LINDA MOORE

OR THE next few

months, _ national

curling events will
be profiled through television
coverage by TSN and CBC.

Most curlers that watch the
best in Canada duel in ‘the
championships marvel. at the
way they handle the pressure of
the cvent and. the. ease with
which they play the game.

However, the skills displayed
by the top level participants
have been finely tuned through
months of training drills and
bonspiel and league games. Not
everyone wants to put in those
long hours of training. To im-
prove ‘their mid-season form,
most curlers can concentrate on
making their deliveries: better
by working on consistency.

No two curlers have identical
deliveries. | However, the
“best” try to deliver all their
stones in a similar manner.
That means trying to be con-
sistent in the line of delivery,
drive from the . hack and
release.

To practise consistency in
linc and weight, set: up a short
drill where you slide to 4 series
of points across the sheet. Slide
out from the hack, down ‘the
centre tine; wilhout a stone, and
see how far you go.

Then, set up three stones. at
this point (the end of your
slide): one at the centre line,
one to the left, one to the right.

Now slide. out, without. a
rock, to these stones, trying to’

be consistent in your line (slid- —

ing directly at the stone) and
the length of your slide (stop-
ping just short of the stone each
time).

If your slide is. off line, go
through a checklist involving
hack position (square to the
broom), movement of the slid-
ing foot (straight back and
straight forward) and broom
position (forward). .

Once your line seems good

without a stone, call upon a. —
teammate to hold a broom .

where the stationary ‘stones
used to be and try the same
drill releasing the stone at your
usual spot.

The Jength of the slide in-
volves the ‘feel’? of how hard
to drive from the hack. How-
ever, this feel can be developed
through repetitive drills like the
one mentioned above. As well,
you can work on feel by throw-
ing certain shots. To practise
throwing consistent draw
weight, a player can try playing
a scrics of shols in the same
line and seeing how many
stones stop in the house.

For takeouts,: have a team-
mate use a.slop watch to time
your stones from one hog-line
to the other and see how many
shots you.can throw ihat have
the same lime, and thus same
weight.

Releases... cause’ -lhe most
trouble for more experienced
players. Over the years, curlers
tend io adjust the release of the

stone for being a little off line

in their slide,
Unfortunately, this is. the
worsl response to.a poor slide

because the stone reacts very .

differently with cach release,

usually causing a missed ‘shot

and a confused skip.
Find a release that seems to
work for you and-stick with. it.

Your skip can learn. to adjust.

the broom when needed and,
gencrally, your. shots will be
more successful than when an

adjustment is made late in the:

slide,
If you try. these drilis and
you’re ‘still not’: comfortable

with your delivery, don’t be
afraid to call. upon a-qualificd ..
instructor in your. club 10 watch .
you before or after a Teague “

game.

But remember, no-one’s: ‘pers.

fect. Developing a more ‘con-

sistent delivery i is usually the oa

best answer,

OH NO, not again. CASAW's goalie could be forgiven
if that was his reaction to yet another Hoskins Ford at-
tack (above). The Smithers team launched assault
after assault in the Novice’s tourney final held here
Dec, 30 on the way to a convincing victory.

Metal meltdown

ALUMINUM MAY be used in the construction of cars, but Hos-
kins Ford of Smithers showed little respect for teams tied to
Kitimat’s smelter.

Emerging with a 2-0 record from their Novice hockey tourna-
ment pool, Hoskins knocked off Alcan in. the ‘A’ side semi be-
fore shelling CASAW — the union at the smelter — in the final
to lake the title.

The Knights took the ‘B’ final, defeating Wilkinsons while
Long’s Logging bested Copperside i in 'C’,

The Gieselman Bruins went undefeated in round robin but |
couldn’t get by CASAW, also undefeated at that point, in the

semi:

Tyler Davidson and Jeffrey Clark recorded shut-outs at. the
three day toumey here, while. hattricks were potted by Brady
Mason, Stephen Cullis, Jack Hayworth, Tyler Sheasby, Colin
Hargrove, Nik Spoor, D, Beauchamp, Travis Linton and Ryan
Stepp.

First Claim in Years?

| eee may be able to keep your discount.

New! Free
Discount Protection.

As of January 1, 1995, free Discount Protection will be given to
Autoplan customers who have kept their 40% Claim-Rated Scale
discount for more than 5 years in a row. If you qualify for free
~ Discount Protection and have an “at fault” accident, you will still
receive the full 40% discount at your next renewal. Without -
; Discount Protection you would face a significant increase in the
‘cost ‘of your insurance.

Autoplan Discount Protection is automatic and free.
A second “at fault” accident affects the Claim-Rated Scale
* discount as usual. ICBC has introduced Discount Protection to

. recognize the good driving behaviour of claim free drivers.

Ask your Autoplan broker about other Autoplan special
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