heh, curling is fairly rare even here. No one curls outside on a lake or some shit, it's all done in dedicated curling rinks. I have curled a grand total of like twice in my whole life, in grade 10 gym class. In all of Edmonton, a city of about 1.2 million people, there might be half a dozen curling rinks. It's something my friends and I talk about every now and then (when drunk, you're right about that). "We should learn how to curl!" And we never do.
There's a year-round ice rink here in KC that just started advertising Curling classes/training, and I think they're eventually going to set up Curling leagues. It's definitely spreading to areas that aren't typically known for winter sports(even youth Hockey here is a pretty small/recent development)
I was actually in KC just a few months ago to curl in a tournament. Between the Oklahoma Curling Club and OU Curling Club, we sent 3 teams to the event. We were loud as shit and I'm sure we annoyed some of the other teams. As mentioned earlier, in Canada and northern states, you'll find dedicated arenas for curling. Down in Oklahoma City, Dallas, and various other places south of Chicago, people curl in ice arenas. We always end up going after a hockey game or figure skating practice. Because of our situation, there isn't an opportunity to practice. We just do league games. Every once in awhile we'll do a recruitment event like learn to curl classes or open houses to try to drive some membership.
Wait that is a hobby? Does that mean eating subsistence and using shelter to shield myself from the elements are also hobbies?
A lot of this. Being on the road is just physically exhausting and gross. There's no hygiene and it's impossible to get a normal amount of sleep. Days go like this: Wake up in a van with 4 other dudes in a rest stop/parking lot at dawn. Caffeine intake and anywhere from a 3 to 8 hour drive to the next gig. Get there, get a little buzzed to wake up. Play the show. Get drunk. Pass out at 3AM (or later) in that van again. Repeat.
I did a lot of brewing the last couple years until my roommates moved out and my girlfriend moved in. We drink a lot less, so I haven't been as much into it lately. I do love the artistry of it, however.
