GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT // ZAMBONI TRAX The plight of arena curlers Editor's note: Tis is the debut Curling News


column titled "Zamboni Trax" by Brad Whitlock, who has written feature stories for this magazine, and curls out of the Las Vegas Curling Club. His column will explore the world of arena curlers in the U.S. We hope you'll enjoy it!


By Brad Whitlock, U.S. Curling News col- umnist, Brad.Whitlock@outlook.com


ous of your curling world – arena curlers. With 43% of the clubs using arena ice, that’s a lot of envy. And, it stems from many issues. How’s Te Ice?


I One of the fundamental conversations for curlers


when playing, of course, revolves around the ques- tion “How’s the ice?” As we all know, when it comes to general ice setups, there is dedicated ice (and even better, “championship” ice). Ten, there is – uh-hum – arena ice. Granted, not all arena ice is awful. Some of it


is just lousy. No doubt, some arena clubs have the great fortune of curling on some pretty good ice thanks to how their arenas prepare the ice for curl- ing each week. Nevertheless, the vast majority of us suffer im-


measurably at the hands of hockey players and ice skaters. (Why can’t they just replace their divots as golfers do?) Zamboni tracks, fall-offs, fall-ins, slopes, nega-


tive ice and a variety of other descriptors are mum- bled around the nation each week when arena curl- ers gather to “figure out” the ice. Making the best of the situation, some arena curlers actually try to take advantage of these conditions; however, most loathe them. Arena ice is fickle. It twists, it turns, it acts weird,


then it seems fine (for a while), until it does some- thing really dark to your shot. You’re ready to kill it. Or laugh at it. Many arena curlers have decided this makes the


game interesting. Yup, it’s about as interesting as driving backward on the interstate. I just want the stone to do something “normal” when I throw it. No ice is perfect. Dedicated curlers have their


“conditions” to contend with also. But, please. De- termining whether there is a three-inch difference between the curl on the right side versus the leſt side on a particular sheet is really no comparison to the


f you curl on dedicated ice (as approximately 57 percent of USCA member clubs now do), there are a group of people who are very envi-


frequent comments arena curlers are heard to make on curling night. “How did it end up out there?” “I could swear I was heavy.” “I’m not sure anyone will get it to the house in the


first two ends.” Nonexistent Playing Time


As if poor ice conditions weren’t enough, many


arena clubs also have to contend with, to put it mild- ly, “oddball” playing times. Where dedicated facili- ties usually have the luxury of setting up leagues, practices, Learn to Curls, and corporate events at nearly any time they desire, arena curlers take what they can get (and usually feel lucky to get that.) Look at arena club schedules at their websites and you’ll see a very “interesting” variety of times, tak- ing advantage of nearly all 24 hours in a day. Midnight curling? Tat sounds like a fun activity


maybe once a year. How does midnight on Sunday sound? At least two clubs in the USA regularly have league curlers out on the ice at that time. Tat’s some serious devotion to the sport. Meeting the Demand


Clubs are formed, of course, because there is


a demand for curling, be it from Olympics fever or otherwise. Servicing this demand necessitates scheduling enough days for people to play and Learn to Curl. If you can get one steady day per week out of


your arena, that’s a good start. Two (or even three days) and you’ve gone to arena curling heaven. Ten think about the time you’d like to offer curling and deal with the reality of when the arena says you CAN curl. Te result of this oſten fosters a love-hate rela-


tionship between the local curling club and the are- na at which they play. Let’s face it, even in the best of worlds where you have a great relationship with your arena, hockey rules in almost all cases. Te majority of arenas will give hockey as much time as needed, and curlers get the leſtovers. For many are- nas, they get to fill mostly “off-hours” gaps in their schedule – a great deal for them. For the curling club, not so much. Some arena clubs take advantage of multiple


rinks in their geography to squeeze out more curl- ing days. Ironically, some arena clubs have even teamed up with the local NHL club, using training facility ice and branded ice rinks to do their curling (and get more time slots.) Nice, if you can get such an arrangement, but not available for many. And,


in the end, the ice is still subject to the turmoil


imposed


by hockey players and figure skaters. Te frustrating


situation for many arena clubs today is that the demand for their prod- uct outstrips what they can deliver. Tey simply have more people interested in learning curling and playing than they can get ice times from the arena. Restrict the ice time, or make it inconvenient, and the demand can’t be met. Other Inconveniences


As if that weren’t enough, throw in some other


inconveniences that many arena curlers face every time they step on the ice. How about lugging the stones (hacks, scoreboards, etc.) onto the ice before your league begins, then off when you’re done with your games. Storage? Hope you can find a secure spot for all that expensive equipment somewhere safe within the arena. Where are the houses (the center line, the tee line,


etc.)? If it’s hockey ice, they are probably only in your imagination. And, in that fat-tipped felt mark- er found in your hand each week. Start drawing! Locker rooms for changing? Hockey players have them at the arena. Curlers? You get the bathrooms. Die-Hards


Arena curlers, grateful to be curling at all while


longing for better conditions, might be considered the die-hards of the curling world. If we could just curl on the day we want to at


(more or less) the time we want to, on ice that is rea- sonably predictable, with stones that are cold and ready to go, with houses and lines that are easily de- ciphered – well, the envy would dissipate. We put up with all this because we, seemingly,


have no choice. We seek something else because we know things can be better. We travel to bonspiels to experience dedicated ice. We ponder, we dream, we lust, we envy. Many arena clubs have learned a valuable secret -


cuddle up to your Zamboni driver (tips and “thank yous” are welcomed.) For others, the solution seems to lie in trying to make a move to dedicated ice. Still, arena ice is better than nothing. Aſter all,


nothing would mean – well – no curling. And, as we all know, in our minds as well as our hearts, that just isn’t acceptable. Next time: Moving to dedicated ice. Q


USA Curling (( 7


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