NationStates Jolt Archive

This thread is for the benefit of anyone who has questions about curling. Now, being nationstates, I expect a ton of funny posts from a) people who are funny, and b) people who aren't. I may respond to (but definitely respect) the former and will do my best to avoid or wade through the latter.

Good questions might be:

- Hey, what's with all the sweeping?
- Why do they yell like they're being circumcised?
- how much does a rock weigh?

Stupid questions might be:

- uh huh huh, curling isn't a sport, uh huh huh, yeah yeah, hm mm hmm hmm
- why is curling so dumb?
- why are you so dumb?

I think it should be mandatory for curlers to speak with thick scottish accents during play.

How the hell is it scored? I watched for about 15 minutes and came away even more baffled?

A rundown of the basics would be nice...though I suppose I could go to Wiki to find out...but that wouldn't be nearly as fun.

I thought it was mandatory to drink beer while curling, why is there no beer in the Olympic Games?

How the hell is it scored? I watched for about 15 minutes and came away even more baffled?

A rundown of the basics would be nice...though I suppose I could go to Wiki to find out...but that wouldn't be nearly as fun.
I believe it is scored by whichever team has the closest rocks to the center on the target thingy.

Also, sweeping makes the rock go faster, correct? Because they are sweeping stuff out from the path?

I don't need education. My hair is naturally curly.

Curling is awesome.

How the hell is it scored? I watched for about 15 minutes and came away even more baffled?

A rundown of the basics would be nice...though I suppose I could go to Wiki to find out...but that wouldn't be nearly as fun.
The rock closest to the center of the rings is called "shot rock", and at the end of the end (10 ends per match), that team will get points. They get one point for the rock closest to the center plus one point for each rock that is closer to the center than any single opponent rock.

Example: I have all 8 rocks in the rings, but my opponent has one rock in the ring that is closer to the centre than any of mine. My opponent would score one.

Same scenario, but 2 of my rocks are closer to the centre than my opponent's rock. I'd score two. In both cases, even though I have way more rocks in the scoring area, what matters is proximity to the centre.

The strategy of the game is to get your rocks into the scoring area, normally protected by other rocks, and to get as many as possible to get more points. The problem is it's very, very difficult to throw both the proper weight to get the rock to go where you want, plus to get the rock to go straight or to curl exactly the way you need to.

I believe it is scored by whichever team has the closest rocks to the center on the target thingy.

Also, sweeping makes the rock go faster, correct? Because they are sweeping stuff out from the path?

Yep on the scoring. The sweeping is actually to heat the ice so the rock will go faster on the hotter, smoother ice. There are little bumps on the ice which make the rock curl, and sweeping momentarily smooths the bumps and reduces friction. In some cases though you are right and there could be crap on the ice that would redirect the rock. This is why, occasionally, they will have one sweeper put their brush in front of a rock just to make sure it doesn't hit anything.

I want to travel back in time to see when this sport was first invented by a bunch of bored Scottish chimmney sweepers.

This thread is a great idea, because I've seen a lot of people saying they just don't understand curling.
I can sympathize... I stare at cricket with wonder and amazement, as I cannot even begin to grasp the rules... :p

the scotts must be bored, they call throwing rocks, poles, etc.. sport

and they call the organs of a sheep boiled in its stomach dinner

so just where does one pick up some curling equipment?

I watched a competition and found it pretty interesting. I watch a good 30 minutes of it and picked up a bit. I do believe it would be extremely fun to try, but I couldn't imagine watching it alot.

Also, it isn't a sport.

Why curling and not petanque/jeu de boules ?

Why curling and not petanque/jeu de boules ?
Petanque is so awesome. Gotta love it.

This thread is a great idea, because I've seen a lot of people saying they just don't understand curling.
I can sympathize... I stare at cricket with wonder and amazement, as I cannot even begin to grasp the rules... :p
Yeah me too, you hear a cricket score and I have no clue what the heck they mean. Same thing with golf scores and par until you learn what it means.

Question: What the hell was wrong with the new zealand team this year? They curled shit!

so just where does one pick up some curling equipment?
Sport shops carry the stuff in Canada. Depending on where you are, it might be easy or hard to find curling equipment. The brooms are required, as well as either special shoes or a special slip over the shoe. One of the shoes has to be slippery, so they can slide down the sheet, and the other one is normal for grip on the ice.

The rocks, of course, belong to the rink.

Why dis both british teams get knocked out on the very last stone?

(Canada taking the win against some other team to keep us from having a playoff, and Men getting pwned with the last stone of end 10 :( )

Oh wait. Its because we're shit at it. Forgot that :(

Seriously. All sports (Even cricket!) can have the basics picked up after 10 mins of watching

Question: What the hell was wrong with the new zealand team this year? They curled shit!

It's global warming, all the ice rinks melted and they couldn't practice.

Lawn Bowls on ice. That's what it is.