A colleague invited me to join him and a few friends to a curling session on Sunday, my only understanding is that involves a slidey thing, a broom and takes place on ice, I didn’t know what to expect or what the rules entailed.
A short drive from London towards Tunbridge Wells to England’s only Curling Rink, Fenton’s Rink The current English Men’s team is based at the Rink – as is the Ladies’ junior side.
On arrival we watched a short video which explained the rules, how to play, scoring and safety. We were taking in to try on our special curling shoes and kippers. (A kipper is a rubber sole that covers the teflon slippery sole, you take the kipper off when you want to slide). Curling ice is not wet or greasy on the surface – so you shouldn’t find it difficult to keep your balance.
We stepped out into the rink and suddenly realised how cold it was and wondered if we were suitably dressed, but we were reassured once game is in play and we start “sweeping” we will soon warm up. Our host told us how to get on and off the ice safely where to put our feet and how to slide the stones.
Curling started in Scotland and originally was played outdoors. Over the years the game has been refined and is now played mainly on indoor ice rinks. The major curling countries are Scotland, Canada, the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, Germany, USA, China, Japan, Holland, Italy and France.
The objective
is simple: to slide a granite curling stone weighing 20kg from one end of the ice rink to the other (40m) to a target marked on the ice. The player slides out of a starting block called “the hack” and releases the stone when it is on the right path. As the player releases the stone the handle is twisted to the left or right thus making the stone spin slowly as it travels down the ice. This makes it Curl down the ice – giving the name of the game – “Curling”.
HOW TO PLAY
Two teams of 4 play against each other using two stones per player and playing in turn. All players in the team are involved in every stone played, taking turns to deliver the stone, to sweep (two players) or as “skip” – who guides the delivery and tells the sweepers when to sweep. Sweeping can help to keep a stone on the right trajectory and make it go further than it otherwise would have done. After everyone has played the “end” is finished and the team whose stone(s) is nearest the middle of the target wins the end; one point for each stone nearer the centre than the opposition. A stone must be within the outer (12 foot diameter) circle to count. A game typically lasts 8 ends over a 2 hour session. Special shoes are worn to enable the player to slide over the ice. Skates are definitely NOT used as the surface must be perfectly flat and smooth. A single hair or piece of fluff is enough to make a stone go completely off course.
So if you’re looking for something new for a day out, team bonding or for a hen or stag do, curling is great fun and I can’t wait to go back!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DifCAqy7fxQ
