Curling- anyone play?

[dataz722]

I was more reffering to the bar shuffleboard. I had actually forgot about the other one. I had no idea that curling was that old. I knew it started in the UK but I thought it was a pretty new game.

 

[Kirbster]

Curling is an awesome sport to participate in. In fact, I earned two college credits curling. It really is a ton of fun.

 

[sp1365]

I'm kinda disappointed. The curling club near me closes for the summer before I will get a chance to get there. Guess I have to wait till the fall when they reopen.

 

[Bopper]

I'm signing up for an intro to curling day at a local club with some friends. Looks like fun, especially considering there is beer involved!

 

[GVH_Dan]

Most clubs do have to close during the summer. To be operated year round, they need to have heat in the soil underneath to prevent the ground from freezing and heaving. Taking the ice off all summer lets the ground thaw out.

Besides, even the most gung-ho curlers get tired of ice come April/may and are ready to get out on the golf course.

 

[GVH_Dan]

For those who can't see the olympics, my club is currently hosting the 2010 Club Nationals. They are live streaming 1 game per session at http://www.2010clubnationals.com/webstreaming/. There is always audio of the ice house. Sometimes club member chime in as commentators. There is also live chat available where you can ask questions, too.

 

[sp1365]

Most clubs do have to close during the summer. To be operated year round, they need to have heat in the soil underneath to prevent the ground from freezing and heaving. Taking the ice off all summer lets the ground thaw out.

Besides, even the most gung-ho curlers get tired of ice come April/may and are ready to get out on the golf course.

Understandable. Unfortunately I have the unfortunate circumstance that:

1)I am currently in Dayton which has no curling and
2)I get back to IL a month too late to try curling.

I look forward to trying curling this fall though.

 

[Teromous]

Wait. You are hesitant to go because there may be other people like YOU there? :fro:

Go for it. Go for everything life has to offer.

Life offers herpies too.

Curling looks like a cross between bowling, pool, and darts. Aside from darts, it looks like it would be more dangerous than any of those sports to involve alcohol. I mean...you're handling rocks with handles while sliding across the ice. I'll pass.

 

[claphamsa]

John that link came up bad for me... is it the one at the icegardens? if not there is one there too

 

[lurker18]

As a good Canadian boy, I read through all of this with a huge grin on my face. I don't curl, but I have done it. Up here, understanding curling is the second thing you learn, right after hockey. It is a very fun game to get into, and can be done for very cheap compared to any other sport. Shoes are probably in the $50 range, a broom for under $100. The biggest expense would be league fees or facility fees.
I have never listened to the American announcers for a full game, but they did have a forigner who I think was American, sit in for an end on our sport station, and it was like adults talking to children, trying to explain every thing.
For very good commentary, google TSN, Canada's sports network. They have 3 commentators, a former mens world champ, a former womans champ, and the guy that asks the questions. They use a telestrator and everything, showing what the skip is trying and how the rocks will move and where they will end up. They make it very easy to follow and pick up.
And up to a few years ago, before the indoor smoking ban came into effect, they would have benches on the ice between the sheets with beer holders and ashtrays. Now that is a sport.

 

[motobrewer]

there's a league about 5 miles from my house. oldest club in america apparently. they're building a brand new house with 5 sheets. opens in two years. unfortunately, it's about 10 miles from my house

i'm thinking of joining next spring.

 

[Mista_Sparkle]

going to a curling open house today

This is going to rock:rockin:

 

[JohnnyO]

going to a curling open house today

This is going to rock:rockin:

Nice! Enjoy. Post up later how it was. I'm going to a curling open house tomorrow.

 

[arturo7]

Is it my imagination, or is curling getting more Olympic TV coverage, by far, than any other sport?

 

[Skins_Brew]

Is it my imagination, or is curling getting more Olympic TV coverage, by far, than any other sport?

I dont think so. Damn figure skating seems to be on all the time.

 

[user 19629]

Bar Thinks They Have Curling Figured Out

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/bar_thinks_they_have

 

[motobrewer]

well i've been playing for a few weekends.

it's a blast. wish I found it sooner.

couple things that surprised me:

1. takeouts curl a lot more than you'd think.
2. it's harder to get a really fast takeout stone than i thought.
3. my knee dragging on the ice is starting to bother me quite a bit.
4. the ice changes dramatically over the course of a game

really fun stuff. too bad the season's over after march. oh well, trackdays will keep me occupied until october....

