As two of the finest icemakers in the world, Hans Wuthrich and his partner Dave Merklinger take great pride in their abilities to create the perfect playing surface for the top curlers on the globe.
Wuthrich is also sick of hearing criticism from competitors regarding the rocks thrown on said ice, thank you very much.
There were plenty of groans regarding the stones used at the recent Brier in Edmonton, much of it from Alberta champion Kevin Martin, who was still cursing the granite this past weekend while playing at the Victoria Curling Classic.
Those same rocks will be in play when the 2013 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship begins with an afternoon draw on Saturday.
“How do you figure that with the highest percentages [recorded at a Brier event] ever?” Wuthrich said of the complaints regarding the rocks, which were purchased from Scotland and made to the same specifications of the stones used at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, which Martin won.
The problem may have been these have been seldom used, broken in at the 2013 Canadian juniors.
“They’re brand new and there was some squabbling about the stones at the Brier so we re-matched them all,” Wuthrich said of partnering up rocks for certain sheets. “We started with that and then we officially got the arena at midnight on Saturday and started working.”
The ice — which will swing between four and five feet and run between 24 and 25 seconds as set as a guideline by the World Curling Association — will be ready to play by Thursday evening’s test run.
“This facility is excellent, a good ice plant and a nice level floor. I think there should be no problems,” Wuthrich — who also made the ice here for the 2005 Worlds — said of preparing this year’s international event.
He was busy with his first floods on Monday after levelling the surface and his crew will build up what will ultimately be a 3/4-inch surface over the hockey ice underneath (another 3/4 of an inch).
“He’s the leading icemaker in the world and we’re fortunate that he is here making the ice for the Worlds,” said Mark Stefanson, who is assisting with media relations.
The fact is, the World Curling Association hand picks who will make the ice for its international events, and Wuthrich, of Gimli, Manitoba, and Merklinger (of the Royal City club in New Westminster) were no-brainers.
“They work as a team very often and it’s not by accident that we’ll have some of the best curling ice on the planet available next week,” said Chris Atchison, a co-chairman with Keith Dagg.
As for the event itself, Dagg can’t wait.
“It’s here on Saturday and the opening ceremonies are at 12 noon, so we want lots of people to come out for that,” said Dagg. “And the opening draw is Canada versus China, so we’re hoping for a full house.”
