Invicta: Worthy of another thread I reckon.

You've got it. But first, I do not think that bringing over technicians from Canada, however good they are, is the answer. As I've said, it was tried and was more or less abandoned. The principal sticking point, voiced by those men who did come over from Canada to try and teach the Scots, was attitude. The next point was different conditions, from flip-over scenarios to weather (especially humidity).

On attitude, it is and has been evident that many technicians in Scotland do not want to learn, they only want to hear what they want to hear. I found much the same when we held curling-ice conferences at Forest Hills, where some rinks NEVER sent anyone, for whatever reason, because they no doubt believed they had no need to learn more. Sounds harsh, doesn't it, but it is true. Some of these rinks also had management problems, where their superiors refused to send technicians, and these were threatened with the sack if they so much as communicated with us. All those who did come were given all the consideration we could give, but the problems were enormous. 

On conditions, it was stated many times the problems that flip-over ice posed. Moray Leisure Centre sent their members regularly, but after several years of trying we were not able to solve that problem. I hasten to add that everyone involved, from management to technicians to all of us, tried very hard, and the SCIG made at least three visits to Moray to try and find better ways. The guys are still doing their best up there, despite the problems. I cannot see anyone from Canada or anywhere else being able to try harder or achieve more.

So what do we try next. The SIRA, supposedly responsible for these things, tried to impose a levy on ice rinks, hoping to raise enough money to import teachers. I personally opposed the levy, because it would have been money wasted, and the idea was not implemented. The problem was that the imported teacher would also be making ice for the Scottish Finals, and the cost would have saved the RCCC a fair bit, without achieving the aim of teaching. Another problem was -- and is -- that there are several technicians available in Scotland to do the teaching, but they were/are not allowed to do so, because they were/are not considered competent. Define competent. And also, they would have been out of pocket, never mind the fact that they had work to do in their own rinks. We tried all the available options, which the SIRA blatantly would not support, and the RCCC decided not to support these ideas either. Progress = nil.

When the SCIG website came into being there was a change, and many technicians started learning from that as well as the manual "Curling Ice Explained". I still deal with emails from technicians every day, answering simple or difficult questions to help technicians learn. I have every reason to believe this is working. When we discussed the design of the Circle the matter was included, and apprenticeships and courses were incorporated into the structure. These would be most cost effective, most productive and -- for those who really want to learn -- virtually guaranteed to develop the skills of technicians of any level. We could do so because we understand the problems, but without the SCIG involved in the project this will no doubt die the natural death of starvation.

Regardless of the problems relating to water as liquid, solid or vapour, all of which we know a lot about, the problems of politics remain. Ice techs are not universally respected and many of those in charge wish to retain control for their own reasons. The common perception of the SIRA amongst ice technicians is that it has never worked and never will, the RCCC will never be able to step in and do something because of the SIRA, and the SCIG will be ignored because it is not allowed to exist. The fact that the SCIG is the only body in Scotland actually addressing the problem and having some success is easily ignored too, but don't ask me why.

Since the NCA project chose Kinross as its preferred location (after the hotel decided to expel the SCIG from the bid), our website has seen a ten-fold increase in traffic in Scotland, as everyone scurries to find the information they need to build the new complex. Our suggestions formed the specifications, and were used by the hotel to present their own bid. Our suggestions included ice courses and apprenticeships, because we have the knowledge and skills to make those work. Well, they can scurry all they like, because the information on our website does not include the vital bits. This is not because we chose to withhold these, it is simply because there had not been a need to publish them and I am still writing them.

So, Invicta, if you feel there is ANY valid suggestion you might have that we have not yet tried, I am more than willing to learn.