Olympic Curling Hopefuls

My bucket list has been getting a lot of attention lately.  Singing in the Tabernacle, curling dates, etc.  That's right, Wes and I took a lesson doing the one Olympic event at which we have a chance of competing; curling.  Or ice schticking, whichever you prefer.  Look for us in PyeongChang in 2018.  

We trained at the very facility where Apolo Anton Ohno won his first Olympic Gold medal, the Olympic Oval in Kearns.  This was a great way to cap off a pretty lack-luster USA showing at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, thanks to my excellent date-planning skills. 

Here's where I tried to create a U.S.A. with my hands.  Didn't work out so well, but it was fun.  Wish I knew sign language.  

Had to do it...

Our instructor was a curling nerd enthusiast.  Cool guy.  And his form!  Like butter.  

Let me tell you, this curling business is WAY harder than it looks.  I am not kidding.  I now understand why this is an Olympic sport, and it is because of the sweeping.  The sweeping is grueling.  

I was kind of awesome at "delivering the stone."  Ask Wes.  I was one of the only ones to actually get the dang thing home.  And I ended up on my rear every single time.  

Wes was a good sweeper.  I need to take advantage of his skills more in the kitchen.  

So funny story.  During our lesson, a guy in a white Ralph Lauren sweater from Sochi walked up to our group and said hi to our instructor.  I knew he was a somebody…he looked familiar but I couldn't place him.  He was super friendly, looking around and all of us but not introducing himself (way to go, instructor, for COMPLETELY ROBBING US OF A COOL OPPORTUNITY!).  Well, on the way out after class, we see this: 

Turns out, the guy was 2002 Olympic Speed Skating Gold Medalist Derek Parra.  Ha!  Our curling date will go down in history as one of our best dates ever.  Score.