Curling is a winter Olympic sport that involves players sliding stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It may seem like curling stones would easily slip and slide out of control on the icy surface. However, there are several techniques used in curling that allow the players to control the stones and prevent slipping.
Curling Stones
The stones used in curling are designed to grip the ice and minimize slipping. Curling stones weigh around 42 lbs and have a specific shape and texture on the bottom. The bottoms are not completely flat – they are concave or hollowed out. This hollowed out bottom creates a very thin edge of the stone that contacts the ice. The stone literally balances and glides on this thin edge as it moves down the ice sheet. The rim of the stone that touches the ice is also textured with a pebbled surface that helps it grip the ice. This prevents slipping sideways as the stone travels down the sheet.
Sweeping the Ice
Curlers use brooms to sweep the ice in front of a moving stone. This sweeping warms the ice ever so slightly and creates a thin layer of water on the surface. Sweeping makes the ice more slippery which allows the stones to travel farther and straighter. It also helps prevent early slipping or curling of the stones to the side. The lead thrower depends on his or her sweepers to sweep a clear path that minimizes friction under the traveling stone.
Release Technique
Proper release technique is crucial for curling well. Curlers stabilize the stone with a turning motion before release that puts a slight clockwise or counter-clockwise spin on the stone. This rotation combined with the sweeping action helps the stone travel straight down the ice sheet rather than slipping to the side. The amount of rotation controls the curling action – too much spin and the stone will curl too soon, too little and it won’t curl enough to reach the target.
Weight Control
Controlling the weight or speed of the stone release is also very important. Lead throwers must use the right speed and force to get the stone to its target given the condition of the ice and the actions of the sweepers. A light throw on slippery ice may cause too much slipping and prevent the stone from reaching its destination. Throwing too hard may cause the stone to crash. Master curlers have excellent control over the weight and release of the stones.
Footwear
Proper footwear provides traction and balance for curling deliveries. Curling shoes have different slider and gripper soles on each foot. The slider sole is very slippery to allow curlers to slide onto the ice during delivery. The gripper sole sticks to the ice and provides stability at the hack point. The combination of slide and grip allows controlled delivery without slipping.
Technique Over Time
Curling technique has evolved over the centuries since its origins in 16th century Scotland. Originally stones were simply slid along ice without rotation. Rotating delivery was developed in the late 1800s to improve control. Then artificial ice began replacing natural pond ice in the mid 1900s. The first worlds and Olympics using artificial ice were in the 1960s and 70s. Artificial ice provides a consistent, predictable surface that further enables precision shots.
Conclusion
Modern curling depends on the interplay of several factors – stone texture, sweeping, release technique, weight control, and proper footwear. Together these give curlers the ability to deliver stones with precision down the ice sheet and hit targets. The evolution of curling strategies and equipment over hundreds of years has led to the incredibly precise targeting evident in curling today.