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Extra Ends, a curling podcast with Chris, Norm, and sometimes Rob.
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Welcome to episode six of Extra Ends, a Curling Podcast.
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We are your curling hosts, Kevin McDonald.
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Hi, Norm here.
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Rob Ainsley.
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Hey, it's good to be back.
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And myself, Chris Rouchet.
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If you're listening to this, then you're as much of a curling fanatic as we are.
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Let's not pretend.
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So, guys, it is the week after Thanksgiving.
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And uh, you know what I am thankful for?
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I am thankful for the very first Grand Slam is on, and uh we get to watch some top-level curling with some top-level production value TV uh all week.
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That's what I'm thankful for.
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How about uh how about you guys?
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How was your Thanksgiving and what were you thankful for?
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Uh my Thanksgiving was great.
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Thank you, Chris, for asking.
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Uh, I'm uh definitely thankful for the uh friends and family that I have around me that I can spend some quality time with, and I'm especially thankful for friends I have that own cottages that I can borrow and stay at, uh, that they're nice enough to invite me to, because I do not own one, and I appreciate when I'm invited to others.
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So thank you to them.
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How about you, Rob?
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Yeah, I'm I'm thankful for obviously my friends and family around me as well and the curling community around me.
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I I was very uh grateful to get a call to curl and the Toronto Stew Cells over the Thanksgiving weekend, which I'm sure we'll be touching on that shortly.
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We will be.
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That is wonderful, guys.
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All right, right.
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Listeners, at the time of recording, there are only 88 days until curling week in Canada.
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That's right, the week of January 10th to 17th, when almost all of Canada's provinces and other curling associations are having their provincial or territorial finals.
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We can't wait for this week.
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We're gonna watch more curling in seven days than the rest of the year and the world has combined.
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We're so excited from this, and this is what extra ends is counting down to.
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So, once again, this is your weekly reminder to mark January 10th to 17th, book it off from work, send the kids off to winter camp, do what you have to do to clear the week so that you can watch curling with us for seven straight days.
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We're really excited for it.
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So it was a big week.
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It was a big week in curling last week.
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We had three major events uh that we're gonna talk to.
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And we're gonna save our premiere event, the Stewells Toronto, uh, for last because we we actually had a member of Extra Ends participating in this event.
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Uh so we're gonna save it to the end.
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But uh also going on was out west, we had the New Floors Penticton Curling Classic uh happening in Penticton of all places, if you couldn't figure that out.
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And uh it was a it was a great event.
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I uh we saw that the final was Hosley versus Erickson, and it was a close game all the way through where Ericsson ended up squeaking across the line with a six to five finish.
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Um I I thought that uh it was a lot of fun to watch.
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There was a lot of good curling.
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Um once again, team botcher qualified for the semis.
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Uh unfortunately, they they they they they lost in the semi against Ericsson.
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Um, but already they've they've evened that score uh here at the Grand Slam.
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So um it's gonna be very, very close.
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But there was so much going on.
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Uh I'll ask uh uh Kevin, what were your what were your thoughts from Pentikton?
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I think that was my biggest takeaway was uh friends of the podcast, uh Team Botcher uh was definitely um to me the highlight of it making the semi.
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And uh they've now moved up.
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I do almost like a weekly look at this to see who that top-ranked team year to date is uh for the Canadian rankings, uh, to see who can get that coveted third spot uh for the wildcard teams at the Breyer and the Scotties.
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And from uh Team Butcher, Team McDonald is still ahead by very, very slight margin, but Team McDonald was not playing in the slam this week, and Team Bocher is.
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So Team Butcher's got it close enough that they're there.
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And it's excellent to see that until uh today when they played in the slam, uh they'd lost four games this season so far, and all four were in a semi.
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And it's unfortunate they they're uh still forming.
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Uh I think that was one of Rob's uh I think it was Tuckman's model of teams uh and the forming portion.
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I think they're still working through a lot of that stuff, and that's getting them where they're not quite getting to that uh that final and through to the wins of these spels, but I'm pretty sure they're still happy about what's going on, and that's my highlight from that is just seeing that team perform so well on a regular basis now that they've gone in so many events at the start of the year.
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Rob, did you have any thoughts out of what you saw in Penticton?
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I didn't see anything in Penticton, Chris.
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There's a reason why, though, we accuse you.
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Yes, it's completely okay.
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I I I I thought this this was a great event.
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Uh Norm, you have our predictions for this event?
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I don't have no you wrote them down.
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I mean, come on, do I need to go back into last week's document and look for signing work to me?
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You didn't tell me this.
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Come on.
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Um where is it?
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Did we write them down?
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You did write them down.
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We did write them down last week's day.
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We did write them down.
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Oh, yes.
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So predictions.
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Uh no, that was two weeks ago.
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Uh I'm doing a poor job here.
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I've got predictions where um Schwaller and Butcher.
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Uh oh, I picked Schwaller who lost in the other semi, and you picked up the semi.
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So okay, fine.
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Thank you, Rob.
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Well, okay, so we were we both lost on the semi.
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That's a tie.
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Uh, we'll we'll have to do better at at the next event.
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But this was this was a great event.
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Uh it was um it was interesting to see uh McDonald had a rougher go of it.
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I saw them be uh uh rougher across the whole spiel.
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And uh my question is, are they getting tired?
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Because this is their sixth or seventh event already this year.
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And um, yeah, I uh that was my one question that came out of it was I think team McDonald might need a break.
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Well, and team Hostley might as well.
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I think Hosley's played in as many, if not more, events than them.
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And Hostley is still playing again in the slam right now in Victoria.
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So I I mean these guys.
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I gotta test the fatigue is real.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Wonder why you know that, Rob.
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Yeah, yeah.
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And this is it to do this every weekend, plus the travel, plus like like the travel ain't easy either.
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These guys have crossed the country, and that's that's gonna be rough.
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So I am uh continue to watch, continue to watch closely.
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It was a great event.
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Uh, there was some great streaming online, uh, there was some okay commentary.
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Um so I uh I I enjoyed it very much.
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The the other event we had was also out west, uh, the Autumn Gold Curling Classic.
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Now, this is the uh women's version of the Okotoks classic that the men played a few weeks ago, and it came out to uh Sturmay beating Gim quite handily with a seven to three score.
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Uh and once again, we're seeing we're seeing Sturme just take off here.
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Um they're they're I don't believe they're here in the slams, are they?
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No, it wasn't.
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They're not.
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No, they did not qualify for this slam, but by winning this event, they qualified for one of the next set of slams.
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I can't remember exactly which one it is, but uh yeah, that's a big thing for them to get in the slam, and they're moving up the rankings where they might even be in the top 12, anyways, uh, to get the uh official invites.
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But uh always good to get the satellite event, which this was and get that win behind.
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Yeah, that that that's absolutely wonderful.
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And then Norm, you you said that uh the the team uh Schwaller versus Negavin was uh worth a watch.
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Yeah, it was actually absolutely a fascinating game where team team uh Zenia Schwaler, defending world champion, was down four after the sixth end.
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They took three in the seventh end, stole one and eight, and stole one and nine for the win.
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It was a very fascinating game.
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I watched it as it was happening.
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I thought for sure Team Negavan, which was actually Team Kerry this weekend with uh Friend of the Pod Chelsea Carey uh being involved in that, um, uh skipping while uh Selena's on uh maternity leave.
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That it was fascinating watching.
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And it's not like missed shots were happening or anything like that.
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It was just Team Schwaller is just that good and was putting the pressure on so much that it just got to a point where the game ended in a result that I did not anticipate at all as I was going in.
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Because normally when you get up that much of a lead, even with the five rock no-tick rules, um, you should be able to hold it.
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But shows you that you you really shouldn't necessarily give up with when you're down that much.
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Yeah, usually down four after six is pretty much game over.
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Yeah, so amazing that it just you're you're never out of it, you know.
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This five rock rule, you can stay in the game.
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Yeah, which was great.
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And one of the things uh I we're seeing, uh particularly here at the slams, is I think the games are getting lower scoring.
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Like games are six to five, like constantly.
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They were this weekend as well, these events, and there's uh there's a lot less scoring, there's a lot less deuces to be had in terms of two-point ends.
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Um, the game is tightening up as these teams are are learning the five rock rule.
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Uh and while you're right, the there's a there's a chance to come back from a big there's a from uh from a big gap.
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There isn't too many big gaps to be had.
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Like even getting threes are becoming rare now.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So yeah, and sometimes that's all you need to actually blow your game open, is the first team to crack a deuce when everyone's getting so good at forcing the other team to their one.
