The Curling Decade
Santa has come and gone – gone curling, but of course! – and it’s time to welcome a new curling decade.
The Curling Guru took a quick snapshot look back at the past curling decade in this Sun Media column released on Monday.
A rival scribe from the Glob & Flail is currently soliciting “best ofs” the curling decade for his own similar column, and so we also ask: what are some of your most memorable curling memories from 2000 through 2009?
Feel free to include any personal curling memories that may not have been recognized by the general public. End-of-year lists are supposed to be fun, after all.
Happy New Year – er, Decade – everyone!
[Barcroft Media photo by Mark Clifford]
Jason Franchi Said,
December 31, 2009 @ 12:57 pm
Team Kobra Kai winning the Hollywood Curling Club league title undefeated has to rank up there somewhere…
Missing The North Said,
December 31, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
Well it has been quite the curling decade for me
For sure the numero uno memory was meeting my husband to be at the Thunder Bay Grand Slam in late 2002. I was clueless at the time that this person would become my partner in crime and based on the memories I have of that night and the hangover I woke up with, I am surprised he came back for more! All I know is that curling definitely brings people together!
Other great memories in no particular order…
-a crazy ladies spiel in Nipigon/Red Rock. I have been sworn to secrecy and am only allowed to say “What happened in Nipigon, stays in Nipigon!”
-winning Fort William Ladies Club Championship with my good friend Jeanne
-Every H2H
-Curling in Duluth both in the cashspiel and House of Hearts. Let me tell you, those people know how to have fun!
Most of my memories have nothing to do with how well I played but more to do with the people I have met along the way. The curling community feels like extended family to me and I look forward to many more years of play and meeting many more awesome people.
Margo Weber Said,
December 31, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
Hands down, when China’s Bingyu Wang beat Anette Norberg from Sweden to win the womens worlds in 2009… THAT was my most exciting moment. The whole ‘world is catching up’ thing went to a new level.
I got a taste of what some curling associations will do to prepare their teams for the big stage. Japan hosts an international bonspiel every year and invites other countries to participate. I was lucky enough to go as part of Team Canada in 2003. That was likely my personal highlight for the decade. However, when I sit in the crowd in Vancouver at the Olympics in February and wear my life sized Canada flag outfit, something tells me that any moment I experienced this past decade…will be trumped. Can’t wait.
Gerry Said,
December 31, 2009 @ 5:18 pm
Summer of 2000, CurlingZone.com is born and over the decade has influenced the sport of curling. Following in the footsteps of Inthehack.com who pioneered the online curling presence, CurlingZone has revoluntionized how we look at curling statistics, and brought the sport into the 21st century.
Dan Johnson Said,
January 1, 2010 @ 10:38 am
I learned about curling this decade ! Better late than never, and have made tons of Canadian and US friends because of curling.
Also the shot of the century last year Martin against Ferby, that triple take out wow !!
Sina Said,
January 1, 2010 @ 1:43 pm
Brier 2007 Martin v. Stoughton
When John Morris broke the broom over his knee. Perhaps not the most sportsman-like conduct by him (drew enough boohs from the crowd) but it drew interest from non-curling people who realized that maybe curling isn’t as boring and platonic of a sport as some make it out to be.
Moncton 2009 Katja Kiiskinen’s “Hottest Male Player” Contest
Who says only football and soccer have cute guys? I’d say on average we’ve got more good looking guys out there than most sports! Again, perhaps a shallow but in todays world commonly accepted, initiative for former non-curling watchers/dismissers to get into watching the sport (women anyway!)
My point is that curling has become much more mainstream and part of ‘everyday talk’ in this country over the past decade. That can only be good for the sport, the athletes competing in it, and the prospective champs who want to succeed in the future and need sponsors etc.
So bring on another great decade of curling, advancing in the tumultous world of sports and infatuate even more people across the globe starting with the Olympic games!
kelly Said,
January 1, 2010 @ 3:38 pm
I couldn’t decide between Jen Jones’ stellar in-off in 05 or Kevin Martin’s epic fail at the worlds. I wasn’t happy about the failure but it was memorable.
Kevin Said,
January 4, 2010 @ 2:01 am
In some sort of order:
- Ferbey wins 3 Worlds and 4 of 5 Brier Finals. Takes out their own rock (2005 Brier final) in the process.
- Martin wins a gazillion Grand Slams, finally gets over the hump in World competition, then confounds everyone the next year by playing 7 rocks against 8 in losing the final against Scotland.
- Glenn Howard losing in the Brier final against Menard (the upset of the decade), then storming back the next year and winning the Worlds.
- Nude Curling Calendars
G’nite