Adventures in curling
So last Sunday I attended a Learn to Curl clinic at the Columbus Curling Club, an organization that seems full of awesome people. It was a full class, about 25 people. We split up into six groups and we each got an instructor who first taught us how to throw the stones and the right form, them how to sweep, then the basics of what you're actually trying to do when you slide that stone down the lane.
Here's me learning to slide! First we used two stones at the same time for balance. After a few times we switched to holding a broom in your free hand like real curlers do. Under my left foot you can see a little pad, that's a slider that lets my foot slide. You push off with your right foot (if you're right-handed) and the stone in your right. Your left foot supports your knee and your right foot trails. I don't have a good pic of me doing that but here's my friend Sara doing it:
And on the right there is our team getting ready to throw a stone while we play an "end" with another team! We didn't get much into the strategy and all the technique...we were just happy if we actually got the stone all the way to the other end of the lane. You don't actually throw it. You push yourself, the stone comes with, then you release it. Ideally you shouldn't be leaning on the stone nor should you impart any force to it at all when you release it, only spin.
It's harder than it looks! But we had a great time!
Here's me learning to slide! First we used two stones at the same time for balance. After a few times we switched to holding a broom in your free hand like real curlers do. Under my left foot you can see a little pad, that's a slider that lets my foot slide. You push off with your right foot (if you're right-handed) and the stone in your right. Your left foot supports your knee and your right foot trails. I don't have a good pic of me doing that but here's my friend Sara doing it:
And on the right there is our team getting ready to throw a stone while we play an "end" with another team! We didn't get much into the strategy and all the technique...we were just happy if we actually got the stone all the way to the other end of the lane. You don't actually throw it. You push yourself, the stone comes with, then you release it. Ideally you shouldn't be leaning on the stone nor should you impart any force to it at all when you release it, only spin.
It's harder than it looks! But we had a great time!