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Yeah, yeah, for sure.
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It's actually led to some really exciting girling to watch because an inch here, an inch there, like the it's gonna be the difference of the game, but it's it's just getting intense.
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You're seeing like the thing I've also noticed from all these is we're seeing timeouts being called in the second end, yeah, third end, when usually those were saved for the seventh or eighth, only almost exclusively.
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And you're seeing no no, this this matters now.
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We're in the second end, we have to make a critical shot now.
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And I think that's great for curling.
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It is, yeah.
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Uh, one more note here on the autumn call classic before we move on.
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Um, your predictions were both wrong again.
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Yeah, absolutely they were.
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Yeah, amazing.
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Yeah, I picked ster I picked Selena Sturmate two weeks ago, and then she didn't do well, and then she wins this week.
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So, yeah, norm's off by the week.
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Yeah, we had Schwaller and Pets this time as predictions.
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Yeah, yeah.
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We'll have to we'll have to try again for the when we predict uh the slams later later in this episode.
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Yeah, so we're gonna be.
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One more shout-out on that event before we go into our our our feature event of the of the event is uh of our podcast is uh Selene Sturmay, that team, did exceptionally well, where in one day they beat the defending Olympic gold medalist Anna Hasselborg in the quarterfinals, and then in the semifinals, they beat the defending world champion Xanya Schwaller, and then in the um final, they bit beat Unji Kim, who is currently the number one ranked team in the world.
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So it's like if you're saying like there's a gauntlet that she had to uh work her way through, and she definitely played that well to win and beat some of the three of the best teams in the world.
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So kudos to her, and uh that's uh uh definitely um accommodations for just the efforts they put in at the start of this year and the and those and the efforts that they've been going forward with.
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So it's good to see that that team is doing that and gelling and playing well, and that's one of the teams that stuck together from the last cycle with no changes.
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So it's always interesting to see those teams like Team McDonald that stuck together as well.
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So all right, let's come back to Toronto.
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We uh had one of the major events in the Ontario circuit this weekend, the Stu Cells Toronto Tankard.
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This was being hosted by our very good friends at the High Park Club.
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Uh, once again, they put on a great, absolutely great event when they host this.
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And uh it came out the uh the final uh on the men's side was Cap over Epping, another six to five score.
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And uh on the women's side, it was Team Black over Team Park, uh, a six to five score.
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Um, so once again, we're seeing some of those six to five scores.
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And this was I I actually even caught some of this uh online.
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Again, I was very sad that I wasn't able to uh watch the games in person as I often do.
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But the good news was Extra Ends was on site, in fact, not in the stands.
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Extra Ends was on the ice with our very own curler right here, Rob Ainsley, who was playing uh at the at the Stu Cells Tanker this past weekend.
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Rob, uh let's let's get your initial thoughts on the event.
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Yeah, so uh Greg Smith from Newfoundland had asked me a few weeks before the event to spare for him.
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And uh turned out he needed two spares.
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So myself and other fellow Royal Canadian Curling Club member, Brian Chick, um, we spared for him at the event.
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Um it was uh it's always a fun event.
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It's one of my favorites.
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Um big part is you know, you you fill the building with local fans and you come off the ice and you can talk to people and they tell you, oh, that was a great shot, or you suck.
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And you know, we um but yeah, it's fun.
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You you play every game is a tough game, it's always good competition.
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Our second game of the event, we played Epping in their first game, and of course, BJ Newfeld being BJ Newfeld, did BJ Newfeld things and he made it very difficult for us.
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I felt I actually played pretty well until he would make every run back and destroy everything I set up.
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Oh, watching guys like BJ play like like it's it is it's not even like a short run back, it's a 10-foot run back that they make perfectly.
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Like he he's curling like a man on fire right now.
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So no wonder why you're seeing Epping make a final.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Again, Epping already has a track record, yeah.
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But yes, look at his team now.
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They're they're really, really hot.
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Yeah.
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Um, we had uh Mike McEwan was in the event, and very first game, he almost got upset by fairly local boys, Wes Forge.
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I guess Wes is out of Kingston, but uh you see this, you see this all the time.
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I I've seen it numerous times at the High Park Club Club.
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Like I remember a few years ago, um oh, what's his name out of Italy?
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Yeah, Joel Retornez.
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Returno Returno has lost his first game there.
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It's that card.
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Carter Bryant um made an incredible angle run back.
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It's a sneaky club ice.
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I think it was an angle angle run back, double takeout to put himself in a position to get a jump on that game.
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And Retornez just missed one come around and then all of a sudden he was chasing him.
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Yeah.
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I I love I love it.
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I love that sneaky club ice, and you watch bros have to adjust to it.
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And if you're a decent tour curler who's used to club ice and it's the first game, you can usually take advantage of that against the against the slam curlers, against the international curlers, because they're used to that very fast, very I won't say perfect, but very consistent slam ice.
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It's the same, doesn't matter whether you're in Victoria, whether you're in Toronto, whether you're in uh in Europe, that ice is the same everywhere you go, and that's what they're used to.
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So when they get high park, which uh now has regularly has very good ice, but it's just different.
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It's just a little different.
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You can usually get an advantage on these teams early on.
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Yeah, appreciate it.
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The ice is the great equalizer.
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Yeah.
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So you're gonna see a lot of those upsets happen in their first game where they're not quite used to what they have to do, how they have to let it go to make their shots there.
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But they'll eventually the good curlers eventually come through.
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They they figure it out and they catch on faster than the rest.
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So, Rob, how how how sore were you at the end of this event?
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I don't think you like this was a fun experience for you because really, like our you played what one league game, maybe two league games total until prior to going out there.
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So yeah, so I my whole deal this year was to take competitive off, and I immediately broke that promise to myself by playing one of the first events of the year.
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On Thanksgiving weekend.
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And on Thanksgiving weekend, no less.
00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:07.279
Your rubber arm was twisted by them asking you.
00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:08.559
Yes, exactly.
00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.759
That's all it took.
00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:12.879
Um, and I regretted it immediately.
00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:13.360
Yeah.
00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:17.519
First, first game, I was gassed, winded.
00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:19.120
I And this was 8 a.m.
00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:21.360
on set on Thursday morning, by the way.
00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:21.600
Yes.
00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.399
8 a.m.
00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:25.919
Thursday morning, where six ends in, and I've got no energy.
00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:27.440
I'm like, what's wrong with me?
00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:32.559
Well, turns out, yeah, I used to carbload before I'd go sweep, and I had a salad the night before.
00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:35.440
So I'm like, what have I done?
00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:39.279
Then uh, you know, by the time we're in our second game, 6 p.m.
00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.200
Thursday, I was I was rolling.
00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:44.480
But um, you know, come Sunday morning for our other 8 a.m.
00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:49.279
game, my hip was killing me, my knees were killing me, I'm grumpy because it's the morning.
00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:56.080
It's also a game where we're playing the two last places teams in the pool, and neither team's gonna advance when you win.
00:16:56.240 --> 00:17:00.799
So you're like, uh at that point, I don't want to be there, but you're trying, you know.
00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.720
I'm I'm a competitor, I want to win.
00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:04.400
Yeah, I'm gonna try and make every shot.
00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:08.880
Yeah, but uh, you know, at that point, it's like, uh, I I regret being here.
00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:12.079
I know I didn't regret being there for the people I was there with, they're great.
00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:15.839
Yeah, Greg Smith is wonderful to curl for, and I would curl for him again in a heartbeat.
00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.240
Absolutely.
00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:18.559
All he has to do is ask, and my rubber arm will twist.
00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:18.960
Yes.
00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:24.319
But um, yeah, I I my my body was not ready at this point of the year.
00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:30.720
And uh that actually shows really the kind of work people have to do to be curling at a high level nonstop.
00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:34.319
They it's a constant toll on your body, especially once you get over 40.
00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:34.720
Yeah.
00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:42.240
This is uh the uh I I often every now and then I want to just take some of these people out in the world and who are like, oh, I can do that.
00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.440
I'm like, okay, come on.
00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.200
Let's let's go.
00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.640
Let's go, let's go play.
00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:50.559
Uh my takeaway uh from your debrief on this, Rob, is uh very simple.
00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.799
The old adage, you don't make friends with salad.
00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.039
You don't make friends with salad.
00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.680
Trademark.
00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.680
Say at least Homer Simpson.
00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:05.279
But no, uh, that was uh the uh what were our uh predictions on this event?
00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:08.240
Uh I think I was close, Rob, wasn't I?
