Winter Olympics

[Mad Doug Biker]

You know how I said the stones are all numbered and allocated to a certain sheet? Well, the yellow one seen here would be the first stone to be played by the 'lead' (stone 1) on sheet 'D'. That's what the silver plates on the handle are... '1, D'.
It also helps to establish who played what if need be, etc.

The video also shows the electronic handles to flag 'Hog Line' violations.

Most people will never use these stones as they are only for high ranking events, but a rule is that you cannot wear a glove when holding the handle in play, presumably for sensitivity purposes. This is also seen in the video:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DhiSN96qy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Also, I should have been more clear on stones being matched up for play.

Generally, the characteristics needed for a stone change between the lead (1st) , the 2nd, the 3rd (or Vice Skip) and the skip.

The leads tend to get the worst rocks ('Rock' is more of a North American term, here, we'd say 'Stone', but it's all the same thing).

The stones can be swapped out, etc as it's only the handle that denotes what is what.
A stone can also be turned 'upside down' as there is a running band on each side, which helps even out wear and tear.

I was saying in the competitions, they try to rotate or swap out stones so that a team will not have the advantage of using the same stones more than once. This is touched on in the video as it is said that other teams will be watching how another team's stones are reacting:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CLZC62xup/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The tactics baffle me, I sometimes see them put one down and think it’s a terrible shot but the commentators rave about it. I understand the basics of putting guards etc. in rather than just trying to get everything as close as possible to the centre but still haven’t got a clue with some of the stuff they do. Then again, I’m the same with snooker because the most I can visualise is two shots ahead. Would like to try it sometime but doubt there’s anywhere near me (I’d also like a go at proper speed skating, I’ve never seen a sport that is obviously so physically demanding that looks so effortless).

Ah yes, the 'Tic Tacs'.

Basically, it's all about protecting your own stones or blocking things, so that you force your opponent into a mistake or similar (knowing your opponent's strengths and weaknesses helps... As well as that of your own team of course).
The scoreboard can play a part at times in thwarting things; You can also be 'Arithmatically Eliminated' for example.
A team can mutually agree to call an end to a game after 5 or 6 ends to save more blushes too! 😆.

One thing that I've heard people criticise about the TV coverage, is that they do not really show the 'line' of the shot properly, so what the player sees and what you can are two different things. That is why certain shots might not quite make sense at first.
Also there are certain shots that are just downright difficult or impossible to achieve without affecting your own stones -
Things like a guard where you cover your opponent's stone, but if they take out yours, they will potentially take out their own, etc.

Other times, you need just to sacrifice stones for the greater good, etc etc.

Then again, mistakes can also be made...

If you are winning, place your stones in the outer edges, so that your opponent has to concentrate on that (but also if they place a stone in the centre, it's easier to take away and you can move in at the last moment).

There are numerous variations.

I am usually a lead or second incidentally (positions not to be sniffed at as you help set it up and also, I am quite a powerful sweeper, so I can do a lot of things with a shot).

Some Skips are ambitious, others are conservative... Go figure...

 

[Shadow]

I’d also like a go at proper speed skating, I’ve never seen a sport that is obviously so physically demanding that looks so effortless

Get yourself over to the Netherlands - there you can learn to speed skate.

As a cyclist you are halfway there; cyclists tend to have big lungs, strong legs and glutes - same as speed skaters. All you need to learn is technique!

Ask the great Clara Hughes (CA) she won multiple Olympic medals in both sports.

 

[cyberknight]

I always wanted to try cross country skiing as i heard its one of the most demanding endurance sports as it ticks all the boxes for pain to gain but my aversion to cold and wet means i couldn’t even if i had the opportunity .

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I always wanted to try cross country skiing as i heard its one of the most demanding endurance sports as it ticks all the boxes for pain to gain but my aversion to cold and wet means i couldn’t even if i had the opportunity .

Elliptical cross trainer at the gym is a weather friendly alternative.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I always wanted to try cross country skiing as i heard its one of the most demanding endurance sports as it ticks all the boxes for pain to gain but my aversion to cold and wet means i couldn’t even if i had the opportunity .

It is not painful, nor wet. Going round corners on a downhill is quite the skill. Its a very peaceful past time, so quiet.

 

[Alex321]

I always wanted to try cross country skiing as i heard its one of the most demanding endurance sports as it ticks all the boxes for pain to gain but my aversion to cold and wet means i couldn’t even if i had the opportunity .

You won't usually feel particularly cold, due to the level of exercise. And you will usually get more wet from sweat than from the environment.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I tried curling when I was half the age I am now, and I couldn't believe how tough it was on the thighs. I was a lot fitter then, did plenty of mountain biking with big climbs but, by the end of an afternoon's curling, my quads were screaming.

Great fun though.

 

[BrumJim]

Elliptical cross trainer at the gym is a weather friendly alternative.

There is a cross country ski-ing club that meet up at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit reguarly.

 

[cyberknight]

You won't usually feel particularly cold, due to the level of exercise. And you will usually get more wet from sweat than from the environment.

With my circulation ican be sweaty but if my extremities get cold they stay cold

 

[Webbo2]

With my circulation ican be sweaty but if my extremities get cold they stay cold

There was an episode on the GCN YouTube channel looking at what to wear while riding in winter and the way of dressing that was most effective was warm bib tights, good overshoes and gloves, arm warmers under a thermal jacket and no base layer. So your extremities are warm but your core is able to shed heat thats generated from cycling.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

(I’d also like a go at proper speed skating, I’ve never seen a sport that is obviously so physically demanding that looks so effortless).

It's not a winter sport and not traditionally manly, but oddly, if you want physical demanding but effortless, then synchronised swimming.

People may laugh, but to do all that whilst making it look like you are just idly standing on the bottom of the pool, when you are actually anything but, requires a level of fitness most will never have. Just leaping out of the water like that alone... You try it next time you are at the pool! 😆

If you see what they do under the water, it's quite interesting.

I tried curling when I was half the age I am now, and I couldn't believe how tough it was on the thighs. I was a lot fitter then, did plenty of mountain biking with big climbs but, by the end of an afternoon's curling, my quads were screaming.

Great fun though.

Yes, a standard 2 hour game is usually enough for most. Anything more starts to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Training sessions are the worst, when you are repeating the same thing in rapid succession, quite unnatural to what you would do in the average game.

This is why the elite players hit the gym and are fit, unlike most of us ordinary club players! 😏😊🤣

 

[Shadow]

It's not a winter sport

???
try doing it in summer!

 

[Shadow]

I have waited 12 years for this. What a start for proper winter sport...

...Slovakia defeated Finland, one of the top 4 hockey teams. Led by the amazing Slafkovsky. He was a star 4 years ago but the worlds best players were not present. Here it is best on best and he showed he belonged. A superb opening game.

And makes up for last night's disappointing womens hockey. I think the US will win gold. The mens version is much more open.