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8/11/2008

Post Pacific's 2008 - What now....

The Pacific Championships for 2008 are now concluded for both the Australian Men and Women.

I want to give a summary of where the Australian Men's Team now stands.

With our long term goal of qualifying Australia for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, this tournament was effectively one of the ways to almost guarantee a spot for Australia if we finished in the top 2.

After the round robin - we finished in 5th place with a record of 4 wins and 6 losses. We were hoping this record would be good enough to get into the playoffs and keep our hopes alive. But, with China losing their last game to Japan, this put Japan in 4th place by themselves, and eliminating us from the tournament.

As I write this, China has now won their Semi-final series against New Zealand and has qualified for the 2009 World Championships.

Korea has one final game against Japan later tonight to determine the second team to qualify for the Worlds. You can view the results of the tournament at http://www.curling.co.nz/results.html

So where does this leave Australia in the Olympic qualification? Well, we are currently still in 9th place out of 10 qualification spots. China is currently in 10th place, 1 point behind us. Just by going to the Worlds and if they didn't even win a game, China would get 1 more point to tie us. But, there is a rule that if two countries are tied for points, the country that achieved the points later would be considered higher ranked. Just by qualifying for the World Championships, China has effectively now put us in 10th place and them in 9th.

So the scenario for Australia to qualify for Vancouver 2010 means that no other country can pass us in Olympic Qualification Points. There is many ways that this could happen - but the countries well placed are:

Denmark - who are currently in 11th place. To qualify for the Olympics, Denmark needs to finish in the top 8 of the European Championships to qualify for the World Championships, and then finish 10th or higher.

Finland - who are in 12th place. To qualify for the Olympics, Finland needs to win the B Pool of the European Championships, then win a challenge to the 8th place team from European Championships to qualify for the World Championships, and then finish 9th or higher at the Worlds.

There are some other scenarios too such as if Korea or the Czech Republic win a medal at the Worlds they can pass Australia in qualification points.

So, for us, we now need to wait until the World Championships are finished in April to see if we have earned an Olympic spot.

The Olympic qualification summary for countries is found on the WCF site at http://www.worldcurling.net/content/view/393/85/

Cheers
<Ian Palangio>

Posted at 3:25 PM by Ian Palangio | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

5/11/2008

There is a Lot of Weather in New Zealand

As I write this post from Naseby, New Zealand in early summer, it is hailing. See below.

Two days ago it was 28 degrees Celsius and we were all wearing shorts - the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. We all complained we had too much clothing. Then it rained a couple of hours later.

After a 25 degree day yesterday, we woke up at 6am to 5 cms of snow this morning. And it continued to snow until noon. See below.

Also, interesting to note that we do indeed have a great peeler on the team. In our last game against Japan, Sean Hall had 14 shots in 7 ends. 13 of those were peels (with one board weight shot) and he made every one of them. So, with having such a great peeler on the team, Sean was also tasked with peeling the onions, carrots and potatoes for dinner :)

Cheers
<Ian Palangio>

Posted at 5:00 PM by Ian Palangio | Category: Pacific Championships | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

2/11/2008

Stating the Obvious

On the walk to the arena this afternoon for our game against Japan, I noticed this roadsign. It made me laugh a little.

Cheers

Posted at 8:40 PM by Ian Palangio | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

1/11/2008

Home Comforts While On The Road

With the Pacific's happening in New Zealand this year, it is a reasonably short trip for us to travel - compared to other venues such as Beijing, Chuncheon, or Tokyo. This allows us to bring some comforts from home such as:

Electric toothbrushes;
Projector to watch videos in big screen style on the wall;
Steve's favourite coffee maker; and
Our own Spa. Yes - we brought one.

In January this year we travelled to Karuizwawa, Japan for their International Tournament and we really enjoyed the natural hot springs they have in the area. Since Karuizawa is on the side of a volcano, there is several natural hot springs around, and we really liked using them to limber up in the morning, and help us relax and stretch at night.

