About every four years or so I hear the same old shtick... "did you see the curling at the Olympics... what a joke." An Olympic "sport"... ha! Hey, hey, hey... I get it. Curling is goofy and ripe for abuse.
Well guess what, folks. There is a real, live (ex) curler in your midst! I just want to let you know how close I came to Olympic gold (not).
My parents got involved in curling back in the 60's. They thought it might be a good way to keep active during winters in Chicago. Due to the weather not much else was available (sports-wise) aside from paddle tennis and ice skating.
My family curled at the Chicago Curling Club in Northbrook, IL. I initially liked curling because of the potato chips they served. Eventually, I joined the junior curling club, and spent one afternoon a week practicing, playing, and ultimately competing in weekend bonspiels (tournaments). We would drive up to Wawatosa, WI and other remote sounding places. It was a blast.
Curling is a bit of a cross between shuffle board and darts. The aim is to get as many stones possible (up to a total of 4 per team) closest to the target in the middle. 8 to 10 "ends/sets" make up a game.
Fun fact: most curling stones come from the same quarry in Scotland. Curling stones weigh between 38 and 44 pounds according to Wikipedia. Traditionally, curling stones are made from a specific type of granite found on an island off the Ayrshire coast in Scotland. Ailsite granite has a very low water absorption rate which allows for a certain bit of consistency in the stone, perfect for curling conditions. The best stones run $1,500. Lesser stones run about $500. It takes 8 stones to play a game. Most clubs have a minimum of 4 r
inks.
When I was a kid curler, there were still a few straw brooms to be found. As I aged, brushes or fabric brooms became the standard. You "sweep" the ice to help move the stone along a little faster.
After a long absence from curling, I was once asked to sub in a bonspiel. It had been a couple of years since I had curled. I was maybe 22 years old? I played 2 games on a Friday. By Saturday I was just about unable to walk. Seriously. The muscles required for curling are unique and not to be taken lightly. I'm not saying it is a strenuous sport, but it does require some Olympian stretching (which I'm sure I ignored).
I haven't curled in about 10 years. It's still fun to hear about the upswing in curling club applications after an Olympic year. If you are interested, google "curling" a to see if any opportunities exist in your area. Like I said, it's a little goofy, but fun. And it's just about the only sport that offers Olympic aspirations after age 30.
Bring on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi!
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