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Observer
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2016
Location: River Falls, WI, USA
Posts: 445 |
Whither US Open?
Over the last month or two the list of entered teams on the women’s side of the US Open in Blaine at the end of December has been getting smaller and smaller. Now the link on the women’s schedule is completely gone. I guess this means they’ve cancelled it?
What went wrong here? Why did the field erode so badly to the point it’s not happening at all?
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12-08-18 12:40PM |
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curllaw
Knee-Slider
Registered: Dec 2018
Location:
Posts: 3 |
U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is an event that has had success for several years and has been growing and growing. It has attracted top teams in the U.S. and Canada. This year, however, the High Performance Program within USA Curling has decided to schedule a "practice" at the Chaska Curling Club that same weekend. As a result, almost all of the HPP teams have dropped out of the event - at the urging of the USCA and the HPP coaching staff.
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12-10-18 11:17AM |
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curlerbroad
Super Rockchucker
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2668 |
Two things - do curling governing bodies not check schedules first and why do the HPP curlers not say to USCA hey there's a big event for us that weekend and none of us can go. Or are they scared of being kicked out of HPP if they say that.
__________________
Well Behaved Women Don't Make History.
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12-10-18 01:13PM |
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Observer
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2016
Location: River Falls, WI, USA
Posts: 445 |
Thanks for the answer.
Now I'm wondering why the HPP seemingly has it in for the Four Seasons Curling Club in Blaine. Why did they move the Olympic training site to Chaska, and why are they clearly turning the screws further on Blaine with these schedule shenanigans?
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12-10-18 02:19PM |
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curllaw
Knee-Slider
Registered: Dec 2018
Location:
Posts: 3 |
Yes, the logical thing would be for the USCA to recognize that there's a major event that weekend, and schedule practice another time. A cynic, then, might think that maybe - just maybe - the scheduling of this practice was intentional and that there's an internal conflict between the U.S. Open and the USCA/HPP? I can't speak for any HPP athletes, but I think it's fair to assume that they feel at least some pressure to choose the practice session over the event. Kudos to any HPP teams that did not drop out.
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12-10-18 02:20PM |
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southerncurler
Swing Artist
Registered: Jan 2015
Location:
Posts: 234 |
Well, there’s a less sinister option out there as well. The US Open is during prime “vacation” time on the calendar for adults and the college/high school aged athletes as well. it would likely be an ideal weekend for the HPP to have all athletes together at one spot.
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12-11-18 11:44AM |
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NOLA_Curler
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Dec 2018
Location:
Posts: 13 |
quote: Originally posted by southerncurler
Well, there’s a less sinister option out there as well. The US Open is during prime “vacation” time on the calendar for adults and the college/high school aged athletes as well. it would likely be an ideal weekend for the HPP to have all athletes together at one spot.
But they'd be all together in one spot at the U.S Open...
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12-11-18 04:11PM |
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Grat
Hitting Paint
Registered: Mar 2014
Location:
Posts: 107 |
We should be fostering competitive events in the US, and that should include promotion and participation by the HPP teams. Not supporting the event is a bad look, but probably only a select group will know if it was intentional.
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12-11-18 09:27PM |
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NOLA_Curler
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Dec 2018
Location:
Posts: 13 |
True – no one but the USCA/HPP knows the actual intent/motivation behind scheduling the ‘practice’ in Chaska opposite the US Open. It could be a perfectly innocent and reasonable explanation. But to the casual observer, something just doesn’t smell right here. The relative trajectories of the Four Seasons CC and the Chaska CC are interesting to note.
Two years ago, the Four Seasons was flying high. It was the Olympic Training Center, and the U.S. Open was arguably the most prominent World Curling Tour event in the United States, regularly attracting not only the HPP teams but Brier, Scotties, and international participants.
In contrast, Chaska seemed to be persona non grata in USCA circles. It was not even a member of the USCA and I seem to recall Team Shuster getting scolded for playing a one game exhibition there against Ulsrud in 2016.
Flash forward to the present…
Chaska has become the Olympic Training Center (in place of the Four Seasons) and recently hosted Curling Night in America for the USCA.