00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.839
Yeah, so I got them here.
00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:15.119
Um uh Norm said Christina Black and Epping.
00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:17.599
Yay, I got one right and the finalist right.
00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.480
Yay.
00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.599
And Chris said Kim and Young.
00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:24.640
Oh yes, Nathan Young, who didn't qualify for the playoffs.
00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.079
Good work there, Chris.
00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:29.920
Well, you know, I I I'm betting on a guy I know and a guy I like.
00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.279
And I'm you know what?
00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:34.240
If I lose if I lose money on that, that's that that's meant to be.
00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:38.880
Um so that's what it looked like from inside the inside the shed.
00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:41.599
Uh Norm, what did it look like from the other side of the glass?
00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:47.839
Uh so I was watching a lot of uh games uh on stream on this one, even though I was at my friend's cottage.
00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:50.960
Uh it was raining a couple of times, so I got inside.
00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.240
And it was excellent.
00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:55.200
I I think the quality of the coverage was really good.
00:18:55.359 --> 00:19:05.440
Um, the the bar across the across and going through the camera at the far end on a couple of sheets was a little annoying, but I think it's just the way that the setup was on that.
00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:09.920
But it didn't really block the house, it just kind of blocked uh some annoying things like that.
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:16.640
Um, but I liked how they had uh steady cams and motion uh on every single sheet and then would have one feature game with commentary.
00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:20.240
So that was really good that they put the effort in and did that.
00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:24.640
Um definitely um uh the quality of the play was very high.
00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:34.559
Uh noticed that uh I think we talked about this last week, that it wasn't quite as many international teams, wasn't quite as many um of the high-end slam type teams that were in.
00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:47.759
And I think the only team that's playing in the slam is John Epping, who actually played in the final on Monday and then played on, I think, like at noon on noon Eastern time on uh on Tuesday out in Victoria.
00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:50.799
I don't know how he got his flight from one side of the country to the other.
00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:53.119
Um that's what I noticed from that end there.
00:19:53.279 --> 00:20:01.599
Um the one thing is I did have the ice report, and I think uh it was interesting to see that the ice uh was slightly unpredictable.
00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:12.720
And I think from uh conversations with Rob, um it was curling well in some spots, but then in other games, and kind of as the event wore along, it kind of changed as it went throughout, Rob.
00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:21.440
You could probably speak to the ice a little bit better than I can, but from like an observer perspective, I'm like, ooh, they're only giving off just the edge of the forefoot to get to center line.
00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:22.400
What's going on here?
00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.680
So go ahead, sir.
00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:27.920
Yeah, we we didn't have many games where we weren't getting a lot of curl.
00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:43.440
We found we'd be getting three and a half to four feet for for the most part, and then every once in a while you'd take just a little extra ice to make sure that you know you can make it to your backing if you wanted to have that safe shot, and then it would just hang out in the good stuff and never come back.
00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:47.920
Yeah, and you you'd only be a foot heavy and it only curls two feet.
00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.240
Yeah.
00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:51.680
So I think that was the start of seeing things straighten up.
00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:55.359
And we were just hitting it in a little patchiness.
00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:00.880
We also found that uh you'd, you know, you'd like normal ice would come up to speed kind of overall.
00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:09.680
Um, if you didn't play half a sheet for half an end, it would start to tighten up by like six, maybe ten feet um until you threw a few more rocks down again.
00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:15.440
So you had this tracking where you haven't played in four or five shots because it's gonna slow down again.
00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:19.359
I mean, ice reading is part of the game, so it's important to track that.
00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:27.200
But like as you said, you you haven't been playing as much, so it's a little bit tougher to track that, and you're on a team with people that you haven't necessarily played with that much.
00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:30.400
So it's a little bit harder to do that for you, right?
00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:39.519
Um, you know, God bless Greg for being able to manage uh three players that he's never curled with before um in any given part of the weekend.
00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:42.640
We had yeah, three different spares total for him at any given point.
00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:49.599
So um he did a really good job managing all these different releases and trying to map out the ice, considering, you know.
00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.279
All right.
00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:59.680
So, ladies and gentlemen, we uh we're very excited to uh announce that the we have our first special.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.680
Special guest on Extra Ends.
00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.279
Very excited for this.
00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:08.000
We've been planning all week for it, and we're happy to introduce to you.
00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:15.039
Well, we're terribly sorry about that, ladies and gentlemen.
00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:18.559
Due to technical difficulties, our very special guest.
00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:22.160
Uh, the recording did not quite come through the way we wanted it to.
00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:24.480
So we're gonna have to have them back next week.
00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:26.960
Uh, you guys can look forward to it then.
00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:36.880
And don't worry, we promised to ask them all the amazing exact same questions that we just did, and you can compare notes to what you just heard to what you will hear next week.
00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:43.599
This week's episode of Extra Ends is not brought to you by the Grand Slam of Curling.
00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:52.640
With five major events this year, plus the all-new Rock League, this professional curling tour does not support or is connected to extra ends in any formal way.
00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:57.440
Also, still not sponsoring extra ends is the Royal Canadian Curling Club.
00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:00.559
They did try to bribe us, but we have yet to accept the bribe.
00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:04.000
So we still get to say things about the Royal Canadian Curling Club.
00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:06.480
Accept or collect the bribe, either one, right?
00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.119
It really doesn't matter.
00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:07.759
Either one.
00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.160
Either one.
00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:12.480
Okay, I'm clarifying what the uh the verb is associated with that.
00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:12.880
Thank you.
00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:13.440
Okay.
00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:17.200
So let's take a look at the week ahead, guys.
00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:24.160
We have only one major event uh this coming week uh in the curling world, and this often happens when there's a grand slam.
00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:32.160
Everybody else, so all the other major events sort of take a break because it is the co-op invitational out of Victoria BC.
00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:36.799
And uh yours truly is reporting live from Victoria BC.
00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:41.759
This is what we're doing to bring our listeners up-to-date live content.
00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:44.960
We're here watching the Grand Slam of Curling.
00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:48.400
Um, the ICE report I did get, by the way.
00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.960
Uh, the answer was it's good.
00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:56.000
Uh who gave you such biting commentary?
00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.599
Numerous curlers.
00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.000
It's good.
00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:58.799
Excellent.
00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:01.440
Oh, you're on a first name basis with many of them then, right?
00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.160
Yes.
00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:20.240
But uh so this event is the first of the major, major events, uh, I guess we could call them on the tour for the season, and we're seeing uh a large number of teams, we're seeing uh 16 men's and 16 women's teams curling at this event.
00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:25.039
And uh they're the which is resulting in four draws a day.
00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:34.960
Uh, if you have the capacity to watch uh four eight end games a day multiplied by four sheets, uh that's a lot of curling.
00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:39.599
We're doing the best we can here, but time zones are killing us, and I'm getting a little tired.
00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:56.160
So this is uh this event, what I'm looking for, what I'm watching for is uh who's moving past the the the first of the season jitters, who's moving past uh the startup, uh the startup time and moving into season form.
00:24:56.400 --> 00:25:02.880
This is the event where there's real money on the line, there's real points on the line, there's a lot going on here.
00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.480
So who's bringing into form?
00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:10.319
This is also the first event that we're seeing team Homan and we're seeing Team Jacobs in a competitive way.
00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:14.480
So that's what I'm watching, and I'm looking to go away from this.
00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:25.359
Uh, the other teams uh I I really am watching are the hometown favorites, uh uh Team McMillan and team uh uh Team Reese Hansen.
00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.720
Reese Hansen, that's it.
00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:29.039
Uh team McMillan and Team Reese Hansen.
00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:33.119
They're the hometown favorites here, and they have a lot of support in the stands.
00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:39.680
And uh McMillan's already looking very, very impressive, uh, getting a win out over Homan yesterday.
00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:43.680
So this is um this is what I'm watching.
00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:47.039
Um and I I I think it's I think it's a great event.
00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:51.920
What are you guys uh watching or looking forward to in the co-op invitational here in Victoria?
00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.319
I'm really excited that the slams are back.
00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:59.119
I think this is the uh early part of the year, as some people have said, the pre-Christmas time.
00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:05.759
Uh, we've been focusing mostly on the on the Canadian uh events and what's been going on uh across country here.
00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.720
And uh now we're actually getting into one that's full international.
00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:28.000
It's all in Canada, but the uh the full international field that really feels like this is if it could be this way, this would be what the Olympics would be like, where you have multiple representatives from from countries and they go in and they play their best and they peak the season for these events and really work their way towards it.
