1999 Brier
SLAM! Sports
SLAM! Curling
1999 BRIER
ON THE ROCKS
INTERACTIVE
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Salvaging the big chill
Icemakers spring into action after computer malfunction
There've been plenty of trees killed over the years writing stories about ice conditions at curling championships.
Likely the worst conditions anybody had to play on were at the 1989 world championships in Milwaukee.
When the television lights came on for the first draw, the heat was so intense that water was standing on the playing surface.
Pat Ryan lost to German skip Roland Jentsch, who afterwards said: "It wasn't too bad. We're used to that type of ice, playing outdoors as often as we do.''
Most of the recent ice problems at Briers have been caused by varying humidity and wildly swinging outdoor temperatures, like the 1995 Halifax Brier.
Even at this year's Scott Tournament of Hearts in Charlottetown, humidity played a part in causing a heavy frost buildup and creating havoc with last-rock draw weight until the skips figured out the fudge.
This Brier avoided those types of situations. Because of humidity levels lower than the Sahara Desert, the only frost you'll see here has been cast in the direction of some overly aggressive Romeos in the Brier Patch.
So, it came as a bit of surprise that modern technology played a part in what could have been one of the wackiest ice controversies in Brier history.
A computer malfunction in the ice plant overnight threatened a meltdown yesterday. According to Northlands Park GM and chief operating officer Al Skoreyko, it was the first time in the 24-year history of the building that it happened.
But thanks to some quick work a potential catastrophe was avoided.
Sure, the morning draw started 50 minutes late. And, there may have been a head start on a few more ulcers.
But by the end of the morning draw, everything was back to normal.
"It was fantastic out there,'' said Saskatchewan's Gerald Shymko. "Credit to the icekeepers. They had a little problem with the plant and we had a little bit of a delay, but the ice was just as good as it was on Day 1. We weren't worried about it at all. The guys know what they're doing out here.''
Shymko, like the rest of the curlers out there, preferred to treat the incident with a bit of humour.
"An extra hour's sleep would have been all right,'' said Shymko. "Something tells me they're going to have somebody sleeping here for 24 hours a day to make sure this doesn't happen again. Somebody's going to be on the night shift now. It's really important. The icemakers do so much work at putting in the ice here and making it so super, it would be a shame if something happened.''
And if it did?
"Hey, we might have a day off,'' said Shymko.
Alberta's Ken Hunka went through ice-plant situations when he was manager of the Shamrock club.
"It wasn't anything you couldn't play on,'' said Hunka. "Both teams handled it pretty well. When I heard the plant went down, I had a look and it didn't look too bad. When the plant goes out and you walk in, it gets pretty shiny with water on top. I guess they did have a bit of water, but they did a heck of a job getting it ready for us.''
Bert Gretzinger of B.C. also praised the work of the icemakers in getting matters under control. In a way, he was actually happy his game was delayed for a while. It gave him a chance to grab a bit of breakfast.
"I'm kind of thankful I got the chance to get a couple of doughnuts and a cup of coffee,'' said Gretzinger. "I kind of slept in this morning, so that was OK.
"You've got to wonder when something like that happens. We didn't have first practice, so we watched Kenny. The speed was about the same. We were getting a little slower times. But you can't always go by the clock. Sometimes, you have to go by the feel.''
By the time the first draw started, the ice temperature was close to normal. By afternoon, it was back to the way it was earlier in the week.
Another crisis averted.