Skip (curling)
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In curling, the skip is the captain of the team. The skip is responsible for determining strategy, and holds the broom in the house to indicate where a teammate at the other end of the curling sheet should aim the stone. The skip usually throws the last two stones in the fourth position, but the skip can play in any other position.
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[edit] Responsibilities
Overall, the skip is responsible for leading the team and giving it strategic direction.[1] The skip calls shots for his or her teammates to play[2] through verbal direction and/or physical gestures. In many cases, the skip communicates the planned trajectory of the shot by tapping his or her broom on the ice, and will motion to other stones in the playing area if they are involved in the planned shot. The skip will usually determine the required weight, turn and line of the stone, and hold the broom for the throwing player to aim at. As each stone is delivered, the skip calls the line of the shot and communicates with the sweepers as the stone travels down the sheet.[3] The skip will gauge the stone's path and call to the sweepers to sweep in order to maintain the stone's path. In most cases, the skip, playing the fourth stones, must be able to deliver these last stones comfortably, a difficult task in that the last stones are usually the most crucial to the end.[4][5] As the person throwing last stones, the skip must also have a good repertoire of shots and the ability to execute many types of shots at will.[2][4]
As the game progresses, the skip must assess different aspects of the game, such as the timing of the rocks and the characteristics of the curling sheet, and use them to decisively create the most optimal shot choices and tactics. The skip should be able to read the ice and call the game accordingly, taking into consideration the ice conditions.[6] Moreover, the skip must understand the playing style and strengths of each player on his or her team. As the captain of the team, the skip's knowledge of his or her teammates will allow the skip to call shots according to the their abilities and orient the team's strategy towards its strengths.[4] The skip must also observe the opposition's gameplay and pinpoint their strengths and weakness in order to shape his or her own team's strategy into one which places the opposition at the least advantage.[7]
[edit] Notable skips by era
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It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2012. |
[edit] 1920s
| Skip | Representing |
|---|---|
| Gordon Hudson | Canada |
| Murray Macneill | Canada |
| William K. Jackson | Scotland |
[edit] 1930s and 1940s
| Skip | Representing |
|---|---|
| Cliff Manahan | Canada |
| Ken Watson | Canada |
| Pappy Wood | Canada |
[edit] 1950s
| Skip | Representing |
|---|---|
| Matt Baldwin | Canada |
| Ernie Richardson | Canada |
| Billy Walsh | Canada |
[edit] 1960s
| Skip | Representing |
|---|---|
| Mabel DeWare | Canada |
| Hec Gervais | Canada |
| Ina Hansen | Canada |
| Joyce McKee | Canada |
| Ron Northcott | Canada |
| Ernie Richardson | Canada |
| Bud Somerville | United States |
[edit] 1970s
| Skip | Representing |
|---|---|
| Hec Gervais | Canada |
| Don Duguid | Canada |
| Ed Lukowich | Canada |
| Jack MacDuff | Canada |
| Orest Meleschuk | Canada |
| Vera Pezer | Canada |
| Bud Somerville | United States |
| Lindsay Sparkes | Canada |
[edit] 1980s
| Skip | Representing |
|---|---|
| Helena Blach Lavrsen | Denmark |
| Marilyn Bodogh | Canada |
| Kerry Burtnyk | Canada |
| Rick Folk | Canada |
| Al Hackner | Canada |
| Elisabeth Högström | Sweden |
| Heather Houston | Canada |
| Russ Howard | Canada |
| Eugene Hritzuk | Canada |
| Patrick Hürlimann | Switzerland |
| Colleen Jones | Canada |
| Anne Jøtun | Norway |
| Connie Laliberte | Canada |
| Ed Lukowich | Canada |
| Hammy McMillan | Scotland |
| Linda Moore | Canada |
| Anette Norberg | Sweden |
| Eigil Ramsfjell | Norway |
| Pat Ryan | Canada |
| David Smith | Scotland |
| Bernie Sparkes | Canada |
| Pat Sanders | Canada |
| Andrea Schöpp | Germany |
| Ed Werenich | Canada |
[edit] 1990s
| Skip | Representing |
|---|---|
| Scott Baird | United States |
| Cheryl Bernard | Canada |
| Helena Blach Lavrsen | Denmark |
| Marilyn Bodogh | Canada |
| Maureen Bonar | Canada |
| Kerry Burtnyk | Canada |
| Markus Eggler | Switzerland |
| Rick Folk | Canada |
| Alison Goring | Canada |
| Elisabet Gustafson | Sweden |
| Heidi Hanlon | Canada |
| Mike Harris | Canada |
| Guy Hemmings | Canada |
| Russ Howard | Canada |
| Patrick Hürlimann | Switzerland |
| Colleen Jones | Canada |
| Andy Kapp | Germany |
| Cathy King | Canada |
| Shannon Kleibrink | Canada |
| Connie Laliberte | Canada |
| Patti Lank | United States |
| Peja Lindholm | Sweden |
| Kevin Martin | Canada |
| Hammy McMillan | Scotland |
| Anne Merklinger | Canada |
| Wayne Middaugh | Canada |
| Gordon Muirhead | Scotland |
| Anette Norberg | Sweden |
| Dordi Nordby | Norway |
| Mirjam Ott | Switzerland |
| Vic Peters | Canada |
| Eigil Ramsfjell | Norway |
| Heather Rankin | Canada |
| Sandra Schmirler | Canada |
| Lisa Schoeneberg | United States |
| Andrea Schöpp | Germany |
| Julie Skinner | Canada |
| David Smith | Scotland |
| Warwick Smith | Scotland |
| Jeff Stoughton | Canada |
| Julie Sutton | Canada |
| Markku Uusipaavalniemi | Finland |
[edit] 2000s
[edit] 2010s
| Skip | Representing |
|---|---|
| Cheryl Bernard | Canada |
| Pete Fenson | United States |
| Amber Holland | Canada |
| Glenn Howard | Canada |
| Jennifer Jones | Canada |
| Kevin Koe | Canada |
| Kevin Martin | Canada |
| Eve Muirhead | Scotland |
| Anette Norberg | Sweden |
| Kathy O'Rourke | Canada |
| Mirjam Ott | Switzerland |
| Andrea Schöpp | Germany |
| Christof Schwaller | Switzerland |
| Rasmus Stjerne | Denmark |
| Ralph Stöckli | Switzerland |
| Thomas Ulsrud | Norway |
| Stina Viktorsson | Sweden |
| Wang Bingyu | China |
[edit] References
- ^ CurlTech. "The Skip". The Curling Manual. http://www.curlingschool.com/manual2007/Section11.html.
- ^ a b Weeks, Bob. "Curling For Dummies Cheat Sheet". http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/curling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html.
- ^ Weeks 2006, pp. 69
- ^ a b c "House Call: Skipping to Victory". Canadian Curling Association. 28 April 2011. http://www.curling.ca/2011/04/28/house-call-skipping-to-victory/.
- ^ Weeks 2006, pp. 72
- ^ Weeks 2006, pp. 73
- ^ Weeks 2006, pp. 72
- Weeks, Bob (2006). Curling for Dummies, 2nd Edition. Mississauga, Ontario: John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.. ISBN 9780470838280.
