Curling tourney kicks off in Titletown

ASHWAUBENON - As the Green Bay Packers gear up for the playoffs, curlers are also hitting the ice - or sheets - with their eyes set on the prize: the 2012 USA Curling National Championships.

It may not appear to be an exciting spectator sport, but for these six curling teams, there's worldwide recognition on the line at the Green Bay Curling Club.

"We put this team together to make a 2-year push towards the next Olympic trials,” said John Benton, the “Skip” (or captain) of Team Benton.

• Photos: Curling practice for regional qualifier

“So, we've been working really hard this year," added Benton.

The 30 or so athletes are competing for a chance at a national title, which could lead to a world title and even a shot at representing the US at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Their tools to get there: stones and brushes.

Curling essentially boils down to this:

Take a 42-pound stone and try and get it in the red, white or blue-colored circles (The House) on a smooth surface of ice.

One point is awarded for every stone that one team has closer to the center of "the house," than the other.

While the sport may seem simple to do, it isn’t.

Considered by some as a physical game of chess-on-ice, there's a lot of yelling and work involved in getting that 42-pound granite stone right where it needs to be.

“Curling is a strategic sport,” said Benton.

Benton “Skipped” or captained the 2010 USA Curling National Team in the Vancouver Winter Olympics .

After placing 10th in Vancouver, the road to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia starts in Ashwaubenon at the Green Bay Curling Club.

But just getting to this regional stage, for the national title, involves a lot of practice.

“The ultimate goal is the Olympics, the ultimate goal is get to worlds and get to the Olympics,” said Steve Day, a member of Team Benton, “Whatever the course may be. But I mean, realistically, what we're thinking (about) is...just this weekend."