Most people have seen curling played in competition at the Winter Olympics. It’s a fascinating sport with players using brooms to smooth the way for a stone to travel across a rink and slide into a target area.
Now the Homewood-Flossmoor Ice Arena is offering residents the chance to learn the sport. The next two-hour Learn to Curl class is at 6:45 p.m. Mondays, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16. Instructors Scott and Debbie Buchanan will teach the basics and give players the opportunity to play a few games. The Kankakee couple have been associated with the game for about 20 years.
“I just love it. It’s so much fun! It’s a way for people who can’t skate to be on the ice and to be competitive,” Debbie said. Players are on the ice in gym shoes. “Curling is so interesting because it involves sport, a lot of strategy, and there’s no referee, no umpires,” she explained. She sees curling as a sport that builds camaraderie and sportsmanship.
Curling was first organized in Scotland in the 16th century with rules officially adopted in 1838. Even today, the stones are made of marble that come from a Scottish island. Each stone weighs about 42 pounds. Being able to manage that weight isn’t essential; players never lift the stone, Debbie said.
The term curl describes a curved path as the stone slowly rotates as it slides. The object of the game is to score points when the stone hits the “button,” the last of four concentric circles that are known as “the house.” Players score based on where the stone lands.
Four people are on a team. Each person gets two turns throwing the stone, or rock. The player gets into a crouch position to propel the stone. H-F has a stabilizer that the team member can lean on when in the act of throwing. For those who can’t get down, a stick can be attached to the stone and the action then resembles shuffle board. That also makes play accessible to everyone, Debbie said.
“You don’t want to put your weight on the stone because it slows you down,” Scott said. “You just need a light touch on that stone, it’s more of a push. It’s really your lower body propelling the stone.”
Once the stone is in motion, two players with brooms work furiously to clear the path to keep the stone on track toward the circles. Sweeping tends to keep the stone on a straight path, rather than a curl. The player at the circles, known as a skipper, calls out directions to those with the brooms. The skipper plays a major role in the outcome by calling for more sweep for greater travel or less sweep as the stone approaches the circles, Scott said.
The Buchanans, retired educators, have three simple goals for the Learn to Curl class: Are you more knowledgeable than when you started? Did you feel safe on the ice? And, did you have fun?
For those who complete the Learn to Curl class, the ice arena is hosting drop-in sessions in December that will give players a chance to hone their skills. Scott said a curling league will begin in January.
For information on the curling program, contact the H-F Ice Arena at 708-957-0100.
