A Message From Your Ice Crew
Hello Curlers!! Happy New Year! Just a little note from your Ice Crew here at the CCC. First of all, your Crew would like to say thanks a million for your continued support of our wonderful facility. You guys are the #1 priority of our Curling Center and we do our best every day to make sure you have a high-quality experience playing on your ice. This being the start of our 4th year (can you believe it?) we have seen a tremendous jump in the skill set and understanding of strategy for so many of you. Improvement can be slow but keeping up with it by practicing and most importantly, having fun, are keys to long-term success.
Making great shots makes us enjoy the game even more right? That said, keeping the ice in good shape helps that to happen! As your Ice Crew, we ask that you do your best to keep hands and knees off the ice when delivery stones as your body heat can melt the pebble right off the top of the sheet and create flat spots that the stone will find and go completely off course. If we get too many of these spots on the sheet, it can really affect the outcome of a game. Please do your best to stand or squat on your feet while watching your shot travel down the ice.
You may see a few new curlers in your leagues this year so if you do see them kneeling a bit too long or leaving hand prints please, in a very courteous manner, let them know what is happening to the ice and why they should try to avoid this practice. If you are a new curler and reading this, please, don’t take any assistance by those with more experience too personally as you will be in the same situation very soon and will hopefully offer this sage advice to a new curler!
Also, clean shoes, grippers and clothing are very important. Please dedicate a pair of shoes to the ice if possible and better yet, buy a pair of curling shoes when you get the chance! Curling shoes can make a big difference in your skill level and help with balance, speed and shot making. Clothing that doesn’t shed fibers (think jeans, fleece and new clothing that may need a wash or two) is also a good thing to avoid out on the ice. These clothing particles can catch up under a rock and cause “picks” that make a rock veer off course when you just knew you threw the perfect shot! Keeping your broom head clean of debris during a game also helps. There are garbage receptacles appropriately located just off the ice by your sheet that also have small brushes attached to them for you to use to clean that broom head. Thanks for your help!
Finally, if any of you have any interest in the ice making process and would be looking for some weekend PT work (2-3 hour shifts of ice making) let me know by emailing me at sbelvitch@chaskamn.com. We have some Saturday and Sunday times available!
Again, a huge thank you to all of you for your continued support. We truly hope you all are developing the comradery and friendships that are so much a part of curling. Remember to get out there and bonspiel too, it’s a great way to improve your game, meet fantastic people and have a weekend you won’t forget!
Cheers and Good Curling!