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Observations and lessons – A look back at an Olympic rush By Brian Carnahan, Columbus Curling Club
number of learn to curl events in response to the Olympic demand. I recall both the excitement and nervousness of my learn to curl session, which I kept in mind as I both participated in and observed the weeks surrounding the Olympics unfold. I was curious about what I might learn about curling and those who would like to be curlers. T e Olympic learn to curls reinforced why I love curling. It’s both the in-
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dividual and team challenge and the fact that every team member matters. In some sports, it is not apparent what happens when one person is not at his best. In curling you can see it shot by shot, whether it is a badly thrown rock or insuffi cient (or too suffi cient!) sweeping. Below I have noted a few observations and lessons from the Olympic rush, a few of which surprised me. • Clubs fi nd out who the super volunteers are during the Olympics. Every club has to have a handful to thrive. Nonetheless, plenty of members have to go above and beyond during the Olympic rush and beyond if a club is going to be successful.
• As an instructor I was given an opportunity to answer a variety of trivia questions such as: how much do the stones weigh? Where are the stones quarried?
• T e person – usually a male – most excited to be curling for the fi rst time has a good chance of being the one who catches on least quick- ly in a group. Oſt en the person presumably least interested was the better curler, at least initially.
• T e experienced curler fi gures out how much of the game he or she understands when it has to be explained to others.
• Curling skills do not equal interest. Many of those whom I would most like to see take up curling likely will not.
• To the fi rst-timer, even those of us who would like to greatly im- prove our delivery look like Olympians to those who’ve never curled before. It kept me mindful of the need to use the best form and stay focused.
• Television can provide some insight into the game, but it isn’t un- til someone tries it that they really learn it. Many new curlers ex- pressed surprise at how the ice felt, the rocks moved, or how dif- fi cult it was to get in the hack.
• T ose who would normally avoid sweeping a fl oor, fi nd sweeping a Save the Date
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his was my fi rst winter Olympics as a curler. I was looking for- ward to this year, since it was in the last Olympics that I caught the curling bug. My club (Columbus), like many others, hosted a
• Teach the basics; let new curlers develop their own bad habits. •
rock incredibly exciting. T ey also quickly realize how hard a curler has to work to sweep properly.
“Stabilize” early rather than later. Several people I instructed would have been better off moving to the stabilizer aſt er one or two tries with the broom. I think there is a tendency to think that using it represents a failure, no matter how much it is reinforced that many great curlers use a stabilizer.
• Safety comes fi rst, but fun has to be a close second.
• Get through the training and to the game as fast as possible. It’s what they came to do, and it’s what is most likely to ensure they come back.
• T ose who try and don’t return are almost as important as those who do. T ey will tell others of their experience. Every club needs people to talk about how great the experience was, even if they do not intend to return.
My fi nal observation is more of an exhortation: Every curler has to be
dedicated to growing the sport. Ask what you can do to encourage new curl- ers. T is question is more important for those of us not in the heartland of curling. T e winter Olympics arrive only once every four years, so the curl- ing community cannot rely on the Olympics to grow the sport. Talk about curling. Don’t miss a chance to reference what you do in your spare time. ■
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