing Pieces: A maximum penalty of 10 seconds will be added for each missing piece, even if found later.

6. Disassembly Between Rounds: After each round, puzzles will be disassembled by event staff to ensure all participants start with a fully separated set of pieces in subsequent rounds.

7. No Outside Assistance: Participants are prohibited from using external tools, notes, or receiving help from non-competitors during the competition.

8. Fair Play: All puzzle pieces must remain visible on the table; hiding or hoarding pieces is strictly forbidden.

By following these standardized rules, we aim to provide a fair, enjoyable, and competitive environment for all participants.

For more information on official jigsaw puzzle competition guidelines, please visit the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association's website.

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