The Four Seasons, on the other hand, now can’t even get *local* HPP teams to attend the U.S. Open, despite being on the same weekend that it was being held on in its heyday. Yet all of the HPP teams had no problem making it to the Curl Mesabi Classic – a more geographically isolated event with a lower purse – two weeks ago.
Now, what may have caused the Four Seasons’ fall from grace? We may never know, but it is notable that last year, members of the management of the Four Seasons and the U.S. Open had a prominent conflict with the USCA regarding a certain non-HPP team’s participation in the Olympic Trials. Said non-HPP team won the right to be in the Olympic Trials, and I dare say that folks at the USCA/HPP may not have taken kindly to the arguments that were made during that process or to the ultimate result.
While the removal of the Four Seasons as the Olympic Training Center and the HPP’s withdrawal from the U.S. Open may have nothing to do with the conflict over the Olympic Trials, the relative timing of these events is at the very least curious.
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12-12-18 10:53AM |
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curlerbroad
Super Rockchucker
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2668 |
NOLA_Curler I think that is a very wise explanation. I just wish curlers would stand up for these events and tell HPP no we can't come to practice because there is an event where we can make some money.
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Well Behaved Women Don't Make History.
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12-12-18 11:41AM |
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Observer
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2016
Location: River Falls, WI, USA
Posts: 445 |
Thanks for the discussion everyone.
Another thing the HPP seems to have neglected in all this is the fans like me from the Twin Cities area who liked to attend and watch our top curlers at the US Open throughout New Year’s weekend. Now we’re denied that.
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12-12-18 09:40PM |
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dbsdbs
Drawmaster
Registered: Feb 2013
Location:
Posts: 812 |
Hard to make sense of HP decision to hold practice session same weekend as US Open. 7 HP teams had signed up for Open so HP clearly knew their schedules. HP will likely say teams were given "choice" whether to withdraw but no doubt HP teams were afraid to say no to HP. USCA says they want to grow the sport and has said USA needs tour event, then they do this. I would hope USCA and HP would be beyond trying to exact retribution from Four Seasons CC but this shows otherwise. Really inexcusable on HP part. Would love to hear them explain this one.
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12-15-18 02:57PM |
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dbsdbs
Drawmaster
Registered: Feb 2013
Location:
Posts: 812 |
quote: Originally posted by curlerbroad
Two things - do curling governing bodies not check schedules first and why do the HPP curlers not say to USCA hey there's a big event for us that weekend and none of us can go. Or are they scared of being kicked out of HPP if they say that.
Surely nobody believes the HPP was not aware that their teams had registered for the US Open. And yes, curlers are very much aware of and frightened by the absolute power wielded by the HPP
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12-15-18 03:20PM |
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Alice
Swing Artist
Registered: Feb 2012
Location:
Posts: 324 |
From the start the US HP program has had top-down authoritarianism with off-ice backroom deals and decisions by secret squirrels. First, everyone had to kow tow at Four Seasons. Now at Chaska. Nothing has changed but the locale of the current royal court.
Competitive curlers must kow tow to the whims of the HP program if they want to be "selected" for Team USA. It should be called "Team HP" not "Team USA."
At least, USCA's royal court no longer shelters a notorious butt-patter coach who thrived in the secret squirrel nest. I lost count of the number of female curlers who wre afraid to complain openly.
Now, Four Seasons is learning to live as a normal curling club without HP support. Maybe it will join the effort to get more slots for teams at Club and Arena nationals which are supposed to be stepping stones for the peasants to compete at aristocratic levels.
Meanwhile, I see the Mixed Doubles National field is pre-packed with HP selectees while a small group will playdown soon for the last slots. Not til the clubs at USCA board level refuse to allow this sort of HP program sandbagging of our fellow curlers and clubs will this bad royal court behavior stop.
Last edited by Alice on 12-17-18 at 06:12PM
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12-17-18 03:20PM |
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Observer
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2016
Location: River Falls, WI, USA
Posts: 445 |
If Four Seasons were complicit in a cover-up of sexual-harassment coaching, then that puts an entirely different light on the matter, and they and the US Open deserve all the shunning they can get.
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12-17-18 09:04PM |
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NOLA_Curler
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Dec 2018
Location:
Posts: 13 |
quote: Originally posted by Observer
If Four Seasons were complicit in a cover-up of sexual-harassment coaching, then that puts an entirely different light on the matter, and they and the US Open deserve all the shunning they can get.
