Angelica Haggert
Our 2016 Bucket List is well under way,
having yet to miss a day on our #Photo365
project. This month’s adventure was to try
out curling - that sport where you slide rocks
down a sheet of ice? Well, a few friends and I
signed up for Rose City Sport and Social
Club’s recreational curling league, competing
for Spirit Points and enjoying nachos after the
games.
We’re a month into the adventure of
curling so far. Here’s what I’ve learned.
The general premise of curling is that
you slide a stone down a pathway of ice
towards a bullseye, aiming for the rock to rest
in the middle of the rings. The ice is flat. The
rock "curls" because of the deliberate twisting
motion in the wrist of the person "throwing"
(sliding) the rock. Two members of the
four-person team “sweep” the path in front
of the rock, helping it maintain speed and
trajectory.
It’s a lot more work than it sounds. I
watched the sport on television a few times
before I tried to play, and it just sounded like
a lot of yelling. They didn’t mention that
sweeping makes me sweat more than any
other sport I’ve played; that the rocks are
actually really heavy; and oh, yes … that it’s
REALLY difficult to walk and slide on ice
without taking a tumble. Then you add in all
the elements of aim and the speed at which
you push the rock, and it’s a complex activity.
Apparently it’s known as “Chess on Ice,” if
that gives you any kind of indication. The
mental focus combined with the physical,
plus the 5 p.m. Sunday evening game time,
means it’s usually lights out for me by 9 p.m.
on Sundays!
Did you know?
Curling was a demonstration
sport in the Olympics 4 times
(1924, 1932, 1992, 1994)
before being admitted as a full
medal sport in 1998. Canada
has more curlers in total than
any other country.
I’m easily the worst player on the team,
but I think I cheer the most, so it makes up
for my lack of skill. But I’m getting better
every week, focusing on one thing at a time.
The first week was all about learning to stay
standing! Now I’m working on my precision
and speed, bit by bit. I even scored a point.
We’re definitely a diverse crew, with a
chemistry PhD candidate, an insurance
broker, an accountant and myself on the
team, all with varying skill levels.
The league is well organized and
Roseland Curling Club, out on Dougall
Avenue, is a beautiful facility