Frequently Asked Questions
What is Curling ?
The latest rage at the Winter Olympics, this ancient and venerable sport originated on the frozen ponds and lochs of 16th century Scotland. A TEAM sport, curling is both competitive and social yet steeped in a tradition of etiquette and fair play.
Each player throws or slides a 42lb.curling stone with a handle attached to its topside down a sheet of specially prepared ice. The immediate goal is to have your rock come to rest on the spot that the team captain or “skip” has requested. The ultimate goal is for the four-person team to have their rock(s) closest to the center of the target or “house”. Curling is often referred to as ‘chess on ice’. While the basics of curling are simple to learn, the finesse and strategy of “the roaring game” are never fully mastered.
Do I have to know how to ice skate?
No, curlers do not use ice skates and no skating ability is required. Instead curlers use special rubber-soled curling shoes. A “slider” generally made of Teflon is either attached to or slipped under one shoe.
What’s with the brooms?
To understand the sweeping, it helps to have an understanding of the ice and the rock first. “Pebbling” or spraying a fine mist of water droplets prepares the ice for a game. The rock which is thrown with a slight twist, rides up on the “ pebble” and will travel or “curl” in the direction of it’s rotation. The sweeping causes a slight melting of the ice, thereby reducing the friction along the path of the stone. The harder the rock is swept, the further and straighter it will travel. It’s important to note that every player on the team is involved with each stone that is played.
What’s so special about the rocks?
The bottom of the rock is not flat, but concave and the actual running surface of the rock is only about ¼” to ½” wide. This small running surface must combine with the rotation, the pebble and the sweeping to make the shot a success. The stones are made of polished granite quarried only on Ailsa Craig, an island off the coast of Scotland.
How can I join in?
The best way is to join us at one of our open houses. See our calendar on the home page for the next Open House!
We are VERY FRIENDLY and WELCOME NEW CURLERS. If you are interested and unable to attend an open house please feel free to contact us at (978) 724-3210 or email petershamcurling@gmail.com
What should I wear to curl?
Dress in warm loose layers. Avoid tight or binding clothing. Bring a pair of clean, flat, rubber-soled shoes. Please do not wear the same shoes outside as you wear on the ice as dirt and debris will ruin the ice. You do not need any special equipment!
How long does it take to play a game?
Most games are about 2 hours. In addition, you should arrive about 10 minutes before your game, and be prepared to stay and socialize after the game. For many, this is the best part of curling!
Fundamentalsofcurling.pdf an excellent pdf summary of some of the fine points of delivering a rock and strategy.
Check out some excellent television coverage of our
curling club based on the excitement generated by the Olympics!
Click here. and here. and here.
| November 18. 2009 11:26AM Finessing the stone Sport of curling is about delivery, accuracy — and tradition By Laura Porter Photography by Tom Rettig
But the crowd gathered in front of the gallery glass for a game in this particular bonspiel, or tournament, couldn't be more aware of the intricacies of the sport. Spectators sit in chairs or perch on stools, watching with a rapt silence occasionally broken by murmurs of interest or approval. “People think it's not exciting, but everyone here is glued to the ice,” says Cindy Hartwell, club board member and the organizer of several bonspiels, including this one. “(The direction of the game) can change very quickly.” Indeed, a comment overheard in the hubbub drives home her point: “It doesn't get much more exciting than what we've done this weekend,” exclaims a voice in the crowd. For the past several days, curling teams from New York and all over New England as well as clubs in Canada have come together to play, eat and celebrate their love of curling. On this Sunday, the bonspiel's final day, they will cheer on the finalists and then disperse, at least until the next tournament. What, exactly, is curling? Originating in Scotland in the 1500s, the game involves four-member teams that face each other across a single sheet of ice. Each team takes turns throwing, or sliding, 42-pound polished granite stones toward its target, or house. “The immediate goal is to have your rock come to rest on the spot that the team captain or ‘skip' has requested,” notes the Petersham club's Web site. “The ultimate goal is for the four-person team to have their rock(s) closest to the center of the target or ‘house.' ” Before play, the ice is sprinkled with water, or pebbled, so it is not completely smooth. The stone is released with a slight turn of the wrist, turning it into either a clockwise or counterclockwise curl. The bottom of the stones are concave, with only a small ring of surface area, and so the spinning stone “rides up on the ‘pebble' and will travel or ‘curl' in the direction of its rotation.” To help direct the stone, players use a special broom to sweep the ice in front of it as it slides toward the house. Sweeping reduces friction and makes it possible to bring the stone 5 to 10 feet farther. It also helps it to stay straighter and hold its line. In the course of a game, usually about two hours long, each side throws eight stones, alternating between the red and the blue teams. Eight ends, or turns, are played in all. “It's really a game of finesse, not brute strength,” says Hartwell. “It's all about the delivery and the accuracy.” As might befit a sport with such a long and illustrious history, tradition is an integral part of