00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:31.279
And you can see it from the play and the quality of the play that's out there.
00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:34.079
It's fascinating to see, and it's fascinating that it's there.
00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:49.440
And as you said, Chris, with the uh with the uh a number of games that are going on in the West Coast time frame of this, there's weekday, daytime curling, which of course I am a full solid professional who does his job very well and very focused.
00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:58.559
So under no circumstances am I uh multitasking and have a uh a phone or an iPad with the curling going on, streaming on in the background with no sound on at all.
00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.400
Uh to my clients as well.
00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:03.119
I also am not watching this on the screen.
00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:03.599
I don't know.
00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:05.279
No, no, no, I'm also doing my work.
00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.480
No, yes, exactly.
00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:09.279
So yeah, so that's I think those are the biggest things.
00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:21.599
And um uh I also did notice, uh, I think Chris, uh following your advice as to what you have said, uh, the rock channel, which I think for the last couple of seasons has been uh available for free, is now behind a paywall.
00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:23.119
So uh I was fortunate enough.
00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:33.359
Yeah, I don't believe you are because you're in person, but uh I did pay the fee and I'm now getting the um that uh to be able to watch that curling on the sheets that are not being broadcast on Sportsnet.
00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:38.319
But it's interesting that Sportsnet is also broadcasting three games a day starting on Tuesday.
00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:40.799
I think that's another big change that's a big deal.
00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:46.480
And it's being broadcast also on ESPN Plus and on the zone uh in the US and then internationally.
00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:51.759
So it's good to see that they're getting that um eyeballs available for other people around the world.
00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.720
And tomorrow's ESPN, obscure sports quarterly.
00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.359
Yes, exactly.
00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.079
The oak show.
00:27:56.319 --> 00:28:01.200
Hey, ESPN uh one of the one of the TV networks is picking up tomorrow's Casper game.
00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.079
Oh, there you go.
00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:20.400
So uh it's uh the we're the the reality is is that I think being on ESPN is great news on curling because uh like even the the Briar the Briar and the Scottties get some of the best ratings in Canada for sports, but ESPN on a slow Tuesday will do usually more than Canadian sports.
00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:22.319
So I I think this is great.
00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:25.680
This is thousands, if not millions, of new eyeballs on on curling.
00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.400
Bring it on.
00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:26.880
Let's go.
00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:29.759
Uh I'm I'm really, really excited for it.
00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:35.279
Uh, I'm while I'm here this time, I'm going to probably be buying the Rock League a package as well.
00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:40.960
Same as you, Norm, once I get home to watch all the other events that aren't within driving distance of Toronto.
00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.359
Yep.
00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:45.359
Uh so uh like you gotta you gotta walk your walk.
00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:49.759
Uh and that is I'm gonna pay for the event uh because I want to watch the event.
00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:54.960
Uh Rob, do you have any thoughts on the Grand Slam before we get into our predictions?
00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:57.039
Um no, let's go to predictions.
00:28:57.279 --> 00:29:00.720
All right, let's move on to predictions uh for this event.
00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.319
I'm I'm really excited.
00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:08.400
I like what I see out of Yannick Schwaller, so I'm picking him for the men's side, and on the women's side, I am picking Rachel Homan.
00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:17.359
I think uh in true Rachel fashion, usually a loss only invigorates her to play harder, and I think that's what's gonna be what happens to the rest of this event.
00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:20.880
So on the women's side, I'm picking Rachel Holman and on the men's, Yannick Schwaller.
00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.720
How about uh how about you, Norm?
00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:24.559
Uh uh, thank you.
00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:29.359
Uh weird to see you pick the number one men's team in the world and the former number one women's team in the world.
00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.880
Way to go on a limb there, Chris.
00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:37.440
Um, for the men, for the men's, I will pick uh the newly formed team Hardy.
00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:41.839
Uh that, of course, would be Shorty Jenkins' uh classic uh men's champion.
00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:43.119
So I'll be picking them.
00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:48.240
And for the women, of course, I looked at all the results prior to coming into this and picked a 2-0 team.
00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:58.559
So I picked Anna Hasselborg, uh, defending Olympic gold medalist, who seems to be starting out the season on a lighter schedule, as as you've expected or explained from uh some of the other teams.
00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:01.039
Uh, but they're two-0, so that's who I picked.
00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:01.680
Rob.
00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:07.440
Yeah, um, for the men's, I'm gonna go with Bruce Mowit.
00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:10.160
Um, always been a longtime fan of him.
00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:14.480
And I think uh even with his team change, I think they're just gonna roll right through it.
00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:18.720
They've been on a grand slam of curling dominance path for a long time now.
00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:21.279
So um, Bruce Mowit for me.
00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:25.359
And for the women, I'm going with Canadian heavyweight Kerry Einerson.
00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.880
Wow, excellent pick there, Rob.
00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:27.920
Good choice.
00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.480
Yeah.
00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.359
All right.
00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:33.519
Well, we will check back next week to see uh who are the winners and losers amongst us.
00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:37.119
There will also be winners and losers in Victoria, but that's less important to this group.
00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:42.480
It's more important for the bragging rights amongst the three of us, whether or not our predictions are correct.
00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:46.240
All right, welcome to Coach's Corner with Rob.
00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.680
Coach's Corner.
00:30:48.079 --> 00:31:03.119
This is one of our favorite and most popularly requested segments on Extra Ends where curlers get to glimpse into the beautiful mind of tour curler Rob Ainsley with us here, and he's back this week, so we're really, really excited.
00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:10.880
Um, thanks to numerous fans asking us, we're coming back around to last week's question because they're adamant that they want Rob's opinion on this.
00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:18.799
So, Rob, the club season is is up and running now, and we're into it, uh, both at Royals and at clubs across the country.
00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:25.440
Do you have any advice for anyone who may be struggling to get back into the swing of things?
00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:31.359
Yeah, remember, you can always blame the rocks, the ice conditions, or your teammates.
00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:33.759
It's definitely not your shitty intern.
00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:38.799
And that has been Coach's Corner with Rob.
00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:42.799
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much.
00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:51.359
Please remember to like, subscribe, promote, share, pass around, tell your friends, post it at the club, tell everyone you know about extra ends.
00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.559
We appreciate it.
00:31:52.720 --> 00:32:00.720
Uh, we're heading to uh hopefully get at least one more person to listen to us this week so that we can hit a new milestone and all of us will feel really good.
00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:03.119
Um thank you very much for listening.
00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:05.519
This has been another fun week of extra ends.
00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:09.519
Uh, I'd like to thank my co hosts uh Kevin McDonald.
00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:13.440
Hi, Norm saying goodbye, and Rob Ainsley.
00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:15.119
Until next time.
00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:21.759
And for all of you out there, may your ice be fast and curly in the shed and cold and ready at the bar.
00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:07.519
Extra Ends, a curling podcast with Chris, Norm, and sometimes Rob.
00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:12.400
Welcome to episode six of Extra Ends, a Curling Podcast.
00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:14.880
We are your curling hosts, Kevin McDonald.
00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:16.160
Hi, Norm here.
00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:17.519
Rob Ainsley.
00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:19.039
Hey, it's good to be back.
00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:20.960
And myself, Chris Rouchet.
00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:24.960
If you're listening to this, then you're as much of a curling fanatic as we are.
00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:26.559
Let's not pretend.
00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:30.000
So, guys, it is the week after Thanksgiving.
00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:32.399
And uh, you know what I am thankful for?
00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:43.280
I am thankful for the very first Grand Slam is on, and uh we get to watch some top-level curling with some top-level production value TV uh all week.
00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:44.719
That's what I'm thankful for.
00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:46.000
How about uh how about you guys?
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:48.640
How was your Thanksgiving and what were you thankful for?
00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:50.320
Uh my Thanksgiving was great.
00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:51.840
Thank you, Chris, for asking.
00:00:51.920 --> 00:01:10.159
Uh, I'm uh definitely thankful for the uh friends and family that I have around me that I can spend some quality time with, and I'm especially thankful for friends I have that own cottages that I can borrow and stay at, uh, that they're nice enough to invite me to, because I do not own one, and I appreciate when I'm invited to others.
00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:11.359
So thank you to them.
00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:12.719
How about you, Rob?
00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:18.239
Yeah, I'm I'm thankful for obviously my friends and family around me as well and the curling community around me.
00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:27.439
I I was very uh grateful to get a call to curl and the Toronto Stew Cells over the Thanksgiving weekend, which I'm sure we'll be touching on that shortly.
