Does the Curling Ever End?

[TX-Beau]

^And curling doesn't even need skates.

What are they wearing? Is that some kind of curling bootie?

 

[TX-Beau]

But can hockey players do this?

(Skip of Team Norway, Thomas Ulsrud, is in the red underwear.)

There is something vaguely disturbing about that.

 

[gsdx]

Bruce Mouat, the openly homo curler sin't too hard to watch.

him on the left.

Not the only one. John Epping (Ontario) is not only openly gay, but openly married as well. Greg Smith (N/L) presents himself as bisexual. There are a few other gay non-skip curlers. That's just in Canada.

Here is Team Epping: John Epping (skip), Ryan Fry (third), Matt Camm (adorable second), Brent Lang (lead, married to women's champ Jennifer Jones)

And then there's Switzerland's Benoit Schwarz:

 

[gsdx]

What are they wearing? Is that some kind of curling bootie?

They wear ordinary curling shoes, but usually apply a 'slider' to the sliding foot. The slider is some low-friction product which either slips on or clips on to the sole of the curling shoe. Only one shoe has a slider attached. The front foot slides and the back foot pushes.

Here is Kevin Koe ('coo-wee') throwing a stone. You can see the white slider on his leading foot. You can see another on the left foot of the sweeper to his right. There are no sliders on the right feet:

 

[TX-Beau]

So, after the guy/girl teams, am I right in assuming that there will then be all men's and women's curling? Is there individual curling?

 

[gsdx]

So, after the guy/girl teams, am I right in assuming that there will then be all men's and women's curling? Is there individual curling?

Okay, there should be 4 different matches: men (4 on a team), women (4 on a team), mixed teams (2 men, 2 women), and mixed doubles (1 man, 1 woman). Except for the mixed doubles, the other 3 matches should be 10 ends long. An end is each member of both teams throwing 2 stones in turn (usually the Lead, the Second, the Third, and the Skip or captain). A total of 16 stones per ends. The middle circle contains the pin, which is in the centre of the 'house'. Three more rings surround the pin circle: the 4-foot, 8-foot, and 12-foot rings.

The aim of the game is to be closest to the pin. Each stone closer to the pin than an opponent's stone counts as a single point for a maximum of 8 points per end. Only the team closest to the pin scores points. If no stones are in the house, it's a 'blank' end even if there are stones on the ice outside the 12-foot ring.

By the way, the reason hockey players can't skate on curling ice is because it's pebbled. It's the pebbling which allows the stones to curl:

Understanding the game is key to enjoying it and not being bored by it. Once you understand it, you can enjoy watching learning the tactics and just what effect the brooms have on the paths of the stones as the travel down the ice, and sweeping is literally everything.

 

[TX-Beau]

The Italians won; the Norwegians should have worn their lucky golf pants.

 

[gsdx]

^ The lucky pants were only Team Ulsrud in the video I posted above where they put on their pants without using their hands. Thomas Ulsrud is retired now.

 

[rareboy]

Every 4 years.

 

[rareboy]

oops

 

[gsdx]

^ Clever.

PS to TX-Beau: Please don't ask me to explain in turns and out turns. I refuse to be responsible for breaking your brain.

 

[TX-Beau]

I tried to love the curling - but alas...

The Superbowl has taken over my house. I have no interest in that either.

My baby and his intensely gay gym buddies think they look all manly in there whoopin' it up. I don't think that a bunch of manly men start their football with a discussion of ass implants.

Snicker, the game hasn't started yet.

 

[gsdx]

^ Ah, yes: football.

The one-hour game that takes 3 hours to play and they play for only 11 minutes.

 

[TX-Beau]

Its. Still. Going.

 

[gsdx]

^ Sorry, mate. You wouldn't make a very good Canadian.

 

[rareboy]

 

[TX-Beau]

^ Sorry, mate. You wouldn't make a very good Canadian.

I don't like snow either. I bet you are also another evil Canadian who will happily shatter my fantasies of HOT Mounties in red coats.

I'm going to get even by sending all our rednecks and oil companies to buy Alberta!

OH WAIT...

- - - Updated - - -

...and yes, it's still going.

Ya'll must have really long winters.

 

[gsdx]

^ I should tell you in case you come to Canada to visit some day that Mounties in red coats (well, at least the men) are hot, but their uniforms are mostly ceremonial. You're not apt to see them walking down the street or riding their horses. They're all over Ottawa, though, especially around Parliament Hill... for the tourists doncha know.

 

[TX-Beau]

...They're all over Ottawa, though, especially around Parliament Hill... for the tourists doncha know.

One hopes they put out.

 

[DepravedMuscleFTL]