Wheelchair Curling

The Olympics were amazing, but the Paralympics were better.

Okay, so the crowds were not as big, but they cheered as loudly and were just as excited to be there. Yes, Japanese and Korean fans are crazy. Really crazy, personal experience. Hedgehog Guy and I went to one of the curling sessions with three friends on the first Sunday of competition.

We got to see 4 matches, including the USA and Canada. Curling is very intense, but not exactly action filled. It seems a bit silly - throwing a rock down a sheet of ice. But then you realize the stone must be perfectly tossed and spun to stop where you intend. Then you realize that you can hit other stones with yours and that your incoming momentum and spin determines not only where the other rock goes, but also yours. Then you realize you must do this over and over and over while in a wheelchair, on ice. We tried this in a demo area, I overthrew each time (4 tries), but Hedgehog Guy got the hang of it. Did I mention all the stones, as in all curling stones everywhere, come from the same quarry in Scotland?

Both the USA and Canada came from behind to win their matches in the final end. As I mentioned, very intense. Enjoy a video. The USA is the second team from the bottom - the red - and it is their stone that is followed down the ice.