Getting swept away

By Adam Richardson
The News
STELLARTON - Ever hear that saying, "He's curled before"?
Well, until last week, I hadn't curled. Pretty un-Canadian of me, huh?
My desire to learn didn't stem from a national identity crisis. I was reading a message board around the time of our local Sobeys Slam event, and noticed that a fair number of posts didn't consider our Canadian game a sport at all.
To be honest, it's pretty tough - pointless, even - to judge what qualifies as sport. Curling has all the elements that would seem sporty, but it also has guys like Randy Ferbey, who looks like an adult walrus holding a broom. He may not make the cover of Men's Fitness, but Ferbey is a world champion in this sport. One would assume there's a place for all shapes and sizes on the curling sheet, even at the highest levels. I like the message that sends.
Pictou County loves this sport, so it wasn't hard to find a game. I went to Stellar Curling Club for the evening, and engaged in a full match with teammates Jamie Morrison, Cuddy MacDonald and Roger Garby. My first impression was not of the game, but the social atmosphere at the club. Just about everyone stopped by to say hello, and there was a sense of friendship throughout the lounge area. I felt at home as Ann Louise Stright welcomed me right away, and it took away any first-time jitters that may have brewed.
My second observation was the range in ages. At 25, I was probably around the youngest on this night. But there were people in their 30s, 40s, all the way up to really senior folks out for a bit of exercise.
I had virtually no start-up or instruction. I borrowed a broom and a slider for my time in the hack, and I was good to go.
As the most junior (not to mention useless) member of our foursome, I threw lead stones. Now, this was a blessing and a curse. On the plus side, it allowed me to inflict the least amount of damage to my own team. On the down side, there wasn't really anything to crash my rocks into, which was one of the parts I anticipated most.
Lack of smashy-smashy aside, I proved a horrible shot-maker, probably even for a first timer. My first attempt dribbled down, establishing itself as a guard. I wussed my next shot, and it didn't even make it over the hog line. I slunk away from the hack, hoping nobody would notice.
All night long, I alternated between throwing the stone too hard, thus breezing straight through the house unmolested, or coming up way too short. I suspect this is a beginner's biggest challenge - draw weight. I got a little better by the seventh end, but there are still plenty of lessons left to be learned about the proper strength needed to make one's shot.
Shot after crappy shot, my teammates were always there, offering encouragement through grasping fibs.
Sweeping was fun, and provides a nice little workout. I was a little unsure about moving on the ice at first, but the broom provides a nice balance and I never really felt uncomfortable out there.
I also never got the next-day soreness Morrison and others warned, but an eight-end game did feel like a good bit of effort.
I really enjoyed how exciting the rink was.
There were games being played on adjacent sheets, and hearing skips barking orders made me feel like I was in a draw at the Sobeys Slam, or the Brier. Oh, there was even some drama - well, as much as you can get in a weekly game between longtime members.
You see, we had skip stones and trailed 7-5 in the eighth and final end. The other rink had two red rocks in the house, and we had one. Garby, our skip, decided on the double-takeout, hoping to knock both red rocks out and stick to tie the game.
"Kevin Martin might make this shot," he said.
Well, Garby's stone had plenty of steam. It sent the first red stone flying, then jolted towards the second. Bang! The second stone rolled out, but his blue rock just couldn't hold the house, sputtering out through the side.
It was probably the closest I'll ever come to a big shot at the end of the game, and all I did was watch. Still, it was pretty neat stuff.
I left with a new appreciation for the craftsmanship necessary for a fine curling shot, and a sense why this game is popular. Watching members hang around for a drink or two afterwards, there's a tie that binds curlers beyond rocks and brooms. That might be why it remains so popular.
It's a game where everyone knows your name, and friends get made fast.