Surely the reason we have straight playing conditions pretty much everywhere is not becuase we like it that way!?

I have never come across ice that I would consider curls too much.

This has always been a problem, throughout the curling world. During the preparation of Curling Ice Explained all the experts were consulted in order to find the consensus and from that the following was used as the specific definition of curling ice by the WCF:

"To play an offensive game with many stones in play, the curl with naturally-matured stones (see above) should be 4 foot on a draw – not less and not more. This will allow for draws around a guard stone with adequate distance between the guard and hidden stone. It is possible with good precision to play a “freeze”, and even to be able to push a hidden stone."

"To have the same speed and curl in the beginning of a game as at the end is important, because the teams can begin the offensive play immediately without risking too much. A good draw weight should be 24-25 seconds (hog to tee) all over the sheet from the first end to the last on both the in-turn and out-turn. There should also be good “living” in the stone, which means that the stone shouldn’t slow down too fast at the end of the movement and should be easy to sweep."

From an ice technician's point of view, we need to know what we're trying to achieve when we make the ice. From a player's point of view, you tell me what you want and we can argue about it here!

If all ice was exactly as described there, would that not take away part of the challenge of the game?

Admittedly, pro footballers don't expect the playing fields to be vastly different, but is that not part of the appeal or allure of curling?

also... 123 members!

I think, when Perth is at its best, with about 5 feet of curl and a tee to hog split of 3.1 secs.
What is 24-25 secs in tee hog form?

In all the World, European and Olympic Championships, as well as the slams out in Cananda, they have a lot more curl than 4ft usually.

perth first weekend of playdowns was 3.1 tee to hog for Tweight and 5 foot swing.
today it was 2.8 and about 3 feet! changes all the time and it keeps u sharp!

It is a strange world indeed and VERY complicated, but no, I don't have all the answers. However, we're working on it harder than ever! I said years ago that the players will learn about good ice and start playing better and better, which will force ice techs and venues to make better ice -- or lose. The margins are very small now and becoming smaller all the time.
The report on Friction v Temperature is finished, I'm just waiting on my colleagues to check the details before I publish it. Meanwhile be sure to read the one below, it makes a start!

http://www.scottishcurlingicegroup.org/problems/ShadesOfGrey.pdf

You'd be surprised.  You often here the Canadians complaining about the ice at the slams. I watched a bit of the last slam on CurlTV and the ice was stiff and straight.

What about the worlds at Paisley?

I know you said usually!

Aye - I think four feet draws at strike weight (and you don't normally hang back!) is extreme and I agree that that kind of thing is more Barnum's than anything else.

Ice that is too straight though tends to flatter the poorer curler.  Ice on the edge of the stone and "wham, bang, thank you ma'am" lacked subtlety - though it is what we were brought up with, I know (unless, like me, you learnt to curl at Crossmyloof!!).

The happy medium - four or five foot consistent draws across the sheet is what we should be aiming at in my view.  I have never curled in any of the top-flight Canadian bonspiels, but did play in 31 different rinks on the tour in 2003.  Ice was consistently good, as I have remarked on the board before.

Funnily enough, I am not so much of a fan of the lightning keen ice that you find in some venues now.  I prefer ice with a bit of a stiffness about it - 2.7 to 2.8 tee line to hog.  You've actually got to "throw" the stone, as opposed to sliding out the hack and just letting it go, if you see what I mean.

Each to their own, I suppose.  Each to their own.

Yeah it would have been like that for you. You were in either section A or B and got the freshly cut session. Giving you 3.1 split and 5ft curl for the first weekend. Which we got in the second weekend becuase group C and D were getting the freshly cut ice.