Solving Brains and Brawn puzzle means teamwork

CENTRAL OKANAGAN – Grey matter and lean muscle mass — you need some of both to succeed in this world.

That’s the message behind Brains and Brawn, a new event at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus which pits teams of two against a puzzle that leans on your muscles and your mind.

“People pair up, one brain and one brawn, they have to lift this hatch-like thing and memorize a puzzle underneath,” organizer Crystal Westgate explains. “Then they have to run through campus and try to memorize the puzzle. Once they get back, they have to rebuild the puzzle. If they don’t get it the first time, they have to go through an obstacle course and try again.”

Westgate says she’s tried it herself and found it exhausting trying to complete the puzzle in the alloted 20 minutes.

“Most people will not get it right the first time.”

It’s modelled after a segment of Battle of the Exes II, a reality show airing on MTV.

“A colleague was watching some late night TV and came up with the idea. We modified it for our campus,” Westage adds.

UBCO athletics and recreation sponsors the event and Westgate says it’s envisioned as an ongoing thing.

“We’re hoping to run it every year. We’re encouraging friendly competition between the residences and also between the faculty and departments.”

Brains and Brawn runs Oct. 2 beginning at 10 a.m. and will run two separate heats before declaring a winner. While the event is open only to students, faculty and staff of the university, Westgate says the public is welcome to come watch the event, located in the campus’ central courtyard.

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To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.