MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Let’s get one thing straight: the sport of curling is not as easy as it looks. It takes finesse, balance, strategy, leg, and did I say Balance?.
“I love it. It’s hard. Once you get used to it, it’s way more difficult. Difficult than it looks,” said Tara Klaker in only her second session.
“On a scale of one to ten, this is a ten,” said Curler, Jason Argall
Curling may look simple, but this Olympic sport is all about precision. Two teams take turns sliding heavy granite stones toward a target known as the house. Teammates use specialized brooms to sweep the ice, controlling the stone’s speed and direction.
“By sweeping, you reduce the friction between the rock and the ice. If you carry that rock eight to 12 feet further,” said Marquette, Michigan Curling Club President Barry Greenleaf.
Often called chess on ice, requiring planning, communication, and skill. The goal is to outscore the opponent by landing the stone closest to the center, which is called the button. Scoring is kind of complicated.
“The Rock closest to the button scores the first point. So, say this is the button. So if there’s a rock here, that’s the first point. Every rock of the same color closest to the center scores another point,” said Greenleaf.
The Marquette, Michigan, Curling Club meets on Saturday night at Lakeview Arena in Marquette. They welcome anyone to come out and try it. One lane is dedicated, especially for beginners. This was something I was eager to do until I realized how humbling this sport really is. In Marquette. John Truitt, WZMQ 19 News.
