Being centre of attention at the Winter Olympics in northern Italy is a long way from an ice rink in Aberfoyle, where Callan had his first experience of curling at Forest Hills having been intrigued by seeing the sport on television.
That rink no longer exists, but Callan’s memories remain vivid. Mainly of him falling over a lot.
He kept going back, though, and one day curiosity got the better of him when he noticed someone pebbling the ice. “They explained what was going on and I wanted to learn more… and now I’m here.”
So what actually is going on? And why the moonwalk?
Callan explains that he wears a gravity-fed backpack containing 15 litres of water, and his job is to sprinkle the ice with water droplets of different sizes. Those freeze almost immediately and are only removed by the furious sweeping of the players’ brushes.
The “sharp steps” – as he calls them – are to keep him balanced on the slippy surface and ensure the spread of water is as even as possible.
Callan has been at the rink in Italy since mid-January, having arrived at his fourth Olympics to find “a concrete floor and contractors everywhere” in what is usually an ice hockey venue.
The quirky Cortina Curling Stadium used to be an open-air arena – hosting the 1956 Games – and, although a roof has since been added as part of the renovations, many of the original features remain, such as the wooden bleachers.
All that makes controlling the ice a particular challenge for Callan and his small team but the reception from players and fans alike has been warm.
“I think the word iconic is used a lot, and with the real mix of old and new, it’s just a phenomenal venue,” he says. “And it looks really good on TV as well.”
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