Last night I went curling for the first time! With the other International Students here I signed up to learn how to curl at the local Ice Rink in Vaxjo. I had never seen curling before on TV (even though it's an Olympic sport), just heard about it. We got to the rink and were put in to teams of four. I was with the Canadians. Only one of which had actually tried this before... so I guess not all Canadians curl! (I was told there are more curlers than hockey players in Canada... about 4 million!) Anyways, we split up into groups and had to put on a slider on our left foot (if we were right handed... right foot if you were left). Wearing the slider makes it easier to glide on the ice, but also easier to fall on the ice! We also had to carry a broom, this is for balance when we are actually sliding close to the ice and for balance when we are just standing up so we dont fall! Also, when you are playing a game of curling and the rock needs to go a little further and it is going too slow, you have two sweepers who move their broom very fast in front of the rock and follow it down to the other end of the rink where it will hopefully get in the house!

The rink is divided into three lanes and on each end is the "house" where you want to aim your rock/stones. There are three circles, red, white and blue. The goal is to get your stones into the house (outter blue part) and then into the rings, hopefully, that are painted on the rink, of red white and blue. A person on your team is always on the other end by the house and is called a "skipper." they tell you where to aim your rock. It's kind of lie shuffleboard if you think about it except that you're right next to the ice and have to carefully control the power you give your rock.

Ok now for the form. I must admit it was hilarious to see all of us trying for the first time at sliding on the ice. we were falling everywhere and looking like fools. Since you are wearing one slider on your left foot, your other shoe is the only one with traction, per se. I felt like a gimp, jus limping around on one foot with the help of my broom. So you have to put your foot in a stand (kind of like track and field starting) and your left slider foot bent beside you and the broom out to the left to support your balance. and the rock is in your right hand in front of you. So your crouching and you need to rise and lift your butt in the air. then you push off the stand with your right foot and balance on the slider as you glide on the ice. you glide for a little bit (balancing on the broom and rock in your hand). then once you get to the edge of your house (on your end) you let go of the rock, give it a little power, and watch it glide to the other side! (as you fall on your butt because you lost balance!)

basically this is a very complicated game but so much fun once you get the hang of it! I had a blast! My camera was out of battery so I didn't take any but Ill try and find some. I know I got video of me doing it with perfect form might I add! :)