Curling Canada CEO Addresses Broom Technology Concerns Ahead of National Championship

Curling Canada's chief executive officer has reassured athletes competing in the upcoming men's and women's national championships that no one is cheating.

Tension regarding broom technology has resurfaced as teams in Canada and worldwide prepare for the Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, next year.

The World Curling Federation (WCF) recently declared that approved equipment adheres to the rules and will continue to be used during competitions, which contradicts the views of some curlers who consistently test their brooms in competition.

Several of the world's top 30 teams released a joint "proposal for fair play" earlier this month, expressing concerns over the foam firmness in some manufacturers' broom heads potentially exerting excessive influence over the trajectory of a delivered stone.

The WCF stated that its latest testing data indicates that all approved products fall within the regulations.

This issue created visible tension at the recent Grand Slam of Curling's WFG Masters in Guelph, Ontario. John Epping, who did not sign the statement, expressed feeling pressured to make last-minute changes to his equipment, even though his team's brooms conformed to the rules.

"I wish it wasn't happening in the middle of a curling season, but it is, and that's why we're going to have to navigate it as we go," Nolan Thiessen, Curling Canada’s CEO, stated in Calgary.

Thiessen added, "I don't think we're in a situation where we can do something that World Curling can't."

The controversy is reminiscent of the original "Broomgate" in 2015 when "directional fabric" significantly affected rock movement and was eventually banned.

Curlers are keen to maintain the sport's focus on skill, yet this moment has expedited changes within the sport.

Brushing has become increasingly critical due to advancements in sweeping techniques, broom technology, and athlete fitness.

Reid Carruthers, a Manitoba curler, noted, "I've done enough testing with different brooms to realize that some are more effective than others. For me, I'm preparing for BroomGate 2.0 because it seems like we're headed in that direction."

Carruthers expressed hope for a resolution that wouldn't foster mistrust among teams, reflecting on past experiences where tensions escalated.

"There was a bit of that already in Guelph. You could tell that certain teams were upset with how things were handled, and it's unfortunate that we're not being protected by the decision-makers," he said.

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ontario, from February 14-23, and the Montana's Brier in Kelowna, British Columbia, from February 28 to March 9, will determine Canada's representatives at the world championships and serve as qualifiers for the Olympic trials in Halifax this November.

Thiessen mentioned, "For these championships, we will adhere to World Curling's rules and specifications." He emphasized the importance of discussions with athletes to prevent accusations of unfair practices.

"Look, they're using approved products. Nobody is cheating. We must ensure that everyone understands that if a product is approved, it is permissible to use," Thiessen stated.

Thiessen and David Murdoch, Curling Canada's high-performance director and a former world curling champion, view the situation as a growing pain in the sport's evolution.

"This probably highlights the fact of where curling is going. It's becoming more professional, with increased innovation from manufacturers," Murdoch remarked.

He noted that while athletes have adapted and strengthened their techniques, the demand for better equipment has continued until the current situation arose.

Thiessen compared this phenomenon to golf, where advancements often lead to debates about whether innovations have gone too far.