Equipment and Ice Etiquette

Proper Equipment and Ice Etiquette

Prepared by Head Ice Technician Don Huber
See more on Game Etiquette and Best Practices under the tab ‘Learn To Curl’

It is essential that curlers inspect their equipment prior to games to ensure that their footwear and brush are clean and in good condition. Brushes and footwear must not damage the ice or leave dirt or debris on the ice surface.

Keeping the ice clean is very important. Please have a clean pair of shoes (preferably curling shoes) that are never worn outside and are used solely for your curling. Even the tiniest bit of gravel can damage curling sliders and can certainly affect the path of a rock. Wear comfortable curling clothes but please refrain from wearing items (eg. Some fleece items or pajama pants) that shed and leave lint on the ice. Also it is important to have a clean broom that will not shed hair on the ice. If you do wear a gripper on your shoe please make sure it doesn’t leave rubber marks on the ice. Always clean your shoes before stepping on the ice.

Cleaning of the ice after each draw is very important. Running the sheep skin over the hacks leaves dirt and other debris that get loose on the ice. It will get tracked onto the ice and end up under a rock ruining the shot.

Proper cleaning of the sheep skin on the ice surface behind the hack will put the debris onto the ice which can be seen and a broom and dust pan can be used to pick it up. Cleaning the sheep skin over the carpet only makes for the debris to be tracked right back onto the ice surface

Without a doubt, a knee print causes the greatest amount of damage to the ice surface. This includes the thrower’s stationary position at the conclusion of a delivery and a skip’s/third’s knee on the ice in the house while calling line. Any stationary contact over 3 seconds can raise the temperature as much as 3 degrees Celsius. This damage is also enhanced by the common practice of using a brush or hand to “sweep away” any damage caused by the knees on the ice. This essentially reheats the spot extending the damaging effects to the ice.

The damage of a hand on ice can be significant as well if left in a stationary position on the ice. The heating effects of a bare hand on ice while the player is still sliding, is negligible.

The take-away message is to never place body parts other than your feet on the surface for an extended period of time.

Our hack covers are not meant to stop a rock from sliding into the hack, they are basically there when the pebbling is done over the hack.

RULES

#1 Please do NOT pick up the rocks as they weigh about 44lbs and if you drop them on your foot it will hurt, and as well, will damage the ice surface.

Instead you can use your foot to slide them like they were a soccer ball, you can use your broom to slide them, or you can bend over and use your hands to slide them.

#2 Please keep control of the rocks at all times. They can easily take out the feet from someone who is not looking. Make sure that you have someone follow the rock down to the other end to keep them from hitting someone, and to protect the hacks.

# 3 Throw rocks in one direction, not at each other. Two rocks moving from opposite direction can damage or break the rocks.

Last but not least, be sure to leave the sheet the way you found it. The rocks should all be at the home end and they should be put in the corners in number order. If you borrowed a broom and slider be sure to put them away.