Puzzle Palooza Highlight: Meet Caroline

Caroline at the 2024 USA Jigsaw Nationals

For Caroline, speed puzzling is less about racing the clock and more about finding connection, calm, and community. A software engineer based in San Francisco, Caroline is one of the three speed puzzlers who competed (and won!) at Oasis’ Puzzle Palooza, bringing with her decades of lived experience with puzzles and a deep appreciation for what the puzzling community offers. 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Caroline Orsi. I’m a software engineer at SurveyMonkey, and I live in San Francisco. I’ve been in the Bay Area for about 20 years now.

How did you first get into puzzling?
I’ve done puzzles for a long time, though I honestly can’t remember exactly when I started. My guess is that my mom brought one home at some point, and I got a chance to do it. I don’t remember that moment clearly, but I do remember realizing that I loved puzzles.

As a teenager, I got more into them because they occupied my brain just enough while still giving me space to daydream and reflect. That balance really worked for me. I stopped puzzling for a while as an adult, but during some harder times more recently, I picked it back up and found it very therapeutic.

When did speed puzzling enter the picture?
About two years ago. At first, I thought speed puzzling sounded counterintuitive. Who would want to race through a puzzle? But the California State Championship was happening in San Mateo, which was close enough that I figured I’d give it a try.

I ended up having so much fun. One of the things I love is that anyone can sign up for competitions—state, national, even world events. You still see lots of newcomers at every competition, though it’s definitely growing in popularity.

I still do both kinds of puzzling: some puzzles I do for speed, and others I do just for fun. Switching between those mindsets can be hard, because I sometimes find myself relaxing into casual puzzle mode instead of maintaining my speed.

What’s been your experience with the puzzling community?
It’s been incredibly welcoming everywhere I go, whether I’m traveling for competitions in other parts of the country or internationally. Even though it’s competitive, people cheer each other on.

There’s something about puzzling that makes it a really warm, low-pressure way to be with people. You have an activity in front of you. You can talk, or not talk, and you already know you have something in common.

Most competitions are team-based, but at smaller events, you can also show up alone as a newcomer and get matched with a team. The community is small enough that you start to recognize everyone pretty quickly.

How did you hear about Oasis’ Puzzle Palooza?
Andrea and I were at the Trans March in Dolores Park, walking around the booths, when we saw the Puzzle Palooza poster. We were honestly surprised (in a good way) because puzzling is very much our thing, and we hadn’t heard of Oasis before.

The mission really resonated with both of us, so we signed up, recruited Hannah as our third teammate, and spread the word. Another team ended up signing up because of that, too.

What was it like competing at Puzzle Palooza?
I thought it was great. I was amazed by how well-run everything was. The competition itself went seamlessly, and it was nice to see other things happening at the same time, like the puzzle swap. The environment felt really warm, welcoming, and friendly. I also loved the custom puzzle, which was a big highlight.

What was it like to win the competition?
It was fun! I’m not used to winning. I’d describe myself as medium-fast, and Andrea and Hannah are honestly on another level. I’m good friends with both of them, but I don’t always compete with them, so it’s a delight when I do. Winning was really exciting, but we also tried not to put too much pressure on it and just enjoy ourselves.

Do you plan to stay in touch with Oasis?
Definitely. I’m really impressed with the work Oasis is doing, especially given the current political climate. I already follow Oasis on Instagram, so I feel pretty in tune with what’s happening.

What’s next for you, either in puzzling or beyond?
I focused really hard on improving my skills for the World Championship in September, so I’ve been taking a little break since then. Still puzzling of course, but not so intensely. I’m making time for other hobbies like gardening and hiking, and looking after two new kittens. I’ll start practicing for the National championship soon, though! 

Any advice for someone curious about speed puzzling?
Just do lots and lots of puzzles. Keep track of your times because it’s really encouraging to see your improvement over time.

Follow Caroline on social media at @corsi

Read more about why Speed Puzzlers Champion Oasis’ Mission