The winter games for any Olympic year features curling, an event of skill hidden in a deceptive contest of judged balance and weight throwing. Strategy against the other team and thrown stones predictive of the other player’s skills can decide a game before two ends are up.
Curling is played at the Olympic level in teams of four players each. Eight curling stones per end are delivered to determine the final score. Position and placement of the curling stones in the concentric target area assigns score values. These team members must have an excellent means of communication with each other as the stone travels across the ice.
They must converse quickly about how the stone is moving, where it is heading, what must be done, and how the throwing strategy can be assisted by sweepers. This is done is the hearing of the opposing sweepers, who will get a chance at the curling stone when it is closer to their access in the “house”. After several ends of play, the condition of the ice is known and throwers know where the faster or thin ice is located.
But the game does not end when curling stones arrive in the target area successfully. Curling has hidden strategy to win involved. A big throw at the end can disturb an entire target full of stones. Last rock advantage is usually a big hit but must contend with existing stones in the target area, and the involved angles.
Players release from crouched position in blocks to slide across the ice, easing the curling stone stroke gently. Control in throwing curling stones in necessary as the stone moves across the ice, down a bowling-type channel toad the circular target area. Any previous stones from the team or opposing player’s curling can be knocked out of the way and the final score discounted. When thrown stone scores for each end is combined, the curling match moves on.
Players build each round by staking a curling stone into the target “bulls-eye” area. Opposing players working the successive ice may be able to speed the curling stones of the opposing players and establish a defensive game. Blocking stones thrown to build a masthead against the inner target area are also effective against other teams risking a curling stone round to break a wall of stones blocking the inner target. Furthermore, this positioning might cause the other team’s stones to be brushed into the inner target area. Thus angling of stroke and brushing is critical.
Players can ease the path of the curling stone in flight by brushing the ice in front of it and rushing it onto the target area. But opposing players can oppose this inside the target area and brush friction to ease the curling stone onward through the target area away from the inside zone (with greater target value). Curling stone throwers can yell directions to these players, instructing them which ways to brush, for speed, traction, slowing up, or angled ease over the ice toward the target.
Accumulation of thrown curling stones in the target ring builds tension as other curl throws can elbow curling stones aside and render a previously brilliant shot secondary. Inside the target rings is considered in the “house”. An end shot in curling means a curling stone is thrown with enough heft to give a weighted push against established stones already in the “house”. A back of the house shot means the thrower in ends that curling stone to angle out in a carom shot existing other opposing play stones.
This is a basic introduction to curling events that you will see in the Vancouver-Whistler Winter Olympic Games in 2010. Stay tuned for more articles covering the basics of the sporting events of the Olympic Games in 2010.
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