Coeur d'Alene Curling
We got an invite the other day to attend a free "beginning curling" class at the ice arena Saturday.
Sarah and I decided to go...one to just try something new, and two (at least for me) to say I did it once. The instructors were part of the curling league that I guess goes on much like our trap league. Nice folks, very patient and helpful. I never realized how much goes into the game, but I guess it's like everything else...you know, shooting trap isn't just pointing the shotgun at the bird. Driving isn't just mashing on pedals and turning the wheel....wait a minute, some people do that...errrr...a GIS specialist doesn't just make maps. That's better.
Anywho, we had some fun sliding around on the ice, but never ended up playing a game. There were some folks there that were pretty serious about the whole thing and it kinda rubbed Sarah and I the wrong way. Shoot, before we went, I was going to dress up in my running tights (yea, I've only worn them once) and make myself into an "uber-competitive curler." However, I was glad when I didn't because there were people there in their "uniforms." Specialized shoes, modified brushes and supports "delivery aids," etc. Geez folks, you're sliding a 40lb rock on the ice! Oh well, it was entertaining.
My big event was actually launching the rock. I guess I wasn't entirely briefed on what we were doing, because everyone was sliding along with the rock in their hand, never letting go. Me, on the other hand, decided to just let go. "How far can it go, really?" Turns out, those critters slide for a very long ways. But then that became a major catastrophe as everyone started hollering, "ROCK! ROCK! ROCK!" as loud as they could to warn the folks on the other side of the "court" or whatever. At that point a guy on the other side just looked up, waited for the rock to get to him, then stopped it by putting his foot on it. Yep, a truly serious incident. But, it was embarassing. (Of course, when everyone was yelling that, I had to try not and instinctively look UP. We yell ROCK! to signal a rock rolling down the hill....not a slow, sliding stone on ice.)
We both agreed it would be fun if we just got some friends together and messed around with it. But it's good to have another skill in our back pocket!
Sarah and I decided to go...one to just try something new, and two (at least for me) to say I did it once. The instructors were part of the curling league that I guess goes on much like our trap league. Nice folks, very patient and helpful. I never realized how much goes into the game, but I guess it's like everything else...you know, shooting trap isn't just pointing the shotgun at the bird. Driving isn't just mashing on pedals and turning the wheel....wait a minute, some people do that...errrr...a GIS specialist doesn't just make maps. That's better.
Anywho, we had some fun sliding around on the ice, but never ended up playing a game. There were some folks there that were pretty serious about the whole thing and it kinda rubbed Sarah and I the wrong way. Shoot, before we went, I was going to dress up in my running tights (yea, I've only worn them once) and make myself into an "uber-competitive curler." However, I was glad when I didn't because there were people there in their "uniforms." Specialized shoes, modified brushes and supports "delivery aids," etc. Geez folks, you're sliding a 40lb rock on the ice! Oh well, it was entertaining.
My big event was actually launching the rock. I guess I wasn't entirely briefed on what we were doing, because everyone was sliding along with the rock in their hand, never letting go. Me, on the other hand, decided to just let go. "How far can it go, really?" Turns out, those critters slide for a very long ways. But then that became a major catastrophe as everyone started hollering, "ROCK! ROCK! ROCK!" as loud as they could to warn the folks on the other side of the "court" or whatever. At that point a guy on the other side just looked up, waited for the rock to get to him, then stopped it by putting his foot on it. Yep, a truly serious incident. But, it was embarassing. (Of course, when everyone was yelling that, I had to try not and instinctively look UP. We yell ROCK! to signal a rock rolling down the hill....not a slow, sliding stone on ice.)
We both agreed it would be fun if we just got some friends together and messed around with it. But it's good to have another skill in our back pocket!
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| There were actually quite a few folks there... |
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| Sarah up and at 'em with good form! |
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| Instruction time |
posted by geotracker12 at 10:55 AM
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