Learn to play curling


Curling equipment

Shoesturning, especially toward the end of
Curling shoes: The slider shoe (center),its delivery. The degree of curl depends
with its thin Teflon surface, is wornon several factors, including the
during delivery to slide on the ice; apreparation of the ice and the
slip-on gripper (left) is worn over theflattening of common paths to the house
slider at other times; the other shoeduring the game. Ice on which the rocks
(right) has a rough surface to givecurl well is said to be swingy.
traction on the ice.When curling,The Scots in particular believe that the
players need to wear specially designedbest quality curling stones are made
shoes. The sole of one shoe has a thinfrom a specific type of granite called
strip of Teflon or another type of"Ailsite", found on the Ailsa Craig, an
smooth surface, called a slider.island off the Ayrshire coast. According
Inexpensive sliders can be purchased andto the Scottish Curling Stone Company,
attached to any shoes by means of anAilsite has very low water absorption
elastic strap. This enables curlers towhich prevents the action of freezing
slide out of the hack when delivering aand melting water from eroding the
rock. Left-handed curlers wear this shoestone. [4] In the past, most curling
on their right foot, while right-handedstones were made from this granite.
curlers wear it on their left. The otherHowever, the island is now a wildlife
shoe has a thin layer of rubber toreserve, and is no longer used for
maximize traction on the ice. Anotherquarrying. Because of the particular
piece of footwear is the gripper, whichrarity of Ailsite, costs for curling
can slide on and off the shoe with thestones can reach as much as $1500 (USD)
slippery surface. This is also usuallyfor Olympic grade stones. Many curling
made of rubber. This piece of equipmentclubs use a lower grade stone that can
is needed when a player is sweeping, andbe upwards of $500. There are also
needs traction with both feet.stones which use a disc of ailsite
The curling broom is used to sweep theattached to another type of granite to
ice surface in front of the rock.provide the running surface. Very
Brooms (or brushes)informal neighbourhood curling clubs
The curling broom is used to sweep thewith limited resources may make
ice surface in front of the rock.cylindrical "curling stones" out of
Aggressive sweeping momentarily meltsconcrete-filled cans.
the ice, which lessens friction, therebyThe curling stones used at the 2006
lessening the deceleration of the rock,Winter Olympics in Torino were provided
while straightening the trajectory ofby the Garn For granite quarry at the Yr
the rock. The broom can also be used toEifl mountain on the Llyn Peninsula in
clean debris off the ice, although thisNorth-West Wales.
is often done in vain. The skip willSpecialized equipment
also hold a broom at the opposite end ofA special handle for stones, called "Eye
the rink from the delivering player toOn The Hog", has recently been
show the deliverer where to aim thedeveloped, which integrates electronics
rock.to ensure the stone is released before
In earlier days, brooms were made ofit crosses the hog line. The handle is
corn strands and were similar tocoated in metallic paint; the circuitry
household brooms. Brushes were useddetects the relative charge of the
primarily by elderly curlers as athrower's hand contact to determine if
substitute for corn brooms. Today,they are still in contact, and a linear
brushes have replaced traditional cornfield is established at the hog line to
brooms at every level of curling, butindicate its location to the internal
are universally referred to as brooms.sensor. Lights at the base of the handle
Brooms are also used by some curlers asindicate whether contact was sustained
a balancing aid during delivery of thepast the line or not. Not only does this
stone.remove the chance for human error
Curling stone (or rock)(eliminating the game's most frequent
The curling stone or rock is made out ofcause of controversy), but it means
granite.The curling stone, or rock,there is no need for hogline officials
weighs a maximum of 44 lbs. (19.96 kg)as well. The downside for the technology
and is fitted with a handle on topis that the equipment currently costs
allowing it to be rotated as it isaround $650 a piece which multiplies
released. If the handle is rotatedquickly with the amount of rocks and
across the body (clockwise for asheets of ice in a tournament. Therefore
right-handed thrower, counter-clockwiseits use is found mostly in high-level
for a leftie), the shot is said to be annational and international competitions
in-turn, and if rotated away from thesuch as the Winter Olympics.
body (counter-clockwise for aAlthough the rock is designed to be
right-handed thrower, clockwise for adelivered by players grasping the handle
leftie), it is an out-turn. The handlesas they slide down the ice, a special
are colour-coded to differentiate one"delivery stick" may be used by players
team's rocks from the other's (usually,incapable of delivering the rock in this
one team's rocks are red and the other'sfashion. Such a stick is designed to
are yellow). The handle may also containattach to the handle so that it can be
circuitry for detecting hog linereleased without requiring the player to
violations.place a hand on the handle in a crouched
The bottom of the rock is not flat,position. This allows the game to be
however, but concave with the actualplayed by players with disabilities, as
surface in contact with the icewell as those unable to crouch
("running surface") being only 1 to 1comfortably. According to the Canadian
inch (6 to 12 mm) wide along the rim ofCurling Association Rules of Curling,
the concave bottom. This narrow running"The use of a curling aid commonly
surface allows the pebble applied to thereferred to as a 'delivery stick' which
ice to have an effect on the action ofenables the player to deliver a stone
the rock. On properly prepared ice, thewithout placing a hand on the handle is
rock's path will bend (curl) in theconsidered acceptable."
direction the front edge of the rock is



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