Blind curlers sweeping us off our feet
HOW THIS CURLING TEAM IN DUNDAS IS FINDING A TRUE FEEL FOR THE GAME
APPROACHED MY MEETING with the blind curlers of the Dundas Granite Curling Club — yes, blind curlers — with mild apprehension. There was perhaps even some disquietude, though not the outright trepidation I felt interviewing the blind knife-throwers of Caistor Centre (I made the last bit up).
First, there’s my colossal ignorance about the sport — yes, sport — of curling in general. Years ago I wrote, during a former Olympics, that I’d instructed my wife to grab my tongue so I wouldn’t choke on it if I lapsed into unconsciousness watching an “end” between two rinks. So mature.
Second, I worried that I’d say something sense-ist, make some unintended optical allusion, something “politically” incorrect. Like, “Did you watch the curling in the 2018 Winter Olympics?” It turns out some did — Sharon Ladd, for instance, who is partially sighted, has a special device for watching TV.
Gary mentions other terms — the hack, hog lines, guard shots, draws and takeouts. Fascinating. Still, I find myself ... wanting to talk about the beer again.
AND 2018
WAS A KIND of breakout Olympics for curling, it being the hit of the games — after the shirtless Tongan, of course.
But I needn’t have worried. The character of this highly accomplished group — an earlier version of the team won the Canadian national championships three consecutive years (2013, 2014, 2015) — is irrepressibly companionable and irreverent.
When I ask how blind curling culture differs from general curling culture, Sharon says, “They don’t drink as much beer as we do. We don’t have to worry about driving.”
Gary Saxon, retired teacher/viceprincipal, is the “mouthpiece” for the group. He’s very good, has been playing with the blind curlers here since 2005, is immediate past-president Ontario Blind Curlers Association and he explains to me how it works.
Teams are made up of B1, B2 and B3 players — completely blind (B1), one to five per cent vision (B2) and up to 10 per cent vision (B3) — and each team has a sighted guide or coach, verbally describing how things are lined up as the curlers try to “come as close as possible to what is asked for,” says Gary. Typically the lead is a B1 and the third and skip are low vision.
There are the 12-foot, eight-foot and four-foot rings. Numbers indicate zones along the surface, 1 to 3 for free guard zone, 4 to 6 for the rings in front of the tee line, and 7 being the “button.”
Gary mentions other terms — the hack, hog lines, guard shots, draws and takeouts. Fascinating. Still, I find myself, a non-curler, wanting to talk about the beer again.
But later we’re out onto the ice (it’s called the “sheet”), me with “grippers” on my shoes, the players playing, and it all becomes clear. Their prowess at getting the rock up to the house is truly impressive.
“The hardest part is judging how hard a weight to put on the rock,” says Eric Bourgeois (B1), the newest player, having joined November 2017.
“I’m the baby. I have a friend who curls in London and he said, ‘Wanna come?’ I said, ‘Sure.’” He fell in love instantly and found the local group.
Joy Mayer has been doing blind curling since 1997. “I love just being out, the fellowship.”
“I jumped right into the deep end.”
Joy Mayer, B2, has been doing blind curling since 1997. “I love just being out, the fellowship.”
That feeling seems universal in this group. Sharon (B3) is another of the younger players and she’s distinguished herself, recently becoming skip-in-training.
They call her SL, she says. Yes, her initials — Sharon Ladd. “No, S - - Luck.”
If there’s a model of achievement, it’s Gary. He had 10 per cent vision at birth, but lost all of it.
“I was blessed with parents who encouraged me to go forth.”
Over the years, he’s rowed, golfed, bowled, played high school football. “I was the centre.”
“There’s not a thing we can’t do,” says Gary, putting the rock right on the “button,” as it were. “We just do it differently.”
Big thanks to Gary, Sharon, Eric, Joy, Keith Doyle, Murdy Campbell, (Steven Reavley and Bill Harrison weren’t there but are team members), and guides/coaches Phil Howarth, Bill Malcolmson, Laurie Gunderman and Darlene Woods for a lovely afternoon on the “sheet.”
To join (they’re always recruiting) or learn more, call 905-628-8221.