00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:28.640
We will be.
00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:31.760
That is wonderful, guys.
00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:32.560
All right, right.
00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:38.640
Listeners, at the time of recording, there are only 88 days until curling week in Canada.
00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:48.879
That's right, the week of January 10th to 17th, when almost all of Canada's provinces and other curling associations are having their provincial or territorial finals.
00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:50.959
We can't wait for this week.
00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:57.920
We're gonna watch more curling in seven days than the rest of the year and the world has combined.
00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:01.599
We're so excited from this, and this is what extra ends is counting down to.
00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:17.120
So, once again, this is your weekly reminder to mark January 10th to 17th, book it off from work, send the kids off to winter camp, do what you have to do to clear the week so that you can watch curling with us for seven straight days.
00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:18.800
We're really excited for it.
00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:20.240
So it was a big week.
00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:22.319
It was a big week in curling last week.
00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:26.479
We had three major events uh that we're gonna talk to.
00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:37.199
And we're gonna save our premiere event, the Stewells Toronto, uh, for last because we we actually had a member of Extra Ends participating in this event.
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:39.439
Uh so we're gonna save it to the end.
00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:51.280
But uh also going on was out west, we had the New Floors Penticton Curling Classic uh happening in Penticton of all places, if you couldn't figure that out.
00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:53.840
And uh it was a it was a great event.
00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:06.719
I uh we saw that the final was Hosley versus Erickson, and it was a close game all the way through where Ericsson ended up squeaking across the line with a six to five finish.
00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:10.879
Um I I thought that uh it was a lot of fun to watch.
00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:12.639
There was a lot of good curling.
00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:16.719
Um once again, team botcher qualified for the semis.
00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:22.879
Uh unfortunately, they they they they they lost in the semi against Ericsson.
00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:28.479
Um, but already they've they've evened that score uh here at the Grand Slam.
00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:31.199
So um it's gonna be very, very close.
00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:33.439
But there was so much going on.
00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:37.759
Uh I'll ask uh uh Kevin, what were your what were your thoughts from Pentikton?
00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:46.960
I think that was my biggest takeaway was uh friends of the podcast, uh Team Botcher uh was definitely um to me the highlight of it making the semi.
00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:48.560
And uh they've now moved up.
00:03:48.639 --> 00:04:01.520
I do almost like a weekly look at this to see who that top-ranked team year to date is uh for the Canadian rankings, uh, to see who can get that coveted third spot uh for the wildcard teams at the Breyer and the Scotties.
00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:10.560
And from uh Team Butcher, Team McDonald is still ahead by very, very slight margin, but Team McDonald was not playing in the slam this week, and Team Bocher is.
00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:13.199
So Team Butcher's got it close enough that they're there.
00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:21.279
And it's excellent to see that until uh today when they played in the slam, uh they'd lost four games this season so far, and all four were in a semi.
00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:24.240
And it's unfortunate they they're uh still forming.
00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:30.399
Uh I think that was one of Rob's uh I think it was Tuckman's model of teams uh and the forming portion.
00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:49.040
I think they're still working through a lot of that stuff, and that's getting them where they're not quite getting to that uh that final and through to the wins of these spels, but I'm pretty sure they're still happy about what's going on, and that's my highlight from that is just seeing that team perform so well on a regular basis now that they've gone in so many events at the start of the year.
00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:52.399
Rob, did you have any thoughts out of what you saw in Penticton?
00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:54.879
I didn't see anything in Penticton, Chris.
00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:57.279
There's a reason why, though, we accuse you.
00:04:57.839 --> 00:04:59.279
Yes, it's completely okay.
00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:02.160
I I I I thought this this was a great event.
00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:04.399
Uh Norm, you have our predictions for this event?
00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:06.720
I don't have no you wrote them down.
00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:10.879
I mean, come on, do I need to go back into last week's document and look for signing work to me?
00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:11.680
You didn't tell me this.
00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:12.319
Come on.
00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:14.079
Um where is it?
00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:14.879
Did we write them down?
00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:15.600
You did write them down.
00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:16.800
We did write them down last week's day.
00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:17.519
We did write them down.
00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:18.160
Oh, yes.
00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:19.920
So predictions.
00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:22.160
Uh no, that was two weeks ago.
00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:24.879
Uh I'm doing a poor job here.
00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:28.720
I've got predictions where um Schwaller and Butcher.
00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:35.439
Uh oh, I picked Schwaller who lost in the other semi, and you picked up the semi.
00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:36.639
So okay, fine.
00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:37.519
Thank you, Rob.
00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:40.399
Well, okay, so we were we both lost on the semi.
00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:41.360
That's a tie.
00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:45.040
Uh, we'll we'll have to do better at at the next event.
00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:46.639
But this was this was a great event.
00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:52.720
Uh it was um it was interesting to see uh McDonald had a rougher go of it.
00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:56.319
I saw them be uh uh rougher across the whole spiel.
00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:58.720
And uh my question is, are they getting tired?
00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:02.399
Because this is their sixth or seventh event already this year.
00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:09.199
And um, yeah, I uh that was my one question that came out of it was I think team McDonald might need a break.
00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:11.199
Well, and team Hostley might as well.
00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:14.399
I think Hosley's played in as many, if not more, events than them.
00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:18.959
And Hostley is still playing again in the slam right now in Victoria.
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:20.639
So I I mean these guys.
00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:23.120
I gotta test the fatigue is real.
00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:24.079
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:26.000
Wonder why you know that, Rob.
00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:26.959
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:33.199
And this is it to do this every weekend, plus the travel, plus like like the travel ain't easy either.
00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:37.279
These guys have crossed the country, and that's that's gonna be rough.
00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:40.959
So I am uh continue to watch, continue to watch closely.
00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:41.839
It was a great event.
00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:46.560
Uh, there was some great streaming online, uh, there was some okay commentary.
00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:50.319
Um so I uh I I enjoyed it very much.
00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:55.680
The the other event we had was also out west, uh, the Autumn Gold Curling Classic.
00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:07.439
Now, this is the uh women's version of the Okotoks classic that the men played a few weeks ago, and it came out to uh Sturmay beating Gim quite handily with a seven to three score.
00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:13.120
Uh and once again, we're seeing we're seeing Sturme just take off here.
00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:16.879
Um they're they're I don't believe they're here in the slams, are they?
00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:17.519
No, it wasn't.
00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:18.160
They're not.
00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:24.240
No, they did not qualify for this slam, but by winning this event, they qualified for one of the next set of slams.
00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:34.720
I can't remember exactly which one it is, but uh yeah, that's a big thing for them to get in the slam, and they're moving up the rankings where they might even be in the top 12, anyways, uh, to get the uh official invites.
00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:38.720
But uh always good to get the satellite event, which this was and get that win behind.
00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:40.879
Yeah, that that that's absolutely wonderful.
00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:48.399
And then Norm, you you said that uh the the team uh Schwaller versus Negavin was uh worth a watch.
00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:57.519
Yeah, it was actually absolutely a fascinating game where team team uh Zenia Schwaler, defending world champion, was down four after the sixth end.
00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:02.959
They took three in the seventh end, stole one and eight, and stole one and nine for the win.
00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:04.639
It was a very fascinating game.
00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:06.160
I watched it as it was happening.
00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:16.879
I thought for sure Team Negavan, which was actually Team Kerry this weekend with uh Friend of the Pod Chelsea Carey uh being involved in that, um, uh skipping while uh Selena's on uh maternity leave.
00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.639
That it was fascinating watching.
00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:21.519
And it's not like missed shots were happening or anything like that.
00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:32.080
It was just Team Schwaller is just that good and was putting the pressure on so much that it just got to a point where the game ended in a result that I did not anticipate at all as I was going in.
00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:37.679
Because normally when you get up that much of a lead, even with the five rock no-tick rules, um, you should be able to hold it.
00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:42.879
But shows you that you you really shouldn't necessarily give up with when you're down that much.
00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:46.720
Yeah, usually down four after six is pretty much game over.
00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:50.159
Yeah, so amazing that it just you're you're never out of it, you know.
00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:52.159
This five rock rule, you can stay in the game.
00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:53.360
Yeah, which was great.
00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:59.440
And one of the things uh I we're seeing, uh particularly here at the slams, is I think the games are getting lower scoring.
00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:02.879
Like games are six to five, like constantly.
00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:11.679
They were this weekend as well, these events, and there's uh there's a lot less scoring, there's a lot less deuces to be had in terms of two-point ends.
00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:17.360
Um, the game is tightening up as these teams are are learning the five rock rule.
