Marathon Curling Club: Preparing To Rock The House
By Colin Reid, Marathon Curling Club
One side flooded (Oct.31) at the Marathon Curling Club. Photo courtesy Colin Reid
MARATHON, ON– Since our 4 sheet curling club was built in 1948 (the first ice went in that December), it is one of the older clubs on the Northshore. Originally, the ice curled on was “natural” ice that was created on a sand base (instead of the more popular concrete pad as is seen in newer clubs). I believe that the club got an artificial ice plant installed in the late 1960’s that is in use today (although a sand base is still used).
The steps involved to put the ice in from scratch each fall are:
- level the sand base (an area of about 8,500 square feet)
- soak the sand with a spray boom
- freeze the base by turning on the ice plant compressor (pipes from the compressor lay under the sand base)
- heaters and humidifiers are turned on and set to avoid frost forming on the ice surface
- mist the base surface with a spray boom (6-7 repetitions) to build up the base
- hose flood the surface (4-5 repetitions) to level the surface
- seal the surface with specially treated water (known as JetIce water) and then paint white.
- seal the painted surface and put in lines, logos and rings
- this is the only step that is done by paid professionals (who do the same thing for many clubs in Northern Ontario)
- seal the surface again (with JetIce water) followed by 2-3 more leveling floods (the result is the picture above)
- final scrape of the ice and pebble
- ice is done, TIME FOR CURLING !!
This process takes about 2 weeks at our club because it is an older building and we have the sand base (instead of a more modern concrete pad). The only paid labour is the two professionals that put in the rings and lines – the rest of the work is done by 4-8 volunteers that are members of the club. All this ice work is supervised (and done mostly) by a club member named Willy Searson who has been involved in the job for 12 years and is also a certified Curling Ice Technician. Willy often is involved in the ice making efforts for other clubs that host major events for curling in Northern Ontario. I really don’t know how the Marathon Curling Club would survive without Willy’s efforts every year. Currently, the club has a competitive league with 14 teams (both men and women) and a junior curling program with about 15 kids between the ages of 10 to 17. The club is always available for rental of the ice and club facilities for fun bonspiels or just private parties.
FAST FACTS
- Volunteer Colin Reid is the Marathon Curling Club’s Junior Curling Coordinator (executive member). It is his first year in the role having returned to retire in Marathon in July.
- The Marathon Curling Club operates independently from the town and its rec department, but works closely with both with members crediting the town for many ways it supports the club.