curling, and sportsmanship is one of its most valued traditions. One shakes hands with one's opponents before and after every game. While the opponent is throwing, members of the other team stand still and out of the way. In the gallery, everyone claps when teams come off the ice, waiting long enough to applaud even the last straggling player. Hartwell's parents were among the founders of the Petersham Curling Club, which is to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2010 and once counted its membership at more than 90 families. There are currently about 60 individual curling members and eight social members. The club welcomes new members at any time. The Petersham clubhouse features two regulation sheets of ice as well as a large, comfortable social area, framed by a roaring brick fireplace on one end and a polished, leather-fronted bar at the other. Trophies and plaques showcase the club's successes, filling display cases and standing tall on the mantle above the fireplace. A large photograph of the groundbreaking in 1960 hangs in a prominent spot by the door; the shovel used that day has been turned into a trophy. More than 60 people of all ages have attended this particular bonspiel, which as always, has revolved as much around food and fun as curling. A Friday night power outage forced some rearranging of the game schedule, but the traditional costume dinner went on as planned. Although there is no doubt these curlers take their sport seriously, it is just as evident from the sounds of laughter that they enjoy each other very much. John Brooks, who has belonged to the club since 1978, notes that “people are the reason people curl — there is great camaraderie.” Today, Brooks was asked to step in to play in the finals of the B event for a Canadian team that needed a player. “Where else are you going to meet people from so many different places?” he asks. The club no longer offers junior level curling, but the sport can often be a family affair. Twenty-four-year-old Aliza Paul Breault, who is waiting to play with her team in the finals of the A event, has curled for 15 years. “I grew up in the club,” she says. “My parents and grandparents are members.” (Her father, Ted Paul, is currently the club's treasurer.) She has two small children, both here today, so right now she only plays in the Friday night mixed league. Curling is easy to learn, but one could spend a lifetime working to master its intricacies. Notes Brooks: “It's a sport you can play without being good at it, but if you want to get good at it, it just takes practice.” Members have frequent opportunities to curl, with a men's league meeting twice a week, a mixed league every Friday night, and women's and open hours on Wednesdays. The season runs from fall through late winter, kicking off this year with a Golf and Curling Biathlon. In addition, Petersham members often travel to bonspiels sponsored by other clubs, both in the United States and in Canada. The Spring Fling Bonspiel at the end of March marks the official end of the club's season. After the last stone is thrown, club members pull the plug to drain the ice for the off-season. On this particular chilly day, the ice clears as first one and then the second game in progress comes to an end, and a few club members begin to prepare the ice for the finals. It is cleaned and swept after every game, but scraped and pebbled every third game. Inside, people gather in front of the fireplace, or return to the breakfast buffet laid out earlier this morning. Breault, thinking about the game to come, says only, “I hope to win. That will be the whole ball of wax.” Brooks says that his strategy is simple: “Get the stone in the house — all of them.” The sudden sound of bagpipes cuts into the conversation, and there is an instant hush. As the piper comes forward from the back of the clubhouse, the members of each of the four teams playing in the finals begin to line up behind him. Slowly, they bang the ends of their broom handles on the floor while everyone in the room starts to clap in rhythm. “I'm going to go real slow up the ice because I have on metal cleats,” says the bagpiper, and he turns to lead the players onto the ice. They proceed first to the back wall and then fan out in a line, 16 across, to face the gallery. Slowly, the group advances until they are only a few feet from the window. Cindy Hartwell slips out with a tray of shot glasses, filled with whatever liquid each has requested. The curlers each take one, and while Ted Paul stands in front of them to offer a toast, everyone raises their glasses. They then exchange handshakes and separate to prepare for the games. A few take a couple of practice throws, sliding across the ice on bended knee. Others warm up by stretching. In the gallery, spectators once again arrange themselves in front of the glass, looking forward to another session of excellent curling. Some of the teams, now out of the tournament and with a long way to travel, are preparing to leave. Many come up to Hartwell, thanking her for the Petersham club's hospitality. Hugs are exchanged, as well as good wishes to last until they meet again at the next bonspiel, either here or elsewhere. “There's something about curlers,” she says. “You meet people and you make friends for life.” Petersham Curling Club 250 Main St. (Route 32), Petersham February's Winter Olympics in Vancouver will dovetail with the Petersham Curling Club's 50th anniversary. Plans are under way for special events that will bookend 2010, scheduled for January through March as well as September through December. For more information about curling or to find out about attending an open house, call (978) 724-3210 or visit the club's Web site at www.petershamcurling.org |
see the great blog posting on curling and our club by Scott Coen of MassLIVE. click here.