Enduring an Edmonton Winter: Curling
User Story
By Eric O'Brien
I've found that the best way to survive an Edmonton winter is to trick my mind into believing that I've been excited for it all along. Try it out. Rather than moaning over the waning hours of sunlight or trying to steal one more round of golf before the country clubs close, grab your toque and your broom and head over to a local curling rink.
Curling is like Canada: humble, polite and friendly. If Canada is the universe for curlers, then surely Edmonton is its center. Our city has over 10 curling rinks and is home to the world champion Ferbey and Martin rinks, both of whom competed when Edmonton hosted the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings in December 2009. The ultimate prize was Team Canada's Gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Go find yourself some equipment, make sure you dress comfortably, and drive up to the club. From the outside, it'll resemble a quaint warehouse, with groups of seniors brushing the snow off their windshields (but not with their corn brooms, oddly). Beyond those doors is a heated lobby. This is the best place to catch up and chat before a game while you stretch your tight muscles or snack on hot chocolate and a small serving of french fries. Two types of curlers lurk in these lobbies: one half conferences around the TSN curling broadcast and makes comments like, "Boy, that yellow rock is sure buried deep"; the other half watches one of the games out on the ice and strategizes, "If it were me, I'd have Linda peel that guard so that Terry doesn't have a chance to score 2 and take it into extras."
Once you've met with your team, you may now step through the climate shield (or door) and head out into the room of 45-meter-long sheets, with a perimeter of boardwalks, score sheets, and beer-cooling stations.
Out on the ice you'll find the curlers. They’re a mixed crowd of Canadians in sweatshirts and synthetic pants; some will even have duct tape on their shoes to reduce toe drag. This is odd since many of them (including the pros) will have big guts and wheezy coughs, artifacts of a bygone era when beer and cigarettes were considered performance enhancing accessories.
But the curling rinks aren't smoky anymore. Rather, they're pretty white places where curlers slide on the ice as gracefully as Canada geese; some seem more human, spilling out of the hack while sending an errant, 20-kilogram missile towards the skip. Either way, the geese honk all game long. "RIGHT OFF—WAIT...SWEEP! HURRY HARD!"
But if you haven't guessed it by now, what makes curling such an enjoyable sport is its social side. Curling is low-impact, team exercise that can be played by one and all. It’s enjoyed by juniors, college students, adults and seniors; by men's, women's and mixed teams; by pros and fun-leaguers; by people looking to socialize; and by married couples looking for an activity to do together.
So if you're staying for an Edmonton winter, look for The Thistle, The Granite, The Shamrock, Crestwood, Avonair or any of the other Edmonton curling clubs and try out the sport. And if anyone ever invites you to a bonspiel, remember that this is curler code for, "Let's spend an entire day in a building where there are only 2 things: a few sheets of ice and a full-service bar." See you out there.
