JOANNE’S CURLING BASICS
“It’s basically shuffle board on ice. Each team alternates in throwing rocks down the sheet of ice and after eight rocks have been
thrown by both teams, the team with the rock(s) closest to the middle of the rings scores. Each time all of the rocks are thrown
from one end to the other is called an “end”. We do that eight or ten times depending on the format of competition and it takes
about two to two-and-a-half hours to play a game. Teams are made up of four players with each person throwing two rocks (the
positions are called lead, second, third and skip). I play second, so I throw the second set of rocks. When it isn’t my turn to throw, I
sweep. The heat on the ice created by sweeping decreases the friction between the rock and the ice and allows it to travel farther
(depending on who you ask effective sweeping can drag a rock six to eight feet farther than it would go on its own – that is super
helpful when you’re trying to place the rock in a specific spot as it gives the thrower more room for error). Sweeping also affects
the trajectory of the rock. It keeps it from grabbing the pebble (tiny droplets of water on the ice) and makes it curve (or curl) less.”