Explain Curling to me

[Cat_Whisperer]

@Northern_Piper

also on the athleticism point, remember that while you’re sweeping forwards and backwards, you’re sliding sideways on ice, and one of your shoes has a teflon sole so it is nice and slippery…that takes a considerable amount of co-ordination.

Co-ordination, skill, strategy, plus at least some athleticism - Jim played a bonspiel a couple of weekends ago, and he was toast by the end of the weekend. Granted, he’s a beer league player at this point, playing two games a week, but I don’t doubt that an Olympic level curler is in pretty good shape.

[Waenara]

@Cat_Whisperer

Co-ordination, skill, strategy, plus at least some athleticism - Jim played a bonspiel a couple of weekends ago, and he was toast by the end of the weekend. Granted, he’s a beer league player at this point, playing two games a week, but I don’t doubt that an Olympic level curler is in pretty good shape.

Yeah, I’ve only curled in a community league (beer league) for a couple seasons. Usually I’m stiff and sore for a couple days after the first game of the season but I’m okay after that. My first bonspiel killed me, and it was a funspiel that only had six-end games. Curling five six-end games on three days (Friday-Sunday) just about killed me. I could barely move on Sunday.

[Skammer]

Man, the US team is killing me. I’m a day behind (just watched the Swiss match) but come on! The US skipper has choked on the last three game-winning shots he’s had. And ruined a wonderful comback in the Swiss match, when they had recovered from being down 4-0 to take a 6-5 lead.

[Surly_Chick]

I’ve found that the key to curling is make sure you use plenty of product before applying the iron. Otherwise you can damage your hair.

What?

[CaveMike]

I was watch Women’s US vs. Denmark yesterday. When the US was discussing their next shot, they were talking about a 3 or 4. What were they referring to?

[Grey]

Likely weight or how hard to throw the stone.

[phungi]

@gonzomax

Sending the rock down the ice requires almost no force. just the movement of the arm is sufficient to get it there. When you are drawing, you have to throw very lightly to keep from going through the house.

Not trying to start an athletic event vs. skill debate, but having tried curling while living in Canada, it is MUCH harder than it looks… lifting a 40-lb stone with a handle is akin to lifting a 40 lb. bag of mulch or pet food with one hand, only better balanced… trying to control your speed and balance as you push off and glide prior to releasing is not easy… we are not talking about bowling or shuffleboard on ice… add in controlling your speed/pressure, wrist twist, and line, and you have a lot happening in a very short moment that appears very relaxed…

also, walking while sweeping is an entirely different beast, but much harder than it looks…

[Freddy_the_Pig]

@CaveMike

I was watch Women’s US vs. Denmark yesterday. When the US was discussing their next shot, they were talking about a 3 or 4. What were they referring to?

Curling weight numbers.

[Sparky812]

@Grey

Likely weight or how hard to throw the stone.

@Northern_Piper

There was an little incident in the Women’s Canada-Swiss match the other night that illustrated the curling ethos of sportsmanship and self-governing that Leaffan refers to.

The Swiss were sitting three, with shot rock (i.e. - they had three rocks in the house, one of them being closest to the button, and therefore counting).

The Canadian Skip called for a double-takeout (i.e. - she signalled to her Third who was about to shoot that she wanted the Third to throw her stone to hit two of the Swiss stones out of the rings). A double-takeout is a hard shot to call and make, but not unusual at the level of competitive curling.

The Canadian Third threw her rock, and did it so well that she didn’t just get a double - she got a triple! The combination of her stone hitting the others got all three of the Swiss stones moving.

Only thing, it caught the Canadian Skip by surprise - she wasn’t expecting the third Swiss stone, the one that was shot rock, to move, since it was well guarded by the other stones. So when it started to move, she wasn’t able to get out of the way in time. The rock hit the Canadian Skip’s foot and stopped, actually a bit closer to the button than it had been before.

In that case, the Swiss Skip could have said, “You stopped it from moving - it stays there.” However, it was clearly an accident by the Canadian Skip, and probably no-one had been expecting a triple. The Swiss Skip just moved the stone to the back of the 12 foot, where it likely would have ended up if it hadn’t hit the Canadian Skip’s foot - still in play, but no longer shot rock, and not likely to have much impact on the rest of the shooting in that end.

No officials needed, and a very classy move by the Swiss Skip.