00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:23.279
Uh and while you're right, the there's a there's a chance to come back from a big there's a from uh from a big gap.
00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:25.360
There isn't too many big gaps to be had.
00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.240
Like even getting threes are becoming rare now.
00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:29.200
Yeah, yeah.
00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:37.919
So yeah, and sometimes that's all you need to actually blow your game open, is the first team to crack a deuce when everyone's getting so good at forcing the other team to their one.
00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:39.360
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:50.960
It's actually led to some really exciting girling to watch because an inch here, an inch there, like the it's gonna be the difference of the game, but it's it's just getting intense.
00:09:51.120 --> 00:10:02.799
You're seeing like the thing I've also noticed from all these is we're seeing timeouts being called in the second end, yeah, third end, when usually those were saved for the seventh or eighth, only almost exclusively.
00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:05.440
And you're seeing no no, this this matters now.
00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:08.559
We're in the second end, we have to make a critical shot now.
00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:10.960
And I think that's great for curling.
00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:12.399
It is, yeah.
00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:15.679
Uh, one more note here on the autumn call classic before we move on.
00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.600
Um, your predictions were both wrong again.
00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:19.120
Yeah, absolutely they were.
00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:19.919
Yeah, amazing.
00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:26.399
Yeah, I picked ster I picked Selena Sturmate two weeks ago, and then she didn't do well, and then she wins this week.
00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:28.320
So, yeah, norm's off by the week.
00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:31.360
Yeah, we had Schwaller and Pets this time as predictions.
00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:31.919
Yeah, yeah.
00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:37.919
We'll have to we'll have to try again for the when we predict uh the slams later later in this episode.
00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:38.799
Yeah, so we're gonna be.
00:10:39.039 --> 00:11:04.080
One more shout-out on that event before we go into our our our feature event of the of the event is uh of our podcast is uh Selene Sturmay, that team, did exceptionally well, where in one day they beat the defending Olympic gold medalist Anna Hasselborg in the quarterfinals, and then in the semifinals, they beat the defending world champion Xanya Schwaller, and then in the um final, they bit beat Unji Kim, who is currently the number one ranked team in the world.
00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:13.519
So it's like if you're saying like there's a gauntlet that she had to uh work her way through, and she definitely played that well to win and beat some of the three of the best teams in the world.
00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:24.240
So kudos to her, and uh that's uh uh definitely um accommodations for just the efforts they put in at the start of this year and the and those and the efforts that they've been going forward with.
00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:31.600
So it's good to see that that team is doing that and gelling and playing well, and that's one of the teams that stuck together from the last cycle with no changes.
00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:36.000
So it's always interesting to see those teams like Team McDonald that stuck together as well.
00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:39.840
So all right, let's come back to Toronto.
00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:45.200
We uh had one of the major events in the Ontario circuit this weekend, the Stu Cells Toronto Tankard.
00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:50.159
This was being hosted by our very good friends at the High Park Club.
00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:55.120
Uh, once again, they put on a great, absolutely great event when they host this.
00:11:55.279 --> 00:12:03.039
And uh it came out the uh the final uh on the men's side was Cap over Epping, another six to five score.
00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:09.120
And uh on the women's side, it was Team Black over Team Park, uh, a six to five score.
00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:12.159
Um, so once again, we're seeing some of those six to five scores.
00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:15.440
And this was I I actually even caught some of this uh online.
00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:20.639
Again, I was very sad that I wasn't able to uh watch the games in person as I often do.
00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:25.360
But the good news was Extra Ends was on site, in fact, not in the stands.
00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:34.799
Extra Ends was on the ice with our very own curler right here, Rob Ainsley, who was playing uh at the at the Stu Cells Tanker this past weekend.
00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:38.399
Rob, uh let's let's get your initial thoughts on the event.
00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:44.799
Yeah, so uh Greg Smith from Newfoundland had asked me a few weeks before the event to spare for him.
00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:46.960
And uh turned out he needed two spares.
00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:54.480
So myself and other fellow Royal Canadian Curling Club member, Brian Chick, um, we spared for him at the event.
00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:57.679
Um it was uh it's always a fun event.
00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:58.960
It's one of my favorites.
00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:09.919
Um big part is you know, you you fill the building with local fans and you come off the ice and you can talk to people and they tell you, oh, that was a great shot, or you suck.
00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.679
And you know, we um but yeah, it's fun.
00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:18.000
You you play every game is a tough game, it's always good competition.
00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:28.879
Our second game of the event, we played Epping in their first game, and of course, BJ Newfeld being BJ Newfeld, did BJ Newfeld things and he made it very difficult for us.
00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:34.480
I felt I actually played pretty well until he would make every run back and destroy everything I set up.
00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:43.440
Oh, watching guys like BJ play like like it's it is it's not even like a short run back, it's a 10-foot run back that they make perfectly.
00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:46.639
Like he he's curling like a man on fire right now.
00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:49.440
So no wonder why you're seeing Epping make a final.
00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:50.080
Yeah, yeah.
00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:52.559
Again, Epping already has a track record, yeah.
00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:54.320
But yes, look at his team now.
00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.679
They're they're really, really hot.
00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:56.000
Yeah.
00:13:56.159 --> 00:14:04.320
Um, we had uh Mike McEwan was in the event, and very first game, he almost got upset by fairly local boys, Wes Forge.
00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:08.159
I guess Wes is out of Kingston, but uh you see this, you see this all the time.
00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:10.879
I I've seen it numerous times at the High Park Club Club.
00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:14.720
Like I remember a few years ago, um oh, what's his name out of Italy?
00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.320
Yeah, Joel Retornez.
00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:19.120
Returno Returno has lost his first game there.
00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:19.840
It's that card.
00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:23.440
Carter Bryant um made an incredible angle run back.
00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.879
It's a sneaky club ice.
00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:29.919
I think it was an angle angle run back, double takeout to put himself in a position to get a jump on that game.
00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:33.759
And Retornez just missed one come around and then all of a sudden he was chasing him.
00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:34.000
Yeah.
00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.279
I I love I love it.
00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:40.559
I love that sneaky club ice, and you watch bros have to adjust to it.
00:14:40.720 --> 00:15:02.080
And if you're a decent tour curler who's used to club ice and it's the first game, you can usually take advantage of that against the against the slam curlers, against the international curlers, because they're used to that very fast, very I won't say perfect, but very consistent slam ice.
00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:11.919
It's the same, doesn't matter whether you're in Victoria, whether you're in Toronto, whether you're in uh in Europe, that ice is the same everywhere you go, and that's what they're used to.
00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:17.200
So when they get high park, which uh now has regularly has very good ice, but it's just different.
00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.559
It's just a little different.
00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:21.519
You can usually get an advantage on these teams early on.
00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.480
Yeah, appreciate it.
00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:24.240
The ice is the great equalizer.
00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:24.639
Yeah.
00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:32.720
So you're gonna see a lot of those upsets happen in their first game where they're not quite used to what they have to do, how they have to let it go to make their shots there.
00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:35.679
But they'll eventually the good curlers eventually come through.
00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:38.720
They they figure it out and they catch on faster than the rest.
00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:42.159
So, Rob, how how how sore were you at the end of this event?
00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:52.240
I don't think you like this was a fun experience for you because really, like our you played what one league game, maybe two league games total until prior to going out there.
00:15:52.399 --> 00:16:01.679
So yeah, so I my whole deal this year was to take competitive off, and I immediately broke that promise to myself by playing one of the first events of the year.
00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:02.720
On Thanksgiving weekend.
00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.480
And on Thanksgiving weekend, no less.
00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:07.279
Your rubber arm was twisted by them asking you.
00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:08.559
Yes, exactly.
00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.759
That's all it took.
00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:12.879
Um, and I regretted it immediately.
00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:13.360
Yeah.
00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:17.519
First, first game, I was gassed, winded.
00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:19.120
I And this was 8 a.m.
00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:21.360
on set on Thursday morning, by the way.
00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:21.600
Yes.
00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.399
8 a.m.
00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:25.919
Thursday morning, where six ends in, and I've got no energy.
00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:27.440
I'm like, what's wrong with me?
00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:32.559
Well, turns out, yeah, I used to carbload before I'd go sweep, and I had a salad the night before.
00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:35.440
So I'm like, what have I done?
00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:39.279
Then uh, you know, by the time we're in our second game, 6 p.m.
00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.200
Thursday, I was I was rolling.
00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:44.480
But um, you know, come Sunday morning for our other 8 a.m.
