Mastering the Ice: The Art of Curling Surface Creation at the Winter Games in Cortina D’Ampezzo
The Winter Games in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, have brought Mark Callan, the head ice technician for curling, into the global spotlight. Known for his moonwalk-shuffle while misting the ice between matches, Callan has perfected the art of “pebbling” the ice, creating the stony surface essential for curling. Athletes rely on his pebbles to make the granite stones curl across the ice, and when they miss, he often bears the blame.
Callan’s glacial masterpiece at Cortina’s stadium involves a meticulous process that starts with water from the Dolomites. By the end of the Games, 20,000 liters of Italian water will have been purified and misted onto the four concrete slabs, creating the curling surface. The ice is layered with different-sized nozzles to produce pebbles of various sizes, with smaller ones at the bottom and larger ones on top, waiting to be worn down by players’ broom sweeps.
Each curling match shapes a unique pebble formation on the ice, influenced by players’ actions. Callan and his team monitor various factors like ice temperature, humidity, and dew point to maintain the ice quality. The task is demanding, with the ice tech team working 17 hours a day for 18 scheduled days of curling, making it the longest-running sport in the Winter Olympics.
Greg Ewasko, a Canadian ice tech, emphasizes the dedication and effort put into creating the ice for the Games. He expressed disappointment when a Canadian athlete blamed the ice conditions for their performance, highlighting the variability in ice quality. Despite the challenges, the ice techs strive to provide the best conditions for the athletes, ensuring a fair and competitive playing field.