Not really..  the Swiss had a choice, leave the stone where it is or place the stone where it would most likely have ended up. (This can be debateable sometimes)

they chose the latter since it was a more advantageous position than the former.

@CaveMike

I was watch Women’s US vs. Denmark yesterday. When the US was discussing their next shot, they were talking about a 3 or 4. What were they referring to?

@Freddy_the_Pig

Curling weight numbers.

Exactly, it’s a call for weight. Coupled with the “turn”, it gives the desired location.
One factor which is not evident on TV, is that the communication is difficult due to noise from the crowd, other matches, air handlers, and the acoustics of the facility. Believe me, you can yell yourself hoarse and still have someone tell you they couldn’t hear you!

TheFree Guard Zone Ruleis another “new” rule passing fans may not be familiar with.
Basically, you can’t remove a guard from either lead until the fifth rock…but you can move it.

[Skammer]

One thing I wondered about while I was watching yesterday: each team has 73 minutes (plus timeouts). What happens when you run out of time? Do you automatically forfeit? Or are you just prohibited from throwing any more stones at that point? Or something else?

Also, when a match goes into extra ends, does the clock run? How much more time are the teams given?

[Rysto]

@Sparky812

Not really… the Swiss had a choice, leave the stone where it is or place the stone where it would most likely have ended up. (This can be debateable sometimes)
they chose the latter since it was a more advantageous position than the former

The position that they moved it to was clearly not as advantageous as where it already was.

[Cat_Whisperer]

@Waenara

Yeah, I’ve only curled in a community league (beer league) for a couple seasons. Usually I’m stiff and sore for a couple days after the first game of the season but I’m okay after that. My first bonspiel killed me, and it was a funspiel that only had six-end games. Curling five six-end games on three days (Friday-Sunday) just about killed me. I could barely move on Sunday.

Heh - I mentioned to Jim that someone in this thread was questioning the athleticism of Olympic curlers, and his response was…emphatic.

[Smeghead]

That was me. And I’m not denying there’s some physical ability required. I’m not even ragging on curling - I enjoy watching it, and I’m glad it’s in the Olympics. All I’m saying is that compared to every other sport in the games, curling just isn’t quite in the same league, physically. I can’t believe that’s a really controversial statement.

Archery is an interesting comparison - I hadn’t though of that.

[capeo]

I have a question. Why is it at times they clear stones from the house after they’ve been hit? Is it that if they are not in any rings they can be cleared?

[Cat_Whisperer]

@Smeghead

That was me. And I’m not denying there’s some physical ability required. I’m not even ragging on curling - I enjoy watching it, and I’m glad it’s in the Olympics. All I’m saying is that compared to every other sport in the games, curling just isn’t quite in the same league, physically. I can’t believe that’s a really controversial statement.

Archery is an interesting comparison - I hadn’t though of that.

S’alright, dawg. I think it’s just an symptom of curling not being a well-known sport - I think the physicality of curling is different than other sports.

[Skammer]

@capeo

I have a question. Why is it at times they clear stones from the house after they’ve been hit? Is it that if they are not in any rings they can be cleared?

If the stone is past the T-line (the line that runs across the middle of the house) and is not touching the rings, it is removed from play. I presume this is because at that point it is impossible for it to be knocked back into the rings, so it becomes irrelevent to play.

[elmwood]

@capeo

I have a question. Why is it at times they clear stones from the house after they’ve been hit? Is it that if they are not in any rings they can be cleared?

If a stone touches one of the side boards (or, in the case of club curling, leaves the sheet), or passes behind the back line, it’s out of play. If the stone is travelling at a velocity where it’s probably going to leave play, it’s better to just pull it off, rather than have it ricochet off the boards, or slam into and dislodge the hack.

[elmwood]

@Skammer

If the stone is past the T-line (the line that runs across the middle of the house) and is not touching the rings, it is removed from play. I presume this is because at that point it is impossible for it to be knocked back into the rings, so it becomes irrelevent to play.

Those rocks are actually still in play. If they fall behind the back line, they leave play.

[borschevsky]

@Skammer

If the stone is past the T-line (the line that runs across the middle of the house) and is not touching the rings, it is removed from play. I presume this is because at that point it is impossible for it to be knocked back into the rings, so it becomes irrelevent to play.

This isn’t correct - stones are removed if they touch the side board, or if they pass the end line at the back of the house. Stones can be past the tee line and outside of the rings but still remain in play.

[Skammer]

Thanks for the correction. Can anyone answer my question about the play clock?