Registered: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto
Posts: 57

This is not NASCAR with respect to sponsorship. I would be shocked if teams got anything more than free brooms as their "deal". Some Goldline teams don't even wear their shoes. There is no money to pay people for product use. Companies get great TV logo coverage, but I would safely assume these elite teams believe the IcePad product is better, even if small increments, not due to any "deal". While free brooms is great, not a big part of the teams costs. Perhaps Gushue only trying one sweeper concept because IcePad can do more? Besides Goo, McEwan, Carruthers et all are already well funded teams from non curling companies. Brad more than anyone would not be doing this if he didn't see a competitive edge. Will be fun to watch....not giving up my IcePad!

__________________
shaqdaddy

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2013
Location:
Posts: 559

quote:

---

Originally posted by shaqdaddy
While free brooms is great, not a big part of the teams costs.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto
Posts: 57

Just attended clinic given by a top 10 CAN men's team who do not use the Ice Pad....yet. Two things they spoke of a) all teams are watching Gushue weekly on the sweeping experiment b) the Ice Pad has dramatically impacted the sport over 18 months, a superior product. In their view McEwan & Carruthers records using Ice Pads were no flukes last year & Gushue dominance early this year further show sweeping evolution because of a new brush product. Went so far to say if you don't have Ice Pad or lighter Balance Plus you will not be competitive. Interesting stuff.

__________________
shaqdaddy

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto
Posts: 57

DD did go with a deal and update to be shown on season opening DD show Wed Oct 7. Should be interesting. It was Chilton & Arlene....Chilton is good friends w Brad Jacobs.

__________________
shaqdaddy

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2003
Location:
Posts: 8

This isn't even a debate after this weekend. The Balance Plus brooms made a mockery of the game seemingly to prove a point. There is no question in my opinion that it has made the game worse and even the elite seem to be in favor of a ban.... Only, how do you police that?

Handing out certain materials to some teams and not giving others access to the same is also wrong. Why would a team on the fringe of being really good ever enter a WCT spiel against world-class teams when now they have a disadvantage in the equipment department as well?

Participation is down enough as it is.

Cheers,

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2011
Location:
Posts: 6002

i mean.. if they effect the game that much then the answer is simple: either give them to everyone or ban the use of them. personally, for me if they go so far as to say, make it so that someone isnt even delivering the stone well can still make great shots then thats not right .

i remember how kevin martin said that he knew he didnt have to throw the rock well because ben and mark could make the shot for him . i hated that

i can understand why there are a lot of curlers who dont like them

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40

deruelle27 how did the BP brooms make a mockery of the game? Just curious.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto
Posts: 57

It's the Hardline Broom everyone wants. How about go out and buy one? They aren't hard to find. Little hysteria going on it seems. Brushes replacing corn brooms I dare say was far more significant in sweeping efficiency. Notice top teams evolving away from traditional curling shoes? Epping team, Jacobs this year, D Neufeld trying it? Tyler Hamilton & Jonnymo been at it for awhile. Take Nike training shoe & mount slider gear. If it's better for their performance, they'll do it. There are no average teams suddenly vaulting ahead due to the Ice Pad....they're elite players already.

__________________
shaqdaddy

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2003
Location:
Posts: 8

quote:

---

Originally posted by Skinz
deruelle27 how did the BP brooms make a mockery of the game? Just curious.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2003
Location:
Posts: 8

It's actually all anyone talked about this weekend. Not the play, the brooms. The sentiment is that hopefully they can do something to ban this, even from BP who evidently didn't want to make something like this but did to show they can be competitive with HL.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto
Posts: 57

Spokes & Sports Avenue Rd and Wilson carries HL as well as my club. Not too hard to get. Can also order online. Banning a better product is a knee jerk reaction. Needs to play out.

__________________
shaqdaddy

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto
Posts: 57

Curling needs to look into equip specs for sure it seems. In the meantime it is logical that teams at top level need to get into HL & BP right away.

