Free Event Teaches Participants Olympic Sport
The winter Olympics are starting this week, and the Marshfield Curling Club is making sure you can get in on the action.
The club will be hosting two open houses on February 12 and 19 from 6-9 p.m. that will teach participants about curling, a sport which has been a part of the Olympics since 1988.
“A lot of people will watch it on TV, and we want to give them an opportunity to try it out, and maybe gain a few members for next year!” said Club President Jacob Roberts.
No registration is required, and there will be refreshments and snacks, and free beer to ages 21 and over. Just wear clean tennis shoes and comfortable, warm, layered clothing.
The weekly curling at the club is very similar to Olympic curling. “We use the same size rocks, the same brooms, and the same dimensions of ice,” said Roberts. “The biggest difference is the level of competition (everyone in peak shape and the highest skill level), the ice conditions (very fast and lots of curl). And instead of playing eight ends, they play ten ends.” An end is getting gliding a rock once down the ice.
Open houses are a chance for the club to educate potential players about the sport, and Olympic years tend to draw the most interest.
“A lot of people do not know what curling is,” he said. “When they see it on the television, it sparks their interest and they want to try it. During the last Winter Olympics, our open houses were much busier compared to recent years.”
Young or old, novice or expert, anyone is invited to try a hand at curling. “Just show up with tennis shoes, warm clothing, and be ready to have some fun!” Roberts said.
