Full Transcript for S1E6 - Technical Difficulties

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.