This morning I curled for the first time this season (I don't curl much anymore, costs too much for poor ice). I am not going to say where, only that I know the ice tech and he's as good as most. The ice, unfortunately, was poor, very difficult to read or play, temperatures and humidity all over the place and changing by the minute. The stones could dive 3ft at strike weight (it took four goes to shift a stone in the wing, taking 6" more ice every time!), draw weight varied from barrier to hog weight. It's only a game, a club game at that, and the regulars get used to it. Speaking only for myself (but the wife backs me), if I survive curling there this season it will be a surprise to all. Or am I being unkind, blame the stones or the weather.

Is this really the future of curling, that we have to take what we're given because there is such a shortage of curling ice? We're not asking for the best, simply formula ice, 27 secs T-T with 4ft draw. Are we asking too much? One thing I do know, it will take an exceptional beginner to want to learn curling on such ice, even if he does survive the first lesson. No thanks, not me.

What's the ice like where everyone else is?

When we started the ice was greasy, slippy, usually caused by the surface being too warm. It was the first game of the day, so maybe he'd warmed it up for cutting and it was still chilling back down. Heating was being pumped in as well, could've been that. It was raining outside so lots of frost, could've been that. Under these combined conditions the ice will go up and down like a yo-yo until, usually by the evening, the parameters even out and the ice remains more stable. As for missing the stone three times, if you expect to hit taking a foot of ice and you miss, then try again. It wasn't a pressure game and we had one well guarded on the button, so why not keep striking until we learned why!
The guy makes good ice, when allowed. The building is poor, and management does not allow the techs to do what they feel necessary, mostly through lack of time and equipment. I feel for them, but I believe the customer has certain rights -- turning the blind eye is not one of them.....

Excuse my ignorance here John,  but is there still curling at Forest Hills and if so are you still the ice tach there or are you working at another rink now ?

Thanks for the link. Good luck with the Circle project, have you had any involvment with the proposed rink at Ratho ?

Better wait till the skating clicks in......

That will be a first for ice techs -- blaming global warming for his ice temperature!

Glad to hear it -- keep us posted!

Interesting, interesting.

From what I hear, Scottish Ice Technicians need not worry - the ice in the better venues (ie those ones with good ice and good stones) is certainly comparable with the best there is.  Perth was pretty good on Friday, less so on Saturday and there was a real problem on Sunday.
In defence of Hans, it must be really difficult, speaking as a layman, to parachute onto an existing pad of ice, working with the existing team, and implement your own (doubtless good) ideas in a very short space of time - so that ice is demonstrably different to or better than was on offer before you came.  Really difficult.

Couple that with the very mild and wet conditions outside (when you yourself are used to cold dry conditions) and the problems become magnified.

I would like to broaden this debate, mind you.  It would have been an idea, I think, to have Hans present a forum for all interested ice makers, would it not?  If he was being paid for by Perth, then perhaps I could understand their reticence, but if he was being paid for by a central body (be it the RCCC or the National Institute or SportScotland), then surely as part of his fee there could have been the opportunity to share thoughts and information?

I seem to remember that Richard Harding organised just that kind of session with Shorty Jenkins way back in the mists of time when the only leisure centre in Hamilton was a sheep tethered by a gate...