Canadian Curling News

[Yazata]

There was some excitement in Olympic curling (!!!) yesterday when a Canadian curler was caught touching the stone as it slid down the rink and the Swedish opponents called it out as cheating. Upon which the Canadian kind of disgraced himself and his team by shouting loudly that the Swedes should just "fuck off!!"

The judges at the match initially ruled that it wasn't a rule violation because the touch was before the "hog line" and allowed in the rules. (Before yesterday, how many of us had ever heard of the 'hog line' or knew what it was?) But the Swedes protested.

And the Swedes appear to be right. World Curling (who knew?) sent a letter to all the Olympic curling teams today clarifying the rules. Apparently the rule is that curlers are allowed to touch the handle a second time prior to the stone crossing the hog line, but touching the granite stone itself is a rule violation.

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[Magical Realist]

I don't believe that scraping the ice effects the path of the curling stone one bit. I think it's all a superstition! lol

[Zinjanthropos]

There was some excitement in Olympic curling (!!!) yesterday when a Canadian curler was caught touching the stone as it slid down the rink and the Swedish opponents called it out as cheating. Upon which the Canadian kind of disgraced himself and his team by shouting loudly that the Swedes should just "fuck off!!"

The judges at the match initially ruled that it wasn't a rule violation because the touch was before the "hog line" and allowed in the rules. (Before yesterday, how many of us had ever heard of the 'hog line' or knew what it was?) But the Swedes protested.

And the Swedes appear to be right. World Curling (who knew?) sent a letter to all the Olympic curling teams today clarifying the rules. Apparently the rule is that curlers are allowed to touch the handle a second time prior to the stone crossing the hog line, but touching the granite stone itself is a rule violation.

Not a curler myself. I think I’ve slid 3 curling stones down the ice in my lifetime. Call me un-Canadian. When I saw the idiot using profanity against the Swede it just confirmed what I thought about our prima donna curlers. I think they believe they’re bigger than the game itself. Wouldn’t have shed a tear if they threw them out of the Olympics for this latest. Must admit that I don’t see how touching the rock does anything special to the shot, but if it’s against the rules then don’t do it. Trouble is that it’s so big in Canada, a national tv audience for the big events, the curling authorities are afraid to officiate the game properly and these pedestal riders are immune from consequences of rules violations. I’m glad they got caught.