__________________
shaqdaddy

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 3

People commenting who weren't at High Park to see it are at a disadvantage. You have to have seen a hit back up as if it "reverse picked" to appreciate what went on. Cognitive dissonance. Other shaped shots of different description as well. And most teams haven't really learned how to do it yet. And there is another significant consequence - slow play. Players are spending a lot of time preparing (or repairing), then path of their next shot if it is on the same line as the last or a recent shot.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2004
Location:
Posts: 219

I think curling should resurrect the heavy rink rat. This would separate the men/women from the wimps/wimpettes. I really do miss all the sore muscles and the bloodied and callused hands. Man, those were the days! Technology sucks.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto
Posts: 57

Time marches on. Forward pass now allowed in hockey 8 miles to school uphill both ways !

__________________
shaqdaddy

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2014
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 629

This definitely went beyond some Twitter posts. This could get interesting:

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/e...-022117902.html

__________________
Recreational curler & resident armchair curler at Windy City Curling Club.

Co-host of the NerdCurl podcast & occasional blogger.

http://www.nerdcurl.com

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 1120

Good morning Phil: I was just about to post this article that I read this morning on Twitter. Its very interesting. Its a long read but well worth the time. Thanks for sharing. Have a good day.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2012
Location:
Posts: 119

Interesting comments in the article. It appears that the new brooms affect the curl by changing the surface of the ice/pebble. This is quite different from the Jenkins study where warming the ice affected the curl. I'm still not convinced one way or another why a rock will respond to brushing. Is it the micro scratching, polishing, warming the ice, or something we haven't thought of yet? Something doesn't make sense. One person stated that the rock could be slowed down by brushing, yet the manufacturer claims the pebble is not affected. Still this is an fascinating topic, I'm looking forward to new research.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 3

It probably is accurate. You had to have seen some of the paths these rocks were taking. Team Bailey was using double headed brushes - "kayak paddles". Niklas and Oskar were asked if they should have a Swiss Army brush. They said no, too slow. They want an 8 position selector switch for 8 heads - instant change on the fly. IT GOT SILLY. Changes needed.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2014
Location:
Posts: 106

Hardline brushes have been on the market for 4 or 5 years. Are those competitive teams just waking up after the season McEwen had last year?

I just find it hilarious that those that are complaining, asking for some rules to be put in or making a mockery of the situation just happen to be the teams that are NOT sponsored by Hardline.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto
Posts: 57

Well said! Lot of whining. When hockey sticks went to carbon fibre, there was no hysteria to ban them. Maybe these HL teams have spent the time and effort to learn how to use them to their advantage. How about interviewing McEwen or Goo?

__________________
shaqdaddy

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2009
Location:
Posts: 695

quote:

---

Originally posted by shaqdaddy
Well said! Lot of whining. When hockey sticks went to carbon fibre, there was no hysteria to ban them. Maybe these HL teams have spent the time and effort to learn how to use them to their advantage. How about interviewing McEwen or Goo?

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2011
Location:
Posts: 6002

quote:

---

Originally posted by shaqdaddy
Well said! Lot of whining. When hockey sticks went to carbon fibre, there was no hysteria to ban them. Maybe these HL teams have spent the time and effort to learn how to use them to their advantage. How about interviewing McEwen or Goo?

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2011
Location:
Posts: 6002

these brushes appears to be another example of "well we made them but should we have made them".

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2014
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 629

Goldline weighs in: http://www.goldlinecurling.com/en/r...sh-technologies

No surprise there, as all the talk has been about Hardline and Balance Plus.

This just keeps snowballing...

__________________
Recreational curler & resident armchair curler at Windy City Curling Club.

Co-host of the NerdCurl podcast & occasional blogger.

http://www.nerdcurl.com

Last edited by Phil_D on 10-13-15 at 06:49PM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged