World Curling Federation studying “Frankenbrooms”, says decision coming soon

CALGARY – The World Curling Federation says it is analyzing the impact of controversial broom heads threatening to fundamentally change the sport. The organization expects to take a firm position on them by Nov. 8.

Top Canadian and international curling teams didn’t wait for the world’s governing body of the sport to weigh in on a leap in sweeping technology that took the curling community by surprise.

Olympic gold medallists Brad Jacobs, Brad Gushue, Jennifer Jones and former world champion Glenn Howard were among 22 initial teams who signed a statement released Oct. 14, saying their teams will not sweep with brooms that have “directional fabric.”

The number of teams endorsing the statement has climbed to almost 50.

It’s a stunning position to take as many of the top teams are sponsored by curling equipment manufacturers who produce the broom heads.

Coarse material on the broom heads creates a sandpaper effect on the ice and with it, sweepers have been able to manipulate the rock’s trajectory in ways they never could before.

Fearing that throwing accuracy and athleticism would be diminished, the curlers said they want to protect “the integrity of the game” in refusing to use the brush heads.

“We recognize the world curling community is looking to the WCF for leadership on this issue,” the WCF said Friday in a statement. “The WCF is taking the time necessary to ensure sound, informed decisions are taken and we believe it is better to do this “right” than to do it fast.”

But qualifying tournaments for world championships and the 2018 Olympic Winter Games are scheduled for the upcoming weeks. The WCF says it intends to take a position on “allowable brush head technology” by Nov. 8 and prior to the Pacific-Asia Curling Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The organization that oversees 54 member countries also released Friday a “Statement of Principles Regarding Competition Equipment”.

The document did not include hard and fast rules on directional fabric, but did say sweeping should “enhance the outcome of a delivered stone within such a threshold that places the highest importance on the skill and performance of the person delivering the stone rather than an over-reliance on the effect of sweeping.”

The WCF insisted it didn’t want to discourage curlers or equipment manufacturers from pursuing technology that improved the game.

“To ensure there is not an over-reliance on technological advancements in sweeping equipment, which diminish the importance of years of athletic training and refinement of sweeping skills, the WCF monitors new equipment and new sweeping techniques,” the organization said.

“To ensure a level playing field, sweeping equipment used at WCF competitions must be commercially available and unaltered from its original manufactured design.”

Many teams who signed the statement are currently competing in Truro, N.S., in The Masters, which is one of seven events this season that make up the $1.5-million Grand Slam of Curling.

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