It's the Little Things

It's amazing how the little things can make such a big difference. I had a friend take some photos of my delivery yesterday a lunch, and I posted them on facebook when I got back to my office. Some of them were a little blurry because we didn't have a big enough flash on the camera...but it was good enough to see some things I hadn't noticed about my delivery.

Within a couple hours I had a message from a curling friend with some comments and suggestions. Tim is an excellent curler and instructor, and I appreciate his advise. I'm always happy to get advice on improving my technique and game. There were a few things he pointed out that I hadn't realized I was doing. So, when I practiced today, I focused on making a couple adjustments.

The biggest change I noticed, came from a very slight adjustment...how I held on to the rock during delivery and release. I knew that I should have the rock handle somewhere aroud 10 or 2 o'clock when sliding, and release at 12:00... but in the photos, every picture had my wrist bent and the handle at 3 or 9 o'clock. I was really amazed when I made the adjustment, and turning and releasing the stone felt effortless! That, and I noticed the stone seemed to be rotating at a better rate than I normally throw (normally I think I get a little too much spin). It was definitely something I'm going to need to think about for a while as I do it, until my muscle memory is corrected and it becomes natural.

Other things I worked on were keeping my shoulders parallel to the ice while I'm in the hack, and I worked for a while sliding without a stone or brush. I also did quite a bit of sweeping practice...my 4-year-old can run a "little rock" down the ice, release at the hog line and almost get it to the house. I swept 12 little rocks in a row, hog to house, with no break between. That was quite a sweeping workout! (which I need...and I LOVE sweeping, so I'll have to make sure to do this a lot next fall)

I also noticed myself that I tend to turn in my back toe when sliding, and I think that causes me to drift and to slow down. When I concentrated on pointing it straight back, it seemed to work better for me.

I appreciate any helpful hints and advice! Thank you to all my curling friends who are willing to give it!

From the Mouths of Babes

When I went to throw stones at lunch today, I had my 4-year-old with me. He sat at a table in the clubhouse while I got ready to head out on the ice.

He asked me how long it was going to take. I told him it wouldn't be long because I wasn't going to throw that many stones. ...to which he replied... "Well Mom, you should throw lots of stones. You know you gotta throw lots of stones if you're going to the Olympics!" Bless his little soul, he is sooo cute! (and very wise for his age).

He also mentioned later that afternoon that if I go to the Olympics, he can watch me on TV all day. (we watched a LOT of Olympic curling as a family this year)

Knock Knock...

Sometimes you just knock on the right door...and when someone opens it, you get something much better than you even realized.

I'm not sure how well-written this blog entry is going to be. I've been really excited, and a bit distracted with all the possibilities that are opening up in front of me.

I've been sticking to an exercise schedule, working out something every day...cardio, abs, strength & flexibility...not to mention I've thrown stones at the curling club every day that there's been available ice time.

I am serious about this, I'm motivated, and dedicated! ...and I'm loving every minute of it!

So...last weekend was our Men's bonspiel. I always help out, and play "ice cream girl" Saturday night for dessert. I've been doing that for 4 or 5 years, and have gotten to know a lot of people. Last year, I met Dex. I didn't know till now, his full name is Jim Dexter...but he just goes by "Dex."

Anyway, I knew Dex was a curling coach, and that he knows a LOT of people in the curling world. I figured he would be a great resource for some advice. I had it on my "to-do" list to talk to him over the weekend when he was down from St. Paul for our speil. I came over to the club Saturday afternoon, and Dex greeted me with a big hug! He asked what I had been up to, and I told him I had decided I wanted to start curling competitively. The first thing out of his mouth was "do you need a coach?" To which I replied "YES"...

We got a chance to chat before he left the spiel, and he said I should call him and come up to St. Paul and he would work with me.

I spent about a half hour on the phone with Dex last night, and it's set...I'm going up to St. Paul to work with him in April, and again in May. I'm also hoping he holds his curlig clinic in the fall, so I can work there too.

The plan is this...
Couple hour sessions
*Friday afternoon/evening,
*Saturday Morning
*Saturday Afternoon/evening
*Sunday Morning

Intense!!! I am nervous and extremely excited. Nervous, because Dex has never seen me curl. Excited, because I know I have potential (Russ Howard said I have a really nice delivery), and excited because I know Dex will bring the best out of me!

Until I googled Dex after the speil and talked to my buddy Brett from St. Paul, I had NO idea how BIG Dex is as a coach in the curling world. I am wondering how the heck I got so lucky. It's just so surreal. I guess I knocked on the right door, and Dex answered. This is a huge door opening in my curling career, and I'm excited to see what it leads to!

Where to Go From Here

The week following my decision to pursue competitive curling, I started digging online to find out ANYTHING about becoming competitive.

It's a bit overwhelming when you don't know where to start. I called on advise from curling friends, and started to put out some "feelers" to figure out what to do next.

I did a LOT of research. I found information on rules and procedures for earning "points" needed to qualify teams to qualify for Nationals. I looked at many club web sites to find out information on their competitive leagues and membership options. I did a lot of surfing, and a lot of reading.

I immediately started to work on becoming a better individual curler and athlete. I have thrown stones every day since March. 8th. (That's easy, since I work a half mile from a curling club, and can easily spend my lunch hours throwing stones while we still have ice.)

I started exercising, and came up with a training schedule for curling and becoming more physically fit. I am going to work hard in the off-season to build strength, endurance, and flexibility (which is not an issue). I plan to contine a workout schedule throughout the curling season as well.

I started trying to plan possibilities for league play and practice in the fall. I lined up friends for practice buddies to work with during lunches, and on weekends in the Fall. I am attempting to find bonspiels during the summer so that I can at least get some ice time in the off-season.

My goal is to curl at a national level within a couple years. I will work every day to make that happen. I have been keeping a notebook of my progress, my schedule, and reasearch findings. I still have a daunting trail ahead, but am prepared to work hard to acheive my goals.

The Curling News printed an article about "getting commited now." Well I'm ready...Commit Me!

Where it All Began

My husband and I started curling in 2003. We enjoyed the game, as well as the social comradare of this unique sport. After playing in club leagues for about 6 years, I got a chance to skip in one of our womens' leagues for the second "session" of our season. Our team did well, and were runners up in the championship game. We were tied coming back in the last end, and I we lost due to an amazing shot by the oposing skip on her last rock. My shot making increased 10-fold during that session. I came home every night, amazed by how well I played...and of course, gave my husband the exciting play-by-play of every end. My competitive nature took over, and I wanted more. (unfortunately, the season was over)

The following year (last year), due to a big project at work, I wasn't able to curl full-time. Luckily, I was able to play in a handful of bonspiels during the spring session. Playing in these bonspiels, I realized that, even though I hadn't curled much in the recent months, I was still able to curl well. (lacking a bit of consistancy from lack of play...but not too bad)

I got a call from a friend the night the National Championships started. (I had just gotten off the ice after Friday night leagues) He mentioned that there hadn't been a playdown for the Women's Championship this year, and that I should have gotten a team together.

That got me thinking...I was still on a natural "high" from curling well in a mixed bonspiel the weekend before, and from a well played game that night. I was excited about how I curled after curling only a handful of times that season. I had always thought I would like to take my curling to the next level and compete.

So this is where it begins...

March 5th, 2010... I decided to pursue competitive curling.