Curling Season Is Here!
So for anyone who wasn't aware that I came from the great White North - land of snow, snow and last winter at least - more snow, well... I am a Canadian! I coached hockey for eighteen years and enjoyed each and every season but as my kids got older I found I needed to devote more time to them and after a while I hung up my coach's whistle. But that interaction with parents and the commonality of the focus on the sport was missed.
My neighbour Bob approached me in August one year and said they were short a man on their curling rink and wanted to know if I wanted to join them. Now I must preface this and say that like MOST Canadians I love watching the sport of curling and I understood the game quite well - I had just never applied the knowledge to my efforts. So I told Bob that I was a rookie and he laughed and said he'd take me to the curling rink and help me practise. He did and I got marginally better as time went on - I threw lead stones but could sweep like ten men! I enjoyed my curling team , we picked up a team sponsor and used to scare our opponents by virtue of the fact we were all decked out in Coke gear - hats, shirts, zippered coats, curling bags etc. - We looked professional for sure..LoL. Our game was good - we were always competitive and one year we played in the final but more than anything it was an excuse to spend a little time socializing and we were GREAT at that part of the game :).
After a few years my knee wasn't co-operating with my curling game and sadly I had to give it up. That meant no hockey, no curling - what would I do in the crazy winters we have? I survived the last five years watching curling and hockey on TV but felt I was still missing something. This summer my son teamed up with a few older men to form a curling team and earlier this month they asked me if I wanted to be their fifth player. So now that I've lost >75 lbs. I thought I could test the old knee out and lo and behold it feels fine - no pain at all. So I enthusiastically said YES to the offer and here I am just weeks away from curling again. Old Man Winter can blow long and hard this year - I won't even notice - I'll be too busy curling - with my knee brace of course - just in case!
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didn't know they had hockey in canada - jk - grew up in a hockey family and spent many a fun (but frigid nonetheless) hour up in the great white north - i too have hung up my coaching shoes but now i run a sports academy (still in it's infancy) - maybe if i lose 75 lbs my knee pains will go away also - have a good season
Curling is popular here in Scotland, wonderful that you've been able to take it up again. :)
Aye the rivalry between Canada and my Scottish friends... been some mighty fine games between our two countries. Thanks for the warm wishes...
Hi Kevin, I don't know a thing about curling, but I was captivated by your, oh so well written post. Thank You for your refreshing writing. Jon
Enjoy. You have to do something to keep happy when old man winter arrives. Using a brace might be a good idea though. ~Debbi
Brace or no brace, I salute you, Kevin! I think it's wonderful and I know you will have great fun!
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Good luck if you take up the curling.I have only ever seen it on television so it,s not something we would see in Ireland.
Well my Irish friend - if you ever get the chance - give it a try - it doesn't matter how old you are - its an ageless game :)