Curling 101

I was flipping the channels last Sunday morning and there was a special segment about one of the new Olympic sports: Curling. Curling is an Olympic sport? I had vaguely heard of curling prior to this broadcast. I knew two things: it's Scottish, and it's very old. What I didn't know is what exactly one does when one 'curls.'

Perhaps this just shows that sporting events are not a high priority in my life — I admit that I am not an avid Olympic follower. I didn't care about the whole Nancy/Tonya incident; I don't like figure skating (I know, that statement is blasphemy to many people).

So, last night I went on a mission to find out what curling is. In a Tripod chat room, I posed the question, What is curling?

Person1: Who?
Maria_T: No, not who� it's a what. <g>
Person2: You mean like, weight lifting?
Maria_T: well, is curling in weight lifting? I don't think that's the same curling I mean�

Person3: it's a new olympic sport
Person1: I CAN"T BELIEVE THEY TOOK THE GOLD AWAY FROM THAT GUY!!!
Person3: that's nice.
Maria_T: Hmm.
Maria_T raises an eyebrow at Person1.
Maria_T: They didn't take a medal away from anyone who was curling. That was snowboarding, and he got it back.

Person3: Curling is like shuffleboard, but on ice.
Maria_T: Shuffleboard? I hadn't thought of that. It looked like bowling to me, but with people sweeping the ice/floor ahead of the 'ball'...
Person3: LOL
Person1: Curling rules, when you're drunk.
Maria_T: I am sure.

Person3: I watched some of the men's curling on TV. It was kind of cool.
Person2: I watched the Iron Man.
Person3: One person 'rolls the ball' which looked like a stone with a handle, not a ball, and then other people have brooms and they sweep a path in front of the ball to make sure the ball goes straight.
Maria_T: Oh.
Maria_T: And so the goal is to see who can get the ball to go the most distance?
Person3 nods.
Person3: The better you sweep, the faster your ball goes, hypothetically.
Maria_T: So this is an Olympic sport...
Person3 laughs.

Maria_T: Thanks guys, it's been enlightening.
Person3 waves.
Person1: later.