Ask a Curling Player

[NetGear]

Personally I consider games with interaction being sports. So racing is not a sport. Unless there's interaction between two racers (usually races without lanes have minimal amt). So bowling is not a sport, weight lifting is not a sport etc.

 

[aronnax]

Personally I consider games with interaction being sports. So racing is not a sport. Unless there's interaction between two racers (usually races without lanes have minimal amt). So bowling is not a sport, weight lifting is not a sport etc.

So... diving, archery, gymnastics, equestrian, shooting and sailing are not sports?

 

[aronnax]

First tell my why you don't think Golf is a sport. =)

Because I don't think golf relies on physical exertion and primarily uses mental thinking to win. Like chess.

While, the mopping part might be exerting, the point of curling is not to mop is it? And the exertion is not exactly, sprinting, weightlifting and so on.

 

[Mango Elephant]

Because I don't think golf relies on physical exertion and primarily uses mental thinking to win. Like chess.

While, the mopping part might be exerting, the point of curling is not to mop is it? And the exertion is not exactly, sprinting, weightlifting and so on.

Curling really isn't that mental. Knowing where you want the rock to go isn't hard to figure out especially for an expert, and knowing to sweep or not isn't that difficult (although it may be if you're a beginner, but again, for an expert it shouldn't be a hard trial most of the time), regardless of how important or not it is. What is more physical than mental about curling is the actual throwing of the rock - it's very precise about how hard you throw it and where you throw it so it's on track. Although unlike in those sports you mentioned curling is not about the magnitude of your actions, but rather the precision and quality of your actions, but actions nonetheless. The slightest change in the direction of your hand and your rock may change and that might make the difference between a win or a lose. Whether you think Curling is a sport or not I really don't care, but to claim its mental roles outplay its physical roles simply isn't true.

 

[say1988]

Yeah, that's what I meant by judging whether you should sweep or not. We don't usually call out what we think the weight is, but we definitely act according to what we think it is. Oftentimes sweeping from the first moment makes the difference between whether a rock will be in play or not, so knowing that first moment to sweep is oftentimes important.

If you play at higher levels (I never id, but i know people that did), you need to let the skip know the weight so that the line can be properly judged (since the curl changes with weight).

How often did you play? Sweeping is tiring, but I wouldn't say it's hard to do. Maybe you were on the wrong side? Sometimes that affects your effectiveness. I'm confused when you say you couldn't move on the ice well with a slider, but you could throw well. Isn't the only time you're on the ice with a slider when you're throwing? So shouldn't the two be dependent on each other?

A couple times a week for a couple winters. It was also an instructional thing and you had to wear a slider at all times on the ice. I had problems moving down the ice with a slider and maintaining my balance while sweeping (I have terrible balance as it is).

 

[NetGear]

So... diving, archery, gymnastics, equestrian, shooting and sailing are not sports?

nope not for me. neither is golf afaik. Doesnt mean they dont take athleticism/skill. Theyre athletic events like say push-up competition. push-up is not a sport.

Chess... is on the iffy side. It is interactive, but not all that physical. And im not really sure where I should draw the line (or i need to)

 

[say1988]

How is chess more interactive than curling? There is no direct interaction between the players in either. In chess the players can respond to or force an opponent's moves. In curling you can do the same, but you can also move the opponent's pieces.

And curling in unquestionably more physical.

 

[NetGear]

i never said chess was more interactive than curling. i dont know anything about curling. I was jumping into the 'golf is not sport/what is sport' talk in here.

by interaction im not talking about people making contact. what you mentioned is fine example of players interacting. heuristically, id call someone sitting on his ass not a sport and someone running jumping etc sport, but i was trying to be overly cautious at defining there.