After suffering a sixty-six year absence from the game, curling re-appeared in the 1998 Games in Nagano. However, it was at the 2006 Games in Torino that the sport became a sleeper hit. There’s just something intriguing about granite stones and brooms on ice, and the strategical nuances that keep the game lively and get people hooked. After snagging surprisingly high ratings on NBC, curling is expected to be a solid ratings-earner for the network.
Torino Results:
Men
Gold: Canada
Silver: Finland
Bronze: United States
Women
Gold: Sweden
Silver: Switzerland
Bronze: Canada
Although the game may seem confusing, the basics are quite simple. Here’s a quick breakdown of the rules and positions.
-Teams consist of four curlers, named for the order in which they play, the lead, second, third, and fourth, who is usually the captain, or skip.
-One round of play is called an end, and most competitive matches consist of ten ends. An end consists of each player from each team throwing two stones. So, if I do my math correctly, each team throws eight stones, and a total of 16 stones are thrown during an end. A curler must deliver the rock before it crosses the “hog” line. Once it’s delivered, two other teammates follow the rock in order to sweep it if necessary. Sweeping is done in order to make the rock travel further or straighter.
-Scoring: After each team has delivered their eight rocks for an end, the rock closest to the button is awarded one point for all of their rocks that are closer than the opponents closest rock. Eight points is the highest that a team can get for an end, but it’s extremely rare. The team with the most points after all ten ends is the victor. Easy right?
The US is expected to make an strong showing at the Games next winter, with 44-year-old Pete Fenson leading the charge for the men. The US Olympic Team Trials are currently going on right now, however they’re only in their early stages. So far the team of Todd Birr, Greg Wilson, Kevin Birr and Paul Pustover are leading the pack. More coverage will come as the competition heats up.
In the meantime, check out this amazing ad for curling for the Wii.
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