I didn't read Alice's post as suggesting that the Four Seasons was complicit in sexual harassment; I thought the indictment was of the HPP, regardless of venue.
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12-18-18 12:20AM |
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Alice
Swing Artist
Registered: Feb 2012
Location:
Posts: 324 |
Butt-patter was gone more than a year ago so I doubt that was a factor.
What would make me shun a fellow curler? Cold-blooded murder. Kicking a child when down. But not any spats about differences of opinion between adults on a right to compete administrative USCA court or what ice facility gets USOC HP funds.
For sandbagging a club's national level open cash spiel? Is there any excuse for that behavior? Crickets so far from HP and Four Seasons.
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12-18-18 01:57AM |
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Clappy
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Feb 2017
Location: Westland, MI
Posts: 70 |
Who was the "butt-patter"? What's the story behind this? I must have missed it.
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12-19-18 11:35AM |
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Observer
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2016
Location: River Falls, WI, USA
Posts: 445 |
Date Change to Sept 19-22, 2019
I'm already looking ahead a little to next season's events, and I've only just noticed that the US Open in Blaine, MN has changed its dates for 2019, presumably to avoid that date conflict they had with USA Curling training sessions last time. They've moved it up to near the beginning of the season.
The main event will now be Thursday, September 19 to Sunday, September 22, 2019.
They will also have a "Contender" round the previous week, Sept. 13-15, for teams ranked at 41 or lower on the men's side and 31 or lower on the women's.
Link here:
https://www.coldgranite.com/asham-us-open-of-curling
Just imagine: a big spiel in Minnesota when there shouldn't yet be any snow on the ground! The many, many golf courses will still be open!
The Twins are even playing a home series that weekend against the Royals. (Vikings schedule isn't out yet..they could be in town too.)
Last edited by Observer on 03-25-19 at 03:00PM
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03-25-19 02:22PM |
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curlerbroad
Super Rockchucker
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2668 |
The fact it was over New Years weekend made it unique & fun...there might be conflicts with other cashspiels.
__________________
Well Behaved Women Don't Make History.
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03-25-19 10:39PM |
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Observer
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2016
Location: River Falls, WI, USA
Posts: 445 |
I wondered about conflicts too, but one big one has recently vanished, as there's not going to be a Grand Slam event in September anymore. The first one of those won't be until late October now.
Also, has anyone heard anything about whether or not the Curling World Cup will be continuing next season? It doesn't seem to have drawn much of anything by way of attendance, and the silence has me wondering if it'll even happen again next year.
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03-26-19 08:28AM |
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dbsdbs
Drawmaster
Registered: Feb 2013
Location:
Posts: 812 |
Re: Date Change to Sept 19-22, 2019
quote: Originally posted by Observer
I'm already looking ahead a little to next season's events, and I've only just noticed that the US Open in Blaine, MN has changed its dates for 2019, presumably to avoid that date conflict they had with USA Curling training sessions last time.
Except there was no date conflict last year until the HP program ordered their teams to withdraw from the event. Teams had already signed up knowing their calendars were open that weekend, then HP decided otherwise. USCA and HP should have taken some heat over this but HP curlers do not dare stand up to the program and most curling clubs no longer care about USCA.
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03-28-19 07:18PM |
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QuesoGuapo
Knee-Slider
Registered: Feb 2019
Location: Ogden, Utah
Posts: 7 |
quote: Originally posted by Observer
Also, has anyone heard anything about whether or not the Curling World Cup will be continuing next season? It doesn't seem to have drawn much of anything by way of attendance, and the silence has me wondering if it'll even happen again next year.
Anything can happen, but the Curling World Cup is heavily focused on China. With Beijing hosting the 2022 Games, I think they may be willing to let the string play out — at least for these first four years.
The title sponsor, Kingdomway, signed up for a four-year commitment. It seems like a lot of agreements are for four years, like Omaha hosting the North American leg for four years.
It seemed pretty quiet during the "Season of Champions," but NBC Sports was promoting the Curling World Cup Grand Final during the World Men's Championships. Curling World Cup officials have also been making team announcements on which teams will be competing next month in Beijing.
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04-06-19 04:50PM |
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