I thought we were going to be in trouble going down 1 in the first end and not being able to judge the ice in the second end. It seemed that the ice turned to slush...literally 'stopping' our rocks half way down the ice. A rock that looked fast or "heavy" after a delivery, we were sweeping hard to to get it across the hog line.
Tactically we played strong, when we finally got in front on the score board, we were to protect our stones and made the other team attempt difficult shots. Seems very elemental, but executing it doesn't always work!
I learned a couple of valuable lessons: a slower rock spin the more it curls and don't tell Glenn to throw "take out weight" - even in full sprint we couldn't keep up.
Some worthy notes:
I have got to make mention of Norway's pants in the first game against Canada. GORGEOUS. I am a supporter of relaxing rules of the traditional plain combination of black pants and plain black shoes. I have bright white shoes and wear pants that are a little more like the Norwegians (not as clown-like)...I am such a rebel. It is nice to see it on the international stage. Join the revolution!
Check this out...
http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/woly/Curling/18182615#woly/Curling/18182615
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Hey Paul, look i'm blogging hahaha
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that you guys figured out that less rotation on a rock does make it curl more as does the opposite... more rotation (a spinner) the rock will tend to run really straight. Unfortually it's goiing to take many more years of curling before you can actually do ths consistantly and accuratly (I think I need spell check) You also need a very knowledgable skip who's going to be able to call and ice the shot correctly to execute things like "more rotation" to make the shot. Typically you would throuw more rotation on a big weight double take-out, this will make the rock run straight and fast so there is less time and room for error. As for the less rotation, this would come into play say on straight ice where you may be having a hard time getting hidden behind guards, a "lazy handle" will help the rock curl a little extra but like I said before it's useless unless you can do it accuratly.
As for Norway's pants, they are absolutly awful.... Clown pants.... thats the perfect explanation for them. I've had a big crush on on the skip for years now, and am trying my hardest to look past the pants, he's lucky he's so good-looking, he can almost get away with looking foolish.
Curling like hitting a golf shot...there are a dozen different things going on when making a shot. Too bad I can only process 3 each shot...not always the same 3 either.
ReplyDeleteYou are in a long line of admirers of Ulsrud. I believe that the pants are a little far reaching, there has to be some middle ground between black and what they are wearing.
Well I think we all played, well, and yes you might have just edged me out ha-ha.... it was definitely was not my best night, but I had a lot of fun regardless! (hmmmm maybe I was distracted by the white shoes and the belt?? (You do realize you will have to 'break-out' the cherries next time, now that you have taunted us with it)
ReplyDeleteThe ice was a little funny though; I really had not experienced something like that. But it was good to really see what happens when the rocks really just stop and over curl. I may demand a rematch before the end of the season.