The roaring game has turned into a doubles game – and that is creating a refreshed interest in curling all over.
Former Tankard and Brier champion Pat Simmons from Curl Sask was at the Power Dodge Curling Centre Tuesday night for a clinic to talk about the differences between the doubles game and the traditional eight-rock, four-person game known for decades.
Locally, the club has started a mixed doubles league and the turnout and participation in that league has been outstanding.
“I think a lot of clubs are starting to look at that as an option for a league and I think it’s a great idea,” said Simmons.
The doubles game is fast-paced, it’s easier to field a team and it’s a quicker game, Simmons said.
“It’s like regular four-person curling, in that it can go all the way from recreational and fun, to Olympics as we saw,” he said. “Clubs are starting to introduce it so we can introduce the youth to that.”
The first difference is that there are five stones thrown by a pair of curlers on each team compared to eight stones in the four-person game. Then, the rules get a little bit different. The skill set is a bit different and more physical because you’re often sweeping your own rock not long after leaving the hack.
“It’s great for development because it really hones a feel for draw weight as well,” he said. “There’s lot of practice for that. Obviously the draw part of this is important with only five rocks played per end per team. I feel it’s a really good developmental tool for younger and all ages… to hone in on the shots of all kinds that are used and involved with this.”
Strategically, there is also something to be gained about someone who may not be used to throwing last rocks to suddenly have that responsibility thrust on them.
Simmons said it’s like a bunch of mini-games on the ice.
“You’re always moving, there’s always something happening and you can score five or six,” he said. You’re never out of the game and nothing’s safe. It makes it fun.”
Around the province, there is a mixed doubles tour that’s been starting this year that has four events leading up to provincials.
“That’s picked up and definitely been picking up in clubs, too,” he said. “I know our club in Moose Jaw has started something like this as well this year and I foresee that getting popular in a lot of clubs and it’s a good option for clubs. People that might only play once a week might play that extra time if it’s something different like this.”
Simmons went over the general rules and strategy with members at the club Tuesday night, but he said there’s no set-in-stone way to approach strategy that would work for every team.
“It’s exciting that teams can kind of find their own way and what works for them,” he said.
