[SkateDC] So You Want to Curl? [Off Topic]

[George Marinkovich]

Are you a curler wanna-be?

In other words, are you...

1)  not embarrassed to to be seen doing something in public that's likely to elicit mirth from bystanders?

2)  not afraid of ice or stones?

3)  not put off by the awful puns endemic to the curling community?  

But a tiny example of this disturbing phenomenon:

"The sport that's sweeping the nation."

and

"Come and throw rocks at our house."

(Apparently curling is the favorite sport of those whose day job is coming up with the names of hair salons.  At the very least the same people seem to be involved in both activities.)

Since this is a skate list, I figure most people made it past the first qualification.

As for the second qualification, while there may be some pagophobes around, I
 can't imagine they can be too numerous.   If you didn't already know (and I hope you didn't) pagophobia is the Greek term given to those who fear ice or frost.

(Wait a minute, fear of frost?  Come on.  Are you kidding me?  Frost is like baby ice, right?  It's like being afraid of cute and cuddly baby bears for goodness sake!  I'll bet even violently ice-fearing pagophobes can't help but make fun of their frost-fearing compatriots.)  

And fear of stones is apparently so rare that there's not even an insert-your-fear-here-and-add-phobia-to-the-end term for it.   (Although I did run across an anecdotal report of fear and loathing, but only if the rocks were actually "underwater":  http://isitnormal.com/story/fear-of-rocks-under-water-21930/).

Finally with regard to the third qualification, in my experience paronomasiaphobia (fear of puns) tends to dissipate with exposure (and goes away entirely once your first
 successful pun has been crafted).  So again, probably not many people knocked out of the running by this requirement.

If you've made it this far, then you may be a candidate curler!

Curlers it seems are a most hospitable group and are anxious to encourage others to join them in their obsession.  Whether this characteristic stems from their natural bonhomie or their fear of eventual extinction, surely inline skaters, of all people, can empathize with their motivation.

Sadly it turns out this was THE weekend to get in on some curling action.  I say sadly because there was much going on curling-wise in the DC area yesterday and I didn't find out about it until this very morning.  Apparently, the winter Olympics is when the curlers hold their all-out campaign for converts.

Some of it is still going on today (Sunday) at the National Capital Curling Center (NCCC) in Laurel, but I think you have to be a youth (under 21) to participate.  Anyway all the details for those interested are available from the Potomac Curling Club:

http://www.curldc.org/ourclub/openHouse/index.php

What we missed on Saturday:

Hilton Garden Inn to host curling expo
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2010/02/08/daily75.html

and an open house at the aforementioned NCCC facility:
http://www.curldc.org/ourclub/openHouse/index.php

So alas, while it seems that the stone has left the house (so to speak) on curling this weekend, it is worthwhile noting that the Potomac Curling Club offers their open houses twice a year (in October when the winter curling season begins, and another one
    in January).  Also, I guess it's possible to spectate at one of the weekly games held at the NCCC or maybe even catch the Cherry Blossom Bonspiel in March.  

Happy curling,
George

P.S. I'm sure there's a great pun to be made involving "curl up and die," but I leave that as an exercise to the reader.