As I mentioned in my previous post about the
Olympics my hubby and I signed up for The Curling Experience at a local ice rink. I was very curious how I would do with walking on the ice and I am happy to report I did not fall at all... from a standing position. As far as falling while in the curling position, welllllll
We got there, signed in, got our name tags, grip for our dominant foot/shoe and what looked like a shower cap for our other foot. They made a few announcements and then it was out to the ice. I really can not tell you how nervous I was to step on the ice, not the curling, just stepping on the ice. Luckily, I adapted quickly and you only wear the slippery shower cap when actually curling the rock.
We were set up in teams of four and we had a great couple placed with us, Kristen and Jason. They were from Reading PA which is really far but they said they were on their way to NY next so it was half way there. I am just glad they were there that night. They were so much fun and really good curlers by the end.
We had two teachers to tell us about how to get into the curling position, how to sweep, how to score points and how to have fun.
My favorite part of all it was that it all lives up to my mantra and life quote “Because Nice Matters.” You start all play with “Good Curling” and shaking each person’s hand... even your own team. Then during play if you move a rock or if you need help or anything at all, everyone, I mean everyone helps you. Then when it is all over you shake hands again, say “Good Curling” and go to get warm and have food and drink together. It truly was such a great night and all the people were so nice and fun.
So we worked on the curling stance for awhile. Wow, anyone who thinks you don’t need to be in a little shape for this, is crazy. I think my thigh is still angry with me. You start out with two rocks to stabilize yourself while learning the movement of releasing the rock and then you move to a stabilizer and a rock. We never moved on from the stabilizer though and I am not surprised. I think I would need quite a few more repetitions before I could curl without anything in my non rock hand.
Then we tested out how to sweep, could use a little more instruction here but what we learned and did was certainly good enough for the playing we did.
Then it was time to play the game. It was our team again the other 4 players at the other end of the curling lane. We all shook hands and said “Good Curling” and then we were off. It was soooo much fun. There is so much finesse and strategy. They funniest part was the one woman on the other team and myself ended up paired for the change of roles. When it was our turn to be Skips we were sooo confused over why we would point the opposite of where we wanted the rock to end up. It was then that we learned the truth about what curling is... you actually curl the rock to where you want it to go and through physics it has to go the opposite of what you think. We both Ooood and Ahhhd and then got to work.
In the end, we won! Jason even got one of his rocks on the button (the center of the rings for points - very important and not easy to do at all). I had one good throw and Jason and Kristen as sweepers got the rock into a scoring position. Brian was excellent at knocking out the other team’s rocks for points and I enjoyed sweeping them right out of the scoring rings :)
So I luckily never did fall from a standing position but I did go down twice on my side, very gracefully of course, while curling the rock. BUT the best one was on my one curl, I literally splayed face first onto the ice. I was not hurt at all and I couldn’t even tell you how it happened but boy did I laugh. The best part? No on even saw me. They were all watching the rock. LOL!
Would I do this again? In a second!
Will I join the league? Maybe
Will we go back for the Instruction League? Highly likely
For all of you that think Curling is easy, doesn’t look hard, doesn’t need muscles or is boring, you couldn’t be more wrong. Get out and try it. I bet you have a great time!
Good Curling!