In fact... it was so good that Hugh decided to bring an inflatable portable spa to the Pacific's this year for the same use, and set it up on the huge deck at our rented house. After checking 123kg between Hugh and I on the flight (sorry Air New Zealand) we got it here, and had the first spa tonight. Fun.

And speaking of having fun, below is a picture of Sean having some fun outside the Aucshen Hotel and Deli in Basel Switzerland.

Cheers

Posted at 6:42 PM by Ian Palangio | Category: Pacific Championships | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

Aussie National Ice Sports Centre Announced

I received some exciting news from the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia yesterday in their regular newsletter. I'll include the entire contents below. While this announcement does promise a 2 rink arena, there is no mention of dedicated curling ice. But, this facility could provide a fantastic venue to host curling tournaments such as the National Championships, Pacific Championships or even a World Championships for Mixed Doubles or Seniors perhaps. Of course, to host these events the ice would need to be converted to curling ice before the tournament begins.

Cheers

Victorian Sport and Recreation Minister James Merlino, ING Real Estate Development Australia Chief Executive Officer Greg Boyd, OWIA Chairman Geoff Henke and Ice Sports Australia project
consultant Andrew Shelton armed with hockey sticks on the site of the National Ice Sports Centre.

Gigantic boost for ice sports
30 October 2008

An exciting new chapter in winter sports opened this week with the announcement that a National Ice Sports Centre is to be established in Melbourne.

The two-rink complex, funded jointly by the Victorian State Government and real estate developer ING, will be situated in Melbourne’s Docklands area adjacent to Harbour Town shopping centre and the Southern Star Observation Wheel.

Scheduled to open in early 2010, the NISC will also become the home of the Olympic Winter Institute.

OWI Chairman Geoff Henke (second from right, with from left, Victorian Sport and Recreation Minister James Merlino, ING Real Estate Chief Executive Officer Greg Boyd and Ice Sports Australia project consultant Andrew Shelton) said the National Ice Sports Centre was a first for Australia.

“It’s a brilliant concept that gives new life to the long tradition of ice sports in Melbourne,” he said.

“It will be the cornerstone of national excellence, producing future Olympic champions.”

Victorian Sport and Recreation Minister James Merlino said the Brumby Government would contribute $10 million towards the National Ice Sports Centre, which will be the first of its kind in Australia.

“The $58 million National Ice Sports Centre will be a world-class facility and complement Victoria’s elite network of sporting facilities and precincts that help make Melbourne the best sporting events city in the world,’’ Mr Merlino said.

“The National Ice Sports Centre will feature two rinks with spectator seating and be equipped to host national and international ice hockey, ice skating, curling and speed skating events.

AOC President John Coates believes the new centre will “make Australia a world power in ice sports”.

“The facility will have a dramatic impact on our Olympic Winter sports with athletes able to train fulltime in a world class facility - it is wonderful news,” Coates said.

“We have won Olympic medals in short track speed skating, notably Steven Bradbury’s gold in 2002, and this initiative will encourage more young Australians to get involved in speed skating, ice dancing, hockey and curling.”

The establishment of the National Ice Sports Centre is the culmination of a long campaign by OWI chairman Geoff Henke and Andrew Shelton, the project consultant from Ice Sports Australia.

That it has come to fruition is testimony to the countless hours and unrelenting persistence that both men devoted to the project.

John Coates paid tribute to Henke’s vision.

“Geoff has been the driving force behind this project, he deserves special recognition for his determination to see the Ice Centre become a reality.”

As well as the two ice rinks – that will for the first time in Australia provide public access simultaneously with ice sports competition and training – the Centre will have a fully equipped gymnasium that will be available to OWI scholarship athletes.

Construction of the National Ice Sports Centre is scheduled to begin in early 2009.

Posted at 1:21 PM by Ian Palangio | Category: Curling General | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

Pacific Curling Championships: Day 2 becomes Day 1

Today, Saturday November 1st was meant to the be practice day for the Pacific's with each team getting 2 hours of practice time on the sheets.

