Tabitha Peterson and sister Tara Peterson often worked out in Blaine at the Fogerty Ice Arena before leaving for the games. They’re key parts of “Team Peterson” which is returning to the Winter Olympics for a second time.
But you don’t have to be an Olympian to enjoy the sport. The Four Seasons Curling Club is holding sessions for beginners. It’s take practice to accurately slide the 42 pound “rock” 150 feet down the ice with accuracy.
“You’re going to throw the rock down to the other end, and if you’re like normal ‘learn to curls’ you probably won’t make it don’t worry about it,” beginners are told.
The Four Seasons Curling Club invited beginners to learn more about their sport so they can understand it better while watching the Olympics, and even become part of the curling community.
“Of course this is like the most exciting time for curling with the Olympics upcoming,” said John Benton of the Four Seasons Club. “That’s the whole point of today is to get people out and give them a chance to try it.”
A one hour lesson is just time enough to get a taste for the sport. But before long, even newcomers were getting the hang of it. At higher levels, it can be physically demanding.
“Of course for a long time we were the butt of a lot of jokes because people were wondering why it was an Olympic sport. You find out you need a strong core, good legs, and for sweeping you need some arm strength as well so the top level athletes, they spend a lot of time in the gym now,” said Benton.
But the point is, you don’t have to be an expert to have a good time. They have ways to help people with bad knees and other ailments enjoy the sport.
Trent Farago says he has better appreciation for the skills needed.
“It was a lot harder than I thought it was and I think it would be fun to get good enough at it and play some games and enjoy the sport.”
Benton, who is a former Olympic curler himself, says most curling is recreational.
“It’s a very social sport and that’s what we want to bring people back for the fun and the camaraderie and the big community that curling is.”
Two more curling open houses are scheduled on February 19th and 20th. They come complete with one hour lessons and an appetizer buffet. The cost is $10 per person.
