New USA-CAN Curling Series Warms The Heart
That was fun.
The first North American Curling Club Championships have rocked ’n rolled their way into my usually cold curling traditionalist heart.
When the news of this unique shootout first dropped last November (link below) I figured there was one thing that could make this a very cool event—the involvement of Everest.
The company has brought lots of fun to a variety of curling initiatives over the years. Their first and primary consultant, Randy Ferbey, played host to celebrity Pro-Ams in the early days.
Then came the richest curling prize ever disbursed, at the 2017 Everest Curling Challenge.
Hosted in Fredericton, NB and featuring mixed pro draft squads, the final throw saw Brad Gushue, Cathy Overton-Clapham, E.J. Harnden and Lisa Weagle win a stunning CDN $200,000 top prize.
2017 Everest Curling Challenge
Fast forward seven years and Everest has brought flashy flair to the grand finale of the continental recreational game.
On the surface, it seemed kind of crazy.
A two-game challenge series, CAN vs USA, hosted in Lafayette, Colorado?
On two early weeknights in September?
Aired on a U.S. network (plus Canada’s TSN) that wouldn’t know a curling stone if it was heaved into an end zone?
Featuring players that are unlikely to appear in the usual televised pro curling games?
Well… why the heck not?
“It’s going to be fun,” said Everest CEO Mark Duffey, repeatedly, in Tuesday’s preview piece.
He was right.
Rock Creek Curling is a great six-sheet facility that cost U.S. $10 million to build. It was dressed up nice for television.
Real nice.
The fans were bonkers. They were even noisy for the broadcasters during their live on-ice intros.
L to R: Jones, Mudryk and Hamilton
Speaking of the TV talent. While the sight of TSN’s Bryan Mudryk clutching a CBS microphone was somewhat jarring, I enjoyed the roaming on-ice coverage of Jennifer Jones and Matt Hamilton as they wandered about the field of play.
Curling shoes on, of course.
“Yes, she’s watching! Keep brushing!”
They literally stepped onto the ice when the players called a “pro timeout” and the veterans dispensed advice to their charges.
I can still imagine the tut-tutting taking place in some official curling governance offices.
I got over the oddness of seven ends of play rather quickly. If longer commercial breaks were needed to help pay for this thing, I’m all for it.
I’m even more “in” for live game coverage that actually showed lead stones, and without a reduction in viewing size due to a split screen.
(In addition, every player got up to 10 seconds of airtime during the team intros. That’s unheard of in any other televised curling format I’ve ever seen—and I’ve seen ’em all.)
These lads came to cheer
Solid camerawork and direction were on display. Solid commentary, appealing to novices and savvy curling fans alike.
And the “Ice-Side LED” panels? That’s the new tech unveiled for curling, whereas some events previously had only electronic sideboards and scoreboards.
Very nice and, surprisingly, not too distracting for the average television/streaming viewer.
I would like to see the typical pro curling athlete try and avoid tromping on them. The screens were slapped right into the wheelhouse of many a wandering curler.
Get the LED out
The ice and rocks seemed good, and the very loud flag design of the American and Canadian stone handles were inexplicably… awesome.
If I were a new World Curling board member I’d be pointing to those things like Leo DiCaprio in that Tarantino movie meme. Apart from costs and the admitted hassle on the ice crews, how can WC not do that?
Tradition, of course. Yellow and red handles only, please. A pox on others that have tried to break through—even blue.
Still. I want to see Swedish handles versus Scottish handles, and I want to see them at the 2026 worlds, after the Cortina Olympics. If not sooner.
There, I said it.
Canada, the inaugural double champions
The on-ice action itself was a grand smorgasbord of all that makes recreational “club” curling great, particularly in the women’s game. Misses and makes. You steal three, I’ll steal four. Walls of guards and no way in for anyone. Loved it all.
Those who claim to know everything will tell you that successful TV curling depends on Big Name 1 vs Big Name 2. No small names are allowed, or the number of eyeballs drops. It’s been proven, they say.
But those are Canadian Know-It-Alls, from that domestic sport broadcasting industry. This event was all about rookie curling fans, mostly, who are located in a terribly underserved market.
Both NBC (who hold USCA rights in their hands) and ESPN unceremoniously bounced U.S. curling completely off the air 18 months years ago.
Those Know-It-Alls know nothing of this brave new world.
Canada won both matches, by the way. But the game results seem secondary to the spectacle. Mark Duffey said participation in club curling playdowns has shot up thanks to this new series... and that’s what counts the most.
So bravo to Everest, CBS, Rock Creek Curling, the competitors and all others involved. This curling traditionalist was entertained beyond any initial amusement.
I’d like to think there’s more than a few of my countrymen who share that view. And if fickle Canadian curling fans can be impressed, imagine the potential reception from millions of underserved folks south of the border.
Matt Hamilton would approve of the U.S. shoe game