 

[GVH_Dan]

Welcome to your new addiction

 

[motobrewer]

no kidding. hopefully i'll have the cash come fall to join up. 2 kids, a wife, a house, and two other extremely expensive hobby might keep me away...

1st year dues will probably be manageable. but 2nd year and beyond dues are 50% more

bonspiel this weekend, can't wait!

 

[torbanac]

The people at the Curling Center at Fairland are very nice. Used to go watch after dropping off our son for Friday Night skate. Yes, there is beer there, and wings and lots of people and all skill levels.

 

[motobrewer]

thread revive!!

joined curling for the second half of the season. couldn't join the first half cause i crashed my would-be race bike and it cost money to put it back together....

Our annual dues to the club cover all league fees and unlimited access to the soda fountain and the 4 beer taps. If you want popcorn, that costs an extra quarter.

good lord that's awesome. what are your dues, if you don't mind me asking? Milwaukee club (located in Mequon) is actually part of a local private golf club, so drinks are expensive....as well as dues....

anyway, curling is awesome

 

[TxBrew]

Having fun?

 

[motobrewer]

yeah, lots of fun. my dad signed up as well. we aren't on the same team, which is good i think. it's a skip-draft league, so teams are usually pretty even. there's usually tons of open ice time to practice every week as well.

great way to pass the winter. i only signed up for wednesday league, but wish i signed up for thursday as well. i'm on the sub list for monday and thursday, so that's probably enough

two years we should have a brand new 5-sheet clubhouse, which is exciting.

 

[GVH_Dan]

good lord that's awesome. what are your dues, if you don't mind me asking?

There are a variety of "special" dues categories for students, seniors, competitive (a.k.a. professional) but for most people it goes:

Regular Member: $375.00
Second Year Member: $325.00
First Year Member: $300.00​

So the way I pitch it to my buddies is the club is open for about 24 weeks. For first year membership, that's $12.5/week. Is there anyone that can go out to the bar and spend less than $12.5? I don't think so. Therefore, pay your dues, sign up 1 night per week and all your paying for is the drinking with the curling for free! Currently on tap is Point Amber, something from Abita, Berghoff dark and something a little more commercial. If a major brewery sponsors and event, we have to put their beer on tap for a while.

 

[motobrewer]

good god that's cheap!

 

[BlackForestBrewery]

I don't mean this in a rude way, but it seems like it would be much more fun than watching it on tv.

 

[GVH_Dan]

yeah, lots of fun. my dad signed up as well. we aren't on the same team, which is good i think. it's a skip-draft league, so teams are usually pretty even. there's usually tons of open ice time to practice every week as well.

great way to pass the winter. i only signed up for wednesday league, but wish i signed up for thursday as well. i'm on the sub list for monday and thursday, so that's probably enough

two years we should have a brand new 5-sheet clubhouse, which is exciting.

Wow, open ice time would be awesome. The Madison Curling club is 6 sheets but the only time you can find guaranteed open ice time is midnight until 7 am. Otherwise, ice maintenance is 8 to noon and leagues start at 4:00. Afternoons are often booked for local high schools or old men leagues. Weekends is juniors, make up games and open houses if there isn't a bonspiel.

So that's the club at the Ozaukee Country Club, right? A buddy showed me the drawings for the new club. Pretty nice 5 sheeter, but it didn't look like there was enough room for drinking and watching the games.

 

[GVH_Dan]

I don't mean this in a rude way, but it seems like it would be much more fun than watching it on tv.

Its a lot more fun to play than even watch live. Watching curling is sort of like watching two guys play chess. Except the stone doesn't always go where you want it to.

 

[motobrewer]

yeah, ozaukee. like i said, i just joined, so I don't have a good feel for it yet, but it seems that its more of an older club, and probably not near as many members as madison's. I don't really know the scale of the floorplans, but it seems like there'll be enough room. we generally don't have many onlookers. maybe bonspiels would be tight, but they'd probably set up tables in the meeting room area.

http://www.milwaukeecurlingassociation.org/_admin/upload-area/files/newfacility/floor-plan.pdf

open ice time is mostly mornings and weekends, but it seems like it'd be easy to find an hour to throw rocks if you needed it. our leagues start at 6pm

 

[motobrewer]

oh, i have a question:

why the heck does every club name their leagues?