"Whoa!" means to stop sweeping. Sometimes, it can also be replaced with "up" and "off." Opposite to this one, "hard" refers to sweep fast and hard. Taking it to another level, the "hurry hard" means sweep intensely with downward pressure.
So if there was no yelling, it would make it extremely difficult for the entire team to coordinate and execute their game plan. Common phrases heard in curling are "hurry," which means to sweep as fast as possible, "whoa," which means to stop sweeping, and "yup," which means to keep sweeping at that pace.
Curlers deliver their stones by pushing themselves off a small starting block known as a hack. The stones will curl in different directions when they move across the ice, which is where the sport got its name. Athletes can also apply rotations to control the path that the stones will take.
The phrase 'Hurry Hard! ' is a directive given to the sweepers to have them begin sweeping harder and faster. This is the most common phrase used and has become engrained in Curling culture, however, any sort of directive that is short and sweet can be used.
The basic principle behind sweeping is deceptively simple. The heat produced by the friction generated by sweeping melts the ice and produces a thin layer of water over which the heavy granite stone slides more easily since the friction between the stone and water is less than that between the stone and ice.
Curlers sweep the ice to help the stone travel farther and straighter. Sweeping in front of the stone reduces friction and helps the curlers control the amount of curl the stone undergoes. The sweeping quickly heats and melts the pebbles on the ice leaving a film of water.
Brand new curling stones cost between $500 and $900 each. Refurbished stones cost about $450 each, and used stones cost between $200 and $350 each, depending on condition and type of granite.
Some of the most common commands heard are “hurry,” which means to sweep as fast as possible; “whoa,” which means to stop sweeping; and “yup,” which means to sweep.
Series of rocks in the house arrayed from front to back in such a way that a corner of each successive rock is visible from the hack, angling out like the edge of a Christmas tree.
A 'no-tick rule' will be in place for those events, meaning that curlers will no longer be able to move rocks that are in the five-rock free guard zone.
Curling stones are made from three types of quartz-free granite: Blue Hone, Ailsa Craig Common Green (both found on Ailsa Craig island), and Trefor, which can be found in the Trefor quarry of Wales.
As per reports, a single curling stone used in the Olympics game costs over $600. Hence, a set of 16 Olympics-certified stones cost $9600. On 15th October 2022, a YouTube video on the channel Insider Business disclosed why these stones were so costly.
The hammer switches between the two teams throughout the game – the team that concedes in the previous end takes the hammer in the next. If there are no stones in the house and therefore no points scored – known as a blank end – the team with the hammer retains it in the next end.
An eight-ender, also called a snowman, is a perfect score within a single end of curling. In an end, both sides throw eight rocks, and in an eight-ender, all eight rocks from one team score points.
The team that has the hammer is able to throw the final stone of each end, generally a significant advantage, with all other stones thrown and the current scoring situation clear.
U.S. curling is in a crisis, with multiple controversies raging in public view. One centers on whether USA Curling should fire its CEO over his handling of sexual abuse allegations when he formerly led a different organization, the NWSL — the women's pro soccer league.
By adding a small amount of spin, skilled players can make their stone “curl” along a curving path to block an opponent's stone or knock it out of the way. Even a small amount of rotation can deflect the path of the curling stone by as much as a metre and a half.
The centre of each house, at the intersection of the centre line and the tee line, is known as the button. Two hog lines are drawn 21 feet from the centre of the tee line. The hacks are fixed behind each button; a hack gives the thrower something to push against when making the throw.
Clean. To lightly sweep or brush in front of a stone to remove any debris. Come Around. A shot that curls behind another stone.
In curling, the team you play on is called a rink. The rink is made up of four players: the lead, the second, the third (also called the vice, vice-skip, or mate), and the skip. Each player has specific duties: LEAD. The lead throws the first two rocks of the end and then sweeps the next six.
Headband protects the back of the head in the event of a fall. Falls happen to even the most seasoned curlers, but don't worry, Goldline's exclusive protective headgear is specifically designed to reduce injury, while incorporating popular hat styles.
“BROOMSTACKING”:
The term refers to the social get-together after each game. Originally, curlers, after completing a curling game on the pond, would stack their brooms in front of the fire and enjoy beverages with the opponent.
What is a curling stone made of and how much does it weigh? In the official USA Curling rulebook, each curling stone can be no greater than 44 pounds in weight, and no less than 38 pounds. That weight includes the handle.
WHY ARE THERE LIGHTS ON THE CURLING STONES? As you will see on the stones there are a pair of red and green lights on either side of the handle. These are a tracking system to ensure that athletes release the stone before the first hog line.
The lights are a tracking system to ensure the athletes release the stone before the first hog line - the red line at both ends where both teams must release the stone before passing it. During Team USA's second game against Italy, Stefania Constantini was penalised with a hogline violation in the sixth end.