Curling on Cue

I grew up in Laurel and worked summers as a lifeguard at Gunpowder Golf Club.  I hadn't been there in many, many years, so it came as quite a surprise when I learned (via Sports Marketing) that the complex, now part of Fairland Recreational Park, includes the Gardens Ice House.  The Ice House is a skating center, home of the University of Maryland's ice hockey team, several youth hockey leagues and a number of aspiring figure skaters and ice dancers.

The Gardens Ice House is also the home of the National Capital Curling Center, where the Potomac Curling Club competes and trains.

This weekend, the Potomac Curling Club is hosting an open house, where they will teach visitors the art of curling.   Anyone watching the Winter Olympics (and isn't that all of us?) is mystified by curling -- a quirky sport that requires the strategy and gamesmanship of chess with the cutthroat ruthlessness of shuffleboard and hand-eye coordination of bowling or horseshoes.

As if those talents didn't rule out my participation, it also takes place on a sheet of ice, which I've experienced enough walking to work these past few days.  I don't do ice, unless there is a spritzer involved.

Therefore, Tweety is covering the Curling Club, and hopefully will take a shot with a stone or at least wield a broom (which looks too much like housekeeping to interest me.)

Terry and I were watching some Olympic curling competitions yesterday and wondered if the curlers (is that what they're called?) were allowed to grease their marbles to make it glide better, or if the sweepers could somehow paste their bristles to create grooves on the ice to steer the stones.  We weren't sure if this would constitute cheating or not.  We're hoping Tweety can enlighten us on curling ethics when she returns.

So don't suffer from curling envy.  You don't have to venture to Vancouver to appreciate the sport.  You can try it yourself.  Check out the Potomac Curling Club to learn more about this game of strategy and fellowship that is sweeping the nation.  And wait for Tweety's report to learn more about the curling enthusiasts.