Elite Curling Isn’t What People Think
I think when people imagine elite curling, they often picture athletes who seem fairly unathletic and don’t need to be especially fit to compete. While that may have been true 20 or so years ago, the sport has evolved significantly since then. Today, curlers are just as athletic as competitors in many other sports. Athletes are getting bigger and stronger, especially as sweeping has become more and more important to the outcome of games.
For us, curling is a full lifestyle commitment. We train or practice every single day with the goal of becoming the best athletes possible for our sport. Most weekdays start early, either with a 6 am conditioning session with our trainer or a 7 am practice at the curling club before heading home to clock into work. On weekends, we usually have longer practice sessions with the full team and our coach, along with sports psychology sessions and team meetings to prepare for the weeks ahead.
It’s a lot of hard work. Most days, the last thing I want to do is step outside into negative-degree Minnesota weather at 5 am to go to the gym. But it’s a commitment that I and all my teammates have made in pursuit of greatness in our sport.
All of that physical work is only part of the picture.
Staying Focused When Every Shot Matters
Competition days and long stretches of training both come with their own mental challenges. On competition days, a lot of the mental struggle comes from the pressure of the moment or the pressure you place on yourself. For example, at the December qualifying event, we knew that if we didn’t win, then the Trials we’d won in November would’ve been for nothing. That reality added a lot of weight to every shot. What helped me in that moment was focusing on the game itself and taking everything one shot at a time, instead of worrying about the final outcome.
Long training stretches present a different kind of mental challenge. Finding the motivation to keep putting in the work when I feel like I have plateaued or stopped making progress can be a major mental block. In those moments, I try to remind myself to trust the process. At the very least, simply showing up to the gym and committing to the session helps build my work ethic, which will pay off over time.
Motivation isn’t going to be there every single day. But if you show up often enough, it becomes a habit. At that point, you stop relying on motivation and instead lean on routine and consistency to keep moving forward.
That mental discipline doesn’t stop when training ends.
The Cost of Showing Up Every Day
Balancing training with my work and personal life often requires sacrifices. For example, I’m not naturally a morning person. I used to be a night owl who stayed up late hanging out with friends. With my current training schedule, however, I have learned to be in bed by 8:30 pm so I can wake up at 5 am, give my full effort in a workout or practice session, and still show up present and alert when I clock into work after getting home. Over time, going to bed early so consistently has almost forced me into becoming a morning person through repetition and routine.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Jerry Rice: "Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can do what others can't.” If I can look back on my day, workout, or practice session and honestly feel that I put in the maximum effort possible, then I consider it a success.
All of those choices lead to moments like the one ahead.
Ready for the World Stage
Looking ahead to February, my focus is on performing to the best of my ability in Italy. I’m doing everything I can to arrive as prepared as possible. While these next few weeks may not drastically change my play, I know the work I’ve put in over the past ten years has more than prepared us for this moment. I hope people see our performance not as a fluke, but as the result of countless hours of dedication to our craft.
If you missed Part 1 of Ben’s journey to the world stage, catch up here.