is curling really a sport?

Answer 1

I think it's the stupidest thing I've seen. It looks like these people practice by mopping their floors.

Answer 2

Quoted:

What Is Curling?
Curling may be the "hottest sport on ice", since Americans discovered it during the winter Olympics. Curling is a team game, where all four members' efforts contribute directly to each shot. Depending on the event curling teams can be composed of both sexes and all ages, and like golf, sailing, etc., curling is a lifetime sport.

Where did curling come from?
It is generally agreed that curling was developed in Scotland in the 18th century. Scottish farmers curled on the frozen marshes and lochs using "channel stones" which were naturally smoothed by water action. The rules, the equipment and the curlers have changed through the years but not the spirit of the game. The spirit of curling evolved in early times in Scotland as the spirit of honorable competition followed by egalitarian sociality. This spirit of the game demands good sportsmanship, fair conduct and competition on the ice, and hospitality and friendship after play.

How do you play it?
A curling game is made up of 8 or 10 ends (like innings). The curling team consists of four players. Curling teams are traditionally identified by the last name of the team "Skip"" (the captain). An end consists of each team member shooting (delivering) two rocks (curling stones), alternating with the team members of the competing team.

A 12-foot circle (the house) is the scoring area. For each stone closer to the center of the circles than any of the opponent's stones, one point is scored. The team scoring shoots first in the next end, giving the opponent the "hammer", or last shot of that end. The sheet of ice (playing surface) is 15'71/2" wide and 146 feet long, set up to accommodate play in both directions.

All four players shoot two rocks, beginning with the "Lead" player. The "Second" shoots next followed by the "Vice Skip"." The Skip shoots the last rocks and directs the play of the others." The skip decides on shot selection and signals the players." The shooter must be accurate in aim, weight (velocity in delivery) and giving the rock the correct "handle" (or curl).

Each running stone curls (curves) as it proceeds down the ice depending on the twist it was given during delivery. The curl allows for better control of the stone. Team members sprint along the path of the stone and sweep with curling brooms to control the curl and the speed. Sweeping slightly melts the ice, which reduces the friction between the running stone and the ice surface. The result is the stone will curl less and slide farther.

Curling and The Olympics
Curling was approved as an Olympic medal sport in July 1992. The first official Olympic competition curling medals were presented at Nagano, Japan in 1998. Curling has been an Olympic demonstration sport four times: in 1924 at Chamonix, France; in 1932 at Lake Placid, New York; in 1988 at Calgary, Canada; and in 1992 at Albertville, France.

The United States Women's Curling Association
Originally a man's sport, women have been curling enthusiastically in the United States for more than fifty years. The woman curler can excel in this bonny sport of skill and good spirit. The USWCA was founded in 1947 as a national athletic organization to promote and conserve the best interests of the sport among women curlers throughout the United States. Continuing to grow in membership, this association currently has 68 member clubs and almost 3000 members.

Answer 3

Didn't think so until I played it a few times
Think about "throwing" the term used to push the 44lb Stone of polished granite down a sheet of ice 146 feet long (122 feet of playing surface) and get it to stop were your "skip" your team leader has indicated they would like it. Not as easy as it sounds especially when you have to get around other "Rocks" the term used for the stones in the way.
To help manuver the rocks you have teammates sweeping in front of the rock for 45-50ft as hard as the can due to the fact that most times the rock comes out of the "Hack" the place you start from like you were putting on a very fast green.( You don't hit the golf ball very hard likewise you don't throw the rock very hard). Try sweeping that way for awhile and not touch your rock or any other rocks on the ice and keep your balance in the process. It does require some physical ability. suchas Strength, Endurance, Balance and Flexibility

Answer 4

Yes

Answer 5

Nah, it's a difficult activity like golf and baseball. I'm Canadian, and I barely understand the game.

Answer 6

Yes, but it doesn't mean curling your hair.

Answer 7

NO.
It is the damn stupidest waste of time and oxygen I have ever witnessed (all 6 minutes). And I thought snowboarding was bad...
Ugh!

Answer 8

it could be a sport

Answer 9

as much as bowling is a sport

Answer 10

Yes, they play it in the Olympics.