However, somebody this year dressed up as Murphy for Halloween. Overnight the ice-compressor at the Curling Club in Naseby did not turn off. The ice in the morning was super cold at around -15 degrees. Normal curling ice at Naseby is about -4.7 degrees.

Because of the fast and radical temperature change - the ice literally shattered. So, it will take another 24 hours for the ice technicians to re-flood the ice, and prepare it again.

This means that Practice is now shortened to 1 hour, and will happen early in the morning tomorrow (Sunday), followed by our first two games. It will be a long day - but will be for all teams.

In the meantime - we'll enjoy our extra day off, and watch some movies back at our lodge.

Cheers
<Ian Palangio>

Posted at 1:11 PM by Ian Palangio | Category: Pacific Championships | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

30/10/2008

Dry Land (Non Ice) Curling

I had a conversation with "Rob" here in Australia about options of curling on a non-ice surface. He has some mates who are engineers and figure they can have a crack at it for playing in a parking lot. We'll see if they come up with anything new.

But, this off-ice solution has already been invented, and also been pitched on the CBC's show The Dragon's Den.

Another system, the Dry-Land Curling Simulation System seems to be the most advanced ... however there isn't many details on the web site about how it actually works. I believe that only a rock on ice will actually curl in the direction intended - as I covered earlier. What I find interesting is that he has also devised a way to slide on ball bearings somehow, and called it the Land Slider.

I think the most practical device this site mentions for curling is the Hack Rack. This is a set of hacks that are temporary - and are required when not playing on dedicated curling ice. They are set on a metal rack with small metal pins - when you place this on the ice it will melt a little bit and then freeze into the ice.

If we get curling going in Sydney - we'll need at least 4 hacks like the Hack Rack to get the games going on hockey ice.

Cheers
<Ian Palangio>

Posted at 2:09 PM by Ian Palangio | Category: Curling General | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

28/10/2008

Juniors Off To Harbin 2009

This blog entry is written by guest writer Madeleine Wilson about their preparation for the Junior Pacific Curling Championships in January. Good luck girls! Cheers <Ian>

The Junior Women's Team is preparing for the Junior Pacific Curling Championships and we have just finished their league competition in Queensland ranked 5th.

The tournament is in Harbin, China - which is the Winter Olympic Training city for China, and where the China Men's and Women's team are based out of.

Our team - Kirby, Victoria, Madeleine, Kelsey, and Emma are excited to represent Australia in Curling.

Posted at 4:06 PM by Ian Palangio | Category: Pacific Championships | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

Pacific Curling Championships

For those of you looking for results of the Pacific's, they are being played in Naseby, New Zealand. The event, draw and results can be found on the New Zealand Curling Association website: http://www.curling.co.nz/

New Zealand's first International Curling Rink in Naseby, Maniototo, Central Otago, New Zealand

I will also try to update this blog with scores, results and stories from the event. There is very little Internet availability in Naseby, so I can't guarantee that I will be timely.

Cheers
<Ian Palangio

Posted at 3:47 PM by Ian Palangio | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

19/09/2008

Australia "B" Wins NZ Doubles Tournament

The weekend of Sept 12th saw members of the Australian Men's Team travel to New Zealand to compete in their Open Doubles tournament.

Because it's a doubles format with only two players per team, we needed to split the team up. Hugh Millikin and I teamed up to be Australia "A". Steve Johns and former Rock Wallaby John Theriault teamed up as Australia "B".

It was a fortunate/unfortunate situation when we played each other in the semi-final which would send one of us packing early. In a tightly fought and high scoring game Australia "B" won the game 10-8 putting them in the final against local sibling team of Sean Becker and Bridget Becker.

Australia "B" managed to hold on for the win 8-7 with the Becker team putting a lot of pressure on them to score at all in the final end. John Theriault made the shot of the weekend with a run back double takeout to leave the possibility for Steve Johns to win the game on his last rock. With nerves of steel, Steve Johns executed the final shot for the win in front of a sizeable local crowd.

Well done guys, attached below is a paper clipping from the Central Otago Times covering your great result in your first Doubles Tournament.