00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:49.279
game, my hip was killing me, my knees were killing me, I'm grumpy because it's the morning.
00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:56.080
It's also a game where we're playing the two last places teams in the pool, and neither team's gonna advance when you win.
00:16:56.240 --> 00:17:00.799
So you're like, uh at that point, I don't want to be there, but you're trying, you know.
00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.720
I'm I'm a competitor, I want to win.
00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:04.400
Yeah, I'm gonna try and make every shot.
00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:08.880
Yeah, but uh, you know, at that point, it's like, uh, I I regret being here.
00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:12.079
I know I didn't regret being there for the people I was there with, they're great.
00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:15.839
Yeah, Greg Smith is wonderful to curl for, and I would curl for him again in a heartbeat.
00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.240
Absolutely.
00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:18.559
All he has to do is ask, and my rubber arm will twist.
00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:18.960
Yes.
00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:24.319
But um, yeah, I I my my body was not ready at this point of the year.
00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:30.720
And uh that actually shows really the kind of work people have to do to be curling at a high level nonstop.
00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:34.319
They it's a constant toll on your body, especially once you get over 40.
00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:34.720
Yeah.
00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:42.240
This is uh the uh I I often every now and then I want to just take some of these people out in the world and who are like, oh, I can do that.
00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.440
I'm like, okay, come on.
00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.200
Let's let's go.
00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.640
Let's go, let's go play.
00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:50.559
Uh my takeaway uh from your debrief on this, Rob, is uh very simple.
00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.799
The old adage, you don't make friends with salad.
00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.039
You don't make friends with salad.
00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.680
Trademark.
00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.680
Say at least Homer Simpson.
00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:05.279
But no, uh, that was uh the uh what were our uh predictions on this event?
00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:08.240
Uh I think I was close, Rob, wasn't I?
00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.839
Yeah, so I got them here.
00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:15.119
Um uh Norm said Christina Black and Epping.
00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:17.599
Yay, I got one right and the finalist right.
00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.480
Yay.
00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.599
And Chris said Kim and Young.
00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:24.640
Oh yes, Nathan Young, who didn't qualify for the playoffs.
00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.079
Good work there, Chris.
00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:29.920
Well, you know, I I I'm betting on a guy I know and a guy I like.
00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.279
And I'm you know what?
00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:34.240
If I lose if I lose money on that, that's that that's meant to be.
00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:38.880
Um so that's what it looked like from inside the inside the shed.
00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:41.599
Uh Norm, what did it look like from the other side of the glass?
00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:47.839
Uh so I was watching a lot of uh games uh on stream on this one, even though I was at my friend's cottage.
00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:50.960
Uh it was raining a couple of times, so I got inside.
00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.240
And it was excellent.
00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:55.200
I I think the quality of the coverage was really good.
00:18:55.359 --> 00:19:05.440
Um, the the bar across the across and going through the camera at the far end on a couple of sheets was a little annoying, but I think it's just the way that the setup was on that.
00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:09.920
But it didn't really block the house, it just kind of blocked uh some annoying things like that.
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:16.640
Um, but I liked how they had uh steady cams and motion uh on every single sheet and then would have one feature game with commentary.
00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:20.240
So that was really good that they put the effort in and did that.
00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:24.640
Um definitely um uh the quality of the play was very high.
00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:34.559
Uh noticed that uh I think we talked about this last week, that it wasn't quite as many international teams, wasn't quite as many um of the high-end slam type teams that were in.
00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:47.759
And I think the only team that's playing in the slam is John Epping, who actually played in the final on Monday and then played on, I think, like at noon on noon Eastern time on uh on Tuesday out in Victoria.
00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:50.799
I don't know how he got his flight from one side of the country to the other.
00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:53.119
Um that's what I noticed from that end there.
00:19:53.279 --> 00:20:01.599
Um the one thing is I did have the ice report, and I think uh it was interesting to see that the ice uh was slightly unpredictable.
00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:12.720
And I think from uh conversations with Rob, um it was curling well in some spots, but then in other games, and kind of as the event wore along, it kind of changed as it went throughout, Rob.
00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:21.440
You could probably speak to the ice a little bit better than I can, but from like an observer perspective, I'm like, ooh, they're only giving off just the edge of the forefoot to get to center line.
00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:22.400
What's going on here?
00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.680
So go ahead, sir.
00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:27.920
Yeah, we we didn't have many games where we weren't getting a lot of curl.
00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:43.440
We found we'd be getting three and a half to four feet for for the most part, and then every once in a while you'd take just a little extra ice to make sure that you know you can make it to your backing if you wanted to have that safe shot, and then it would just hang out in the good stuff and never come back.
00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:47.920
Yeah, and you you'd only be a foot heavy and it only curls two feet.
00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.240
Yeah.
00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:51.680
So I think that was the start of seeing things straighten up.
00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:55.359
And we were just hitting it in a little patchiness.
00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:00.880
We also found that uh you'd, you know, you'd like normal ice would come up to speed kind of overall.
00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:09.680
Um, if you didn't play half a sheet for half an end, it would start to tighten up by like six, maybe ten feet um until you threw a few more rocks down again.
00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:15.440
So you had this tracking where you haven't played in four or five shots because it's gonna slow down again.
00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:19.359
I mean, ice reading is part of the game, so it's important to track that.
00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:27.200
But like as you said, you you haven't been playing as much, so it's a little bit tougher to track that, and you're on a team with people that you haven't necessarily played with that much.
00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:30.400
So it's a little bit harder to do that for you, right?
00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:39.519
Um, you know, God bless Greg for being able to manage uh three players that he's never curled with before um in any given part of the weekend.
00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:42.640
We had yeah, three different spares total for him at any given point.
00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:49.599
So um he did a really good job managing all these different releases and trying to map out the ice, considering, you know.
00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.279
All right.
00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:59.680
So, ladies and gentlemen, we uh we're very excited to uh announce that the we have our first special.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.680
Special guest on Extra Ends.
00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.279
Very excited for this.
00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:08.000
We've been planning all week for it, and we're happy to introduce to you.
00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:15.039
Well, we're terribly sorry about that, ladies and gentlemen.
00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:18.559
Due to technical difficulties, our very special guest.
00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:22.160
Uh, the recording did not quite come through the way we wanted it to.
00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:24.480
So we're gonna have to have them back next week.
00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:26.960
Uh, you guys can look forward to it then.
00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:36.880
And don't worry, we promised to ask them all the amazing exact same questions that we just did, and you can compare notes to what you just heard to what you will hear next week.
00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:43.599
This week's episode of Extra Ends is not brought to you by the Grand Slam of Curling.
00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:52.640
With five major events this year, plus the all-new Rock League, this professional curling tour does not support or is connected to extra ends in any formal way.
00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:57.440
Also, still not sponsoring extra ends is the Royal Canadian Curling Club.
00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:00.559
They did try to bribe us, but we have yet to accept the bribe.
00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:04.000
So we still get to say things about the Royal Canadian Curling Club.
00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:06.480
Accept or collect the bribe, either one, right?
00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.119
It really doesn't matter.
00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:07.759
Either one.
00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.160
Either one.
00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:12.480
Okay, I'm clarifying what the uh the verb is associated with that.
00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:12.880
Thank you.
00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:13.440
Okay.
00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:17.200
So let's take a look at the week ahead, guys.
00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:24.160
We have only one major event uh this coming week uh in the curling world, and this often happens when there's a grand slam.
00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:32.160
Everybody else, so all the other major events sort of take a break because it is the co-op invitational out of Victoria BC.
00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:36.799
And uh yours truly is reporting live from Victoria BC.
00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:41.759
This is what we're doing to bring our listeners up-to-date live content.
00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:44.960
We're here watching the Grand Slam of Curling.
00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:48.400
Um, the ICE report I did get, by the way.
00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.960
Uh, the answer was it's good.
00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:56.000
Uh who gave you such biting commentary?
00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.599
Numerous curlers.
00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.000
It's good.
00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:58.799
Excellent.
00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:01.440
Oh, you're on a first name basis with many of them then, right?
00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.160
Yes.
00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:20.240
But uh so this event is the first of the major, major events, uh, I guess we could call them on the tour for the season, and we're seeing uh a large number of teams, we're seeing uh 16 men's and 16 women's teams curling at this event.
00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:25.039
And uh they're the which is resulting in four draws a day.
00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:34.960
Uh, if you have the capacity to watch uh four eight end games a day multiplied by four sheets, uh that's a lot of curling.
00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:39.599
We're doing the best we can here, but time zones are killing us, and I'm getting a little tired.
00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:56.160
So this is uh this event, what I'm looking for, what I'm watching for is uh who's moving past the the the first of the season jitters, who's moving past uh the startup, uh the startup time and moving into season form.
00:24:56.400 --> 00:25:02.880
This is the event where there's real money on the line, there's real points on the line, there's a lot going on here.
00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.480
So who's bringing into form?
00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:10.319
This is also the first event that we're seeing team Homan and we're seeing Team Jacobs in a competitive way.
00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:14.480
So that's what I'm watching, and I'm looking to go away from this.
00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:25.359
Uh, the other teams uh I I really am watching are the hometown favorites, uh uh Team McMillan and team uh uh Team Reese Hansen.
00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.720
Reese Hansen, that's it.
00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:29.039
Uh team McMillan and Team Reese Hansen.
00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:33.119
They're the hometown favorites here, and they have a lot of support in the stands.
00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:39.680
And uh McMillan's already looking very, very impressive, uh, getting a win out over Homan yesterday.
00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:43.680
So this is um this is what I'm watching.
00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:47.039
Um and I I I think it's I think it's a great event.
00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:51.920
What are you guys uh watching or looking forward to in the co-op invitational here in Victoria?
00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.319
I'm really excited that the slams are back.
00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:59.119
I think this is the uh early part of the year, as some people have said, the pre-Christmas time.
00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:05.759
Uh, we've been focusing mostly on the on the Canadian uh events and what's been going on uh across country here.
00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.720
And uh now we're actually getting into one that's full international.
00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:28.000
It's all in Canada, but the uh the full international field that really feels like this is if it could be this way, this would be what the Olympics would be like, where you have multiple representatives from from countries and they go in and they play their best and they peak the season for these events and really work their way towards it.
00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:31.279
And you can see it from the play and the quality of the play that's out there.
00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:34.079
It's fascinating to see, and it's fascinating that it's there.
00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:49.440
And as you said, Chris, with the uh with the uh a number of games that are going on in the West Coast time frame of this, there's weekday, daytime curling, which of course I am a full solid professional who does his job very well and very focused.
00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:58.559
So under no circumstances am I uh multitasking and have a uh a phone or an iPad with the curling going on, streaming on in the background with no sound on at all.
00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.400
Uh to my clients as well.
00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:03.119
I also am not watching this on the screen.
00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:03.599
I don't know.
00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:05.279
No, no, no, I'm also doing my work.
00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.480
No, yes, exactly.
00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:09.279
So yeah, so that's I think those are the biggest things.
00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:21.599
And um uh I also did notice, uh, I think Chris, uh following your advice as to what you have said, uh, the rock channel, which I think for the last couple of seasons has been uh available for free, is now behind a paywall.
00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:23.119
So uh I was fortunate enough.
00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:33.359
Yeah, I don't believe you are because you're in person, but uh I did pay the fee and I'm now getting the um that uh to be able to watch that curling on the sheets that are not being broadcast on Sportsnet.
00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:38.319
But it's interesting that Sportsnet is also broadcasting three games a day starting on Tuesday.
00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:40.799
I think that's another big change that's a big deal.
00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:46.480
And it's being broadcast also on ESPN Plus and on the zone uh in the US and then internationally.
00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:51.759
So it's good to see that they're getting that um eyeballs available for other people around the world.
00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.720
And tomorrow's ESPN, obscure sports quarterly.
00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.359
Yes, exactly.
00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.079
The oak show.
00:27:56.319 --> 00:28:01.200
Hey, ESPN uh one of the one of the TV networks is picking up tomorrow's Casper game.
00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.079
Oh, there you go.
00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:20.400
So uh it's uh the we're the the reality is is that I think being on ESPN is great news on curling because uh like even the the Briar the Briar and the Scottties get some of the best ratings in Canada for sports, but ESPN on a slow Tuesday will do usually more than Canadian sports.
00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:22.319
So I I think this is great.
00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:25.680
This is thousands, if not millions, of new eyeballs on on curling.
00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.400
Bring it on.
00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:26.880
Let's go.
00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:29.759
Uh I'm I'm really, really excited for it.
00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:35.279
Uh, I'm while I'm here this time, I'm going to probably be buying the Rock League a package as well.
00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:40.960
Same as you, Norm, once I get home to watch all the other events that aren't within driving distance of Toronto.
00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.359
Yep.
00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:45.359
Uh so uh like you gotta you gotta walk your walk.
00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:49.759
Uh and that is I'm gonna pay for the event uh because I want to watch the event.
00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:54.960
Uh Rob, do you have any thoughts on the Grand Slam before we get into our predictions?
00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:57.039
Um no, let's go to predictions.
00:28:57.279 --> 00:29:00.720
All right, let's move on to predictions uh for this event.
00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.319
I'm I'm really excited.
00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:08.400
I like what I see out of Yannick Schwaller, so I'm picking him for the men's side, and on the women's side, I am picking Rachel Homan.
00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:17.359
I think uh in true Rachel fashion, usually a loss only invigorates her to play harder, and I think that's what's gonna be what happens to the rest of this event.
00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:20.880
So on the women's side, I'm picking Rachel Holman and on the men's, Yannick Schwaller.
00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.720
How about uh how about you, Norm?
00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:24.559
Uh uh, thank you.
00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:29.359
Uh weird to see you pick the number one men's team in the world and the former number one women's team in the world.
00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.880
Way to go on a limb there, Chris.
00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:37.440
Um, for the men, for the men's, I will pick uh the newly formed team Hardy.
00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:41.839
Uh that, of course, would be Shorty Jenkins' uh classic uh men's champion.
00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:43.119
So I'll be picking them.
00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:48.240
And for the women, of course, I looked at all the results prior to coming into this and picked a 2-0 team.
00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:58.559
So I picked Anna Hasselborg, uh, defending Olympic gold medalist, who seems to be starting out the season on a lighter schedule, as as you've expected or explained from uh some of the other teams.
00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:01.039
Uh, but they're two-0, so that's who I picked.
00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:01.680
Rob.
00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:07.440
Yeah, um, for the men's, I'm gonna go with Bruce Mowit.
00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:10.160
Um, always been a longtime fan of him.
00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:14.480
And I think uh even with his team change, I think they're just gonna roll right through it.
00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:18.720
They've been on a grand slam of curling dominance path for a long time now.
00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:21.279
So um, Bruce Mowit for me.
00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:25.359
And for the women, I'm going with Canadian heavyweight Kerry Einerson.
00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.880
Wow, excellent pick there, Rob.
00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:27.920
Good choice.
00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.480
Yeah.
00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.359
All right.
00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:33.519
Well, we will check back next week to see uh who are the winners and losers amongst us.
00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:37.119
There will also be winners and losers in Victoria, but that's less important to this group.
00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:42.480
It's more important for the bragging rights amongst the three of us, whether or not our predictions are correct.
00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:46.240
All right, welcome to Coach's Corner with Rob.
00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.680
Coach's Corner.
00:30:48.079 --> 00:31:03.119
This is one of our favorite and most popularly requested segments on Extra Ends where curlers get to glimpse into the beautiful mind of tour curler Rob Ainsley with us here, and he's back this week, so we're really, really excited.
00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:10.880
Um, thanks to numerous fans asking us, we're coming back around to last week's question because they're adamant that they want Rob's opinion on this.
00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:18.799
So, Rob, the club season is is up and running now, and we're into it, uh, both at Royals and at clubs across the country.
00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:25.440
Do you have any advice for anyone who may be struggling to get back into the swing of things?
00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:31.359
Yeah, remember, you can always blame the rocks, the ice conditions, or your teammates.
00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:33.759
It's definitely not your shitty intern.
00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:38.799
And that has been Coach's Corner with Rob.
00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:42.799
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much.
00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:51.359
Please remember to like, subscribe, promote, share, pass around, tell your friends, post it at the club, tell everyone you know about extra ends.
00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.559
We appreciate it.
00:31:52.720 --> 00:32:00.720
Uh, we're heading to uh hopefully get at least one more person to listen to us this week so that we can hit a new milestone and all of us will feel really good.
00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:03.119
Um thank you very much for listening.
00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:05.519
This has been another fun week of extra ends.
00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:09.519
Uh, I'd like to thank my co hosts uh Kevin McDonald.
00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:13.440
Hi, Norm saying goodbye, and Rob Ainsley.
00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:15.119
Until next time.
00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:21.759
And for all of you out there, may your ice be fast and curly in the shed and cold and ready at the bar.
