This post is part of the “Olympic Dreams” series where I try Olympic sports and explore Olympic host cities. Read more Olympic Dreams posts HERE.
“Good curling.” “Good curling.” All of the members of our teams said this to each other as we shook hands. We were about to step on to the ice for our first end.
During the 2018 Winter Olympics, curling was broadcast on television most mornings as I was getting ready for work. A number of conversations with friends and colleagues revolved around curling during this time. And then the impossible happened: Team USA won its first ever gold medal in curling.
I started to wonder, where do people learn how to curl? Where do they practice? I Googled “Learn to Curl” and quickly found the Potomac Curling Club.
Potomac Curling Club
The Potomac Curling Club is located in Laurel, Maryland, about 30 minutes north of Washington, DC. It is a volunteer run organization that has been around for over 50 years.
The Potomac Curling Club meets in the National Capital Curling Center which is part of the Gardens Ice House. The Gardens also offers hockey and figure skating.
Curling Lesson: Getting the Basics
Due to post-Olympic demand Potomac Curling Club offered more “Learn to Curl” sessions than usual. Each session was 2.5 hours, included instruction on how to play, followed by an actual game.
The session started in the “Warm Room,” an area separate from the ice. We were all instructed to pick up a “gripper” for our dominant foot. I put this small piece of rubber over the sole of my right sneaker to keep me from slipping on the ice. We did some light stretching as a warm-up. Curling is quite physical; it involves a lot of bending and squatting and vigorous sweeping can be very aerobic.
Once in the room with the ice, we learned about the field of play or sheet. It’s not a court. It’s a sheet. We learned about the house – the round scoring area. The house is made up of four concentric circles: 12 feet, 8 feet, 4 feet, and 1 foot in diameter. The 1 foot circle, right in the center, is also called the button. Curling is scored by counting the rocks of the same color closest to the center. The circles do not signify different point levels, they are there to help you determine which rock is closer. To score points you need to have your team’s rock(s) near the center. Say you have two rocks near the center but then your opponent has a rock the third closest. You score 2 points. They score 0.
The rocks – the polished stones with handles on top – do not travel in a straight line; that’s why the sport is called curling. They will go to the left or the right if you don’t control them. But, thankfully it is possible to direct them. Always begin with the open end of the handle toward you and the other end pointing directly down the sheet. If you want the rock to curl toward the left, turn the handle 45 degrees or less to the left. If you want it to curl to the right, turn the handle no more than 45 degrees to the right. In either case, turn the rock from the starting position back to center as it is released.
How do you know which way to curl it? That’s the skip’s job. The skip calls the shots and tells his/her teammates where each rock should land and which direction it should curl.
After understanding the goal of the game it was time to give it a try. We stepped onto the ice with our gripper-ed foot first to prevent slipping. My instructor, Linda, pointed out the hack – two rubber blocks embedded in the ice behind the house. The hack looks like starting blocks in track and serve a similar function. I’m right handed/footed so I began with my right foot in the hack and I put my left foot onto a Teflon coated insole next to the hack. Frequent curlers have special shoes that feature one smooth sole and one gripper sole – a temporary solution is provided for newbies.
I put the toes of my right foot on the back of the hack so I could push off. I crouched in the hack with my right hand on the handle of the rock and my left hand on the stabilizer for us newbies. After being told which way my rock should curl I positioned it and raised my hips while keeping the rock on the ice. I brought my left foot slightly back, pushed off the hack with my right foot, and immediately brought my left foot up to right behind the rock. I was kneeling down while dragging my right leg with my shoelaces pointed down behind me as I glided across the ice.
You have the most speed when leaving the hack so if you want the rock to travel far you should release early. If you want less distance you should release it later as your momentum slows. In curling you don’t push or throw the rock down the sheet you simply release it at the right time to achieve the desired distance. Since I’m not as big as many curlers, I needed to release the rock early in the process.
Even releasing early, when I was at peak momentum, still didn’t appear to be enough power to get the rock into the house. This is where sweeping comes in! Curling is played on pebbled ice, not flat ice skating or hockey ice. When players sweep the ice they are clearing the surface to allow the rock to travel further and faster. Even rocks that didn’t look like they would cross the center line made it all the way to the house once sweeping was applied.
Playing the Game
After over an hour of instruction and each participant practicing throwing rocks and sweeping, it was time to play a game! Games are played with 4 players per team and each end, similar to an inning, consists of 16 rocks – 8 per team.
I threw first for my team and it was my job to establish guards – rocks that sit in front of the house making it harder for the opponent to get their rocks into scoring position. After I threw the first 2 rocks for my team, I took over as a sweeper.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t like sweeping that much. I practically had to run to keep up with some of the rocks. Running on ice is tricky enough, but try to do it crouched over and vigorously sweeping a small yet ever moving patch of ice. One key to sweeping is to always position your body so you are facing the way the rock is traveling. This will prevent you from tripping over any rocks.
We only had time to play two ends, but I was elated that my team won! During both ends I threw well placed guards and was happy with my performance. I slipped on my final throw and was sad to leave on a mistake, but I guess that means I just need to go back and redeem myself next season.
Review
Overall, it was a great experience. I was more nervous than I thought I would be when I first stepped into the hack. It is a motion and body movement that was completely foreign to me. It felt completely unnatural. But after a few attempts I started to get the hang of it.
I will definitely try curling again! I was there during the Potomac Curling Club’s last week of the season, but I might even become a member next fall. It’s a good workout and a sport that emphasizes the social and sportsman like aspects of the game.
Good curling!
Try It For Yourself
The Potomac Curling Club is open September through April and offers a variety of learning experiences. The session described above was their 2.5 hour “Learn to Curl” class. They also offer a 4 week “Curling 101” program if you’re ready to get serious. Each year they have a few afternoons of Open House if you just want to come check it out.
For more information check out curldc.org
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