You Can Learn How To Curl In Charlotte
It’s a little like shuffleboard, a bit like bocce, and a whole lot of addictive. Curling is back at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and I’m hooked all over again. Before the Opening Ceremonies even took place, I was already watching the early rounds.
Olympic Curling: The Rules And When You Can Watch
If you’ve been curious about this growing sport, you have a couple of chances to get on the ice and try it yourself this month. The Charlotte Curling Association (6525 Old Statesville Road) invites you to explore curling at one of their upcoming open houses. You might even get to meet the 2021 US Men’s National Championship team and Gold Medalist Joe Polo. Here are the details:
Open House/Throw-A-Rock: Sat., Feb. 12 – 11 am-2 pm
- Free admission to visit the facility. Generously-priced full bar featuring local craft beer. The C&J Chicken Fish and More Food Truck will be serving lunch. And of course, the Winter Olympics will be on TV. Want to get out on the ice? For $10 guests receive a short on-ice session, learning to sweep and throwing two rocks. Charlotte Curling Association members will be there to explain the sport.
Open House/Throw-A-Rock with Curl & Meet: Sat., Feb. 19 – 1 pm-4 pm
- Same as above except the Skyview 22 Food Truck will be on site and there’s a “Curl & Meet.” The 2021 US Men’s National Championship team, led by Korey Dropkin, and 2018 Olympic Gold Medalist Joe Polo will be visiting. Yes, Joe will have his medal with him.
If you’re interested in a full curling lesson, check out the two-hour Learn To Curl events at CharlotteCurling.com. The Charlotte Curling Association is a great place and their members are very hospitable. Mel and I had the opportunity to take a crash course in curling there four years ago. Well, I crashed. Mel managed to stay on her feet. You can see the full video HERE.
25 Vintage Photos of the First Winter Olympic Games
Delegates gather for the opening ceremony
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In this photo, delegates from competing nations gather on Jan. 25, 1924, in front of the Saint-Michel Church and Hotel de Ville for the opening ceremony of the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France. The first-ever games, aptly held in the French Alps, were originally pegged as “International Winter Sports Week.”
Italian athletes at the inaugural parade
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Italian athletes stand proudly while attending the inaugural parade on Feb. 10, 1924. Italy sent 23 men to compete in four sports; the athletes didn’t win any medals. Italy has hosted two Winter Olympics: the 1956 Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo and the 2006 Winter Games in Turin. The country is slated to host again for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
A pledge to sportsmanship
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French athletes are seen taking the pledge to participate in the games with integrity during the 1924 Winter Olympics opening.
American skaters practice
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A group of American speed skaters preparing for competition at the 1924 Winter Games. Five all-male speed skating events were held.
10,000-meter speed skate commences
DE AGOSTINI PICTURE LIBRARY // Getty Images
Spectators gather in anticipation at the beginning of the 10,000-meter speed skating competition at the Winter Games.
500-meter speed skate
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Speed skater Charles Jewtraw represented the United States in the men’s 500-meter speed skating competition.
First American winter Olympian
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Charles Jewtraw became the first American speed skater to score a gold medal, winning the 500-meter speed skating competition at the Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Jewtraw’s historic win set the American record and in 1963 the Olympian was inducted into the National Speedskating Hall of Fame in Chicago.
Ladies’ singles figure skating
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Eleven-year-old Norwegian actress and figure skater Sonja Henie competes in the ladies singles figure skating competition at the Stade Olympique. Henie previously won the senior Norwegian championships at the age of 10.
Women’s figure skating
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Austrian figure skater Herma Planck-Szabo glides to victory, winning the gold medal in ladies’ singles. Planck-Szabo was a powerhouse in the figure skating scene during the 1920s, having won five world titles.
Doubles figure skating
Agence Roi // Wikimedia Commons
Belgian figure skaters Georgette Herbos and Georges Wagemans glide in the rink together.
Skaters pose for a group photo
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Figure skaters Herma Planck-Szabo of Austria (winning gold), Beatrix Loughran of the United States (winning silver), and Ethel Muckelt of Britain (winning bronze) pose for a photo together on Jan. 30, 1924.
Ready for play
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Members of the U.S. Olympic hockey team take a moment to take photos before training. The American team was triumphant in their first match against France.
American hockey practice
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In this photo, Alphonse Albert Lacroix, the goalkeeper for the American hockey team, is seen training for the 1924 Winter Games.
Final Winter Olympics hockey match
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In this photo, the Canadian team lands a victorious win over the American team in the final Olympic hockey match.
Canadian team scores
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Canada’s Toronto Granites ice hockey team makes their final score, securing a victory over the United States in the final 6-1 to take home the gold medal.
A winning team
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Canada’s men’s ice hockey team stands tall and proud after winning gold.
Getting into position
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In this shot, the Olympians take to the bobsled track, Piste de Bobsleigh des Pellerins, the starting post specifically constructed for the 1924 Winter Games.
Swiss bobsled team
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The Swiss bobsled team makes their way to winning the first-ever gold medal for the four-man event.
British team takes a turn
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The four-man British bobsled team—comprised of Alexander Richardson, Ralph Broome, Thomas Arnold, and Rodney Soher—sleigh on to winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games.
British curlers
Agence Roi // Wikimedia Commons
The British curling team won gold at the first curling event; Sweden took silver and France took the bronze medal.
Readying for the 18-kilometer cross-country
Agence Roi // Wikimedia Commons
Czech cross-country skier Štěpán Hevák prepares to compete in the men’s 18-kilometer event.
Chamonix’s ski jump
Agence Roi // Wikimedia Commons
Attendees take in the mountain view during the 1924 Winter Olympics.
Nordic combined takeoff
Agence Roi // Wikimedia Commons
Czechoslovak skier Josef Bím came in 13th place in the Nordic combined event and 26th in the ski jumping competition.
Norwegian ski jumpers
Agence Roi // Wikimedia Commons
Seen in this photo are Norwegian Olympians Jacob Tullin Thams, who won the first gold in ski jumping; Narve Bonna, who won the first silver medal in ski jumping; and Einar Lanvik, who placed fifth.
First ski jumping gold medalist in action
Topical Press/Hulton Archive // Getty Images
Jacob Tullin Thams soars through the air, attracting dozens of onlookers as he competes on Feb. 4, 1924. The Norwegian athlete, who won the first Olympic gold medal in ski jumping, is captured here using a technique he created called the Kongsberger, which is still widely used in the sport today.
