Fit to Curl: Why fitness and curling do go together

At fittocurl.com, there’s a way to contact me via email. I’ve received some great messages — fans who encouraged my teammates and I during the Olympic Games, people who have enjoyed the book and the premise behind it, even old friends I haven’t seen in a number of years. I try to reply to them but there have been quite a few. Recently, however, I received a note that really caught my attention. It started with the Subject line that said: “The Moment When It All Paid Off” It was from Brooke Curtis, who curls out of the Churchill Curling Club in Churchill, Ontario. Here’s what she wrote: Curling for the last 15 years has taught me a lot about the game, about my skill sets, and that of my various teammates. That being said, the last year of my curling experience has been by far the most beneficial. After reading Fit to Curl, I made it my personal vendetta to get in shape for the 2010 season. While it was an uphill battle, I can say, for the first time, it has all paid off. For me, the moment was last night, after winning in a late draw game. After an exhausting and stressful day at work, fitness classes, and commuting between those two things and the club, I normally would have been spent. A year ago, I probably would have called and said I couldn’t make the late game. Last night, however, was the first time that I realized the difference Fit to Curl has made in my game. It wasn’t immediate but it’s definitely lasting. I’ve developed a routine, and with that has come an entire lifestyle change. At a time when I normally would have been exhausted and lacked mental focus, I was at the top of my game. As the game went late, it didn’t affect my strategy or the way I was playing physically. After a great win, and an even better game, it hit me; I’m there, it’s no longer an uphill battle, but an enjoyable activity in my daily life. Hats off! Thanks again, for the book, and the practical advice. Cheers, Brooke K Curtis What’s really exciting for me is the fact that Brooke has found a way to achieve both a higher fitness level and real improvement in her game. She’s not only feeling better about her shot making but she’s sensing a real positive change in her life. I’ve always said that the social side of curling is something that makes the game truly special. And I’ve always made sure that I find time to enjoy that aspect of it. But I also curl because I’m an athlete who happens to play this crazy game because it’s the one that I play better than other sports. An athletic approach to curling doesn’t have to be unusual or detract from the camaraderie that is so essential to our sport. Instead, it can help you enjoy the game even more and help you play the sport for far longer. Instead of having to give up the game because your body is no longer up to the task, you can look forward to playing it for many, many years. If you love to curl, more years of actually curling is a great incentive to make fitness a part of your approach to the sport. We often forget to tout the physical benefits of curling to people who are reluctant to try the sport. It’s time we started to make sure that people know curling can be a key component of an active, healthy lifestyle.