CURLING

Curling building at the Fairgrounds west of Thief River Falls

Old Trunks had laid the idea of talking about curling aside. It was certain it was too late in the season to publish in a timely manner. Then, an article appeared in the Grand Forks Herald regarding the 2008 Men’s World Curling Championship. The contest will be held in Grand Forks during the week of April 5-13.

The contest will be held in the Ralph Engelstad building which is being converted from a hockey rink to a curling stage. All the countries that will be competing will have flags displayed. Twelve men's teams, all national champions from the US, Canada, Europe and the Pacific Rim, will vie for the title of "World Champion." Admission is sold in a package from $149 to 239.

The stones are quarried from the ocean floor off Scotland. The ton and a half of rocks where shipped by ocean freighter from Scotland to Montreal, Canada, then by ship through the Great Lakes to Chicago, by truck to the Minneapolis area and finally by truck to Grand Forks. The assigned value is $41, 200.

Curling is an old sport; its origin is Scotland. There is a stone with the date of 1511 engraved into it. The Scottish parliament prohibitted Soccer and Golf because they aroused riots. Curling wasn't endangered by this prohibition allthough the rocks were great to hit an opponent!

We are not certain just when the curling rink was built at the fair grounds in Thief River Falls; it was there in 1966. Daddy zipped up his over shoes to walk on the ice lane and push a polished granite rock with a handle down the ice, then follow behind sweeping while someone else dashed ahead and swept the ice to make the stone move into a circle at the other end and hopefully knock the opponent’s rock out of the scoring area.

The curling building in Thief River Falls had a restaurant where people gathered to eat and visit or watch the event. They seemed like a jovial group back then, dressed in their overshoes, regular jackets, hats/caps, and gloves.

In today’s market, the equipment is pro designed, let’s look at the prices, all prices rounded up to the next dollar; all Canadian dollars amounts.

Shoes: 150
Jacket: 60
Shirt: 40
Socks 15
Pants 80
Gloves 35
Brushes 35-150
Deliver and sweep tool 90
Curling rock earrings 50
Bag with holster 50
Broom bag 40
Delivery device 60 (used to push the stone)

The United States Championship was held at Hibbing, MN this winter and won by a team from Madison, WI. The USA Curling Association began play offs in 1957 with Hibbing, MN winning the title. Think about how exciting it must have been for Edmore, ND, population 250, to win the title in 1972!

An' shood ye prove stoothearted tartan-wearin', haggis-eatin'sons & dotters o' th' highlands, ye can becoom one o'our exalted noomber & help t' spread th' spirit o' ye bon·spiel, come to Grand Forks in April!