I just returned from a long weekend in Canada, where everybody is always watching the Winter Olympics right now. Although, as always, I love watching moguls and bordercross and luge, I also developed a newfound appreciation for curling. It's such an interesting game! To my newbie eyes, it appears to be a kind of mix between lawn bowling and billiards — two teams compete to get these color-coded discs perfectly positioned in the middle of a bulls eye on ice by knocking the other team out and strategically placing their own discs in certain places.
Japan actually has a good women's curling team, called Team Aomori (pictured here). They beat the US yesterday, and should be playing again today. I'm also on the lookout for places where you can play curling recreationally. Anyone know a place?
Granite Curling Club in North Seattle has a few public open house events every season. I went to one last year. For a small fee, you and your friends get a quick curling lesson and then it's out onto the ice with your brooms for a couple of ends (rounds) of throwing and sweeping! It is actually really fun.
The first open house at Granite is this coming weekend -- see www.curlingseattle.org. I might even be there myself...
Posted by: Natetheduck | February 17, 2010 at 09:27 AM
I came across this article via a Reddit link only a few moments before yours:
http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2010-02-16/sports/curling-in-san-diego-who-knew
With both Seattle and San Diego, you've got them on both sides of you but still not close! :-P
Posted by: Chris Sexton | February 17, 2010 at 09:50 AM
I think, but have't had a chance to check, in the SF Bay area there use to be a club in San Mateo or San Jose.
Posted by: Chiefted | February 17, 2010 at 12:38 PM
I never knew Japan had a CURLING team. Am I the only one who has been brainwashed that it belonged solely to Canada? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263734/
Posted by: Isao | February 17, 2010 at 03:16 PM
If you happen to be in Vancouver this weekend, or in mid-March:
Mokuyokai Curling
Please join us on the ice and take part in the Mokuyokai 4rd Annual
Curling Experience!
When: Saturday Feb 20 & Mar 13 from 12:45 to 3:00pm
Where: Marpole Curling Club, 8730 Heather St, Vancouver
*RSVP as soon as possible to rsvp@mokuyokai.bc.ca
Posted by: Karyudo | February 17, 2010 at 08:16 PM
SJ and Oakland options: http://bayareacurling.com/facilities (curling is all the rage at work these days with inter-department competition. )
Posted by: Matthew Webb | February 21, 2010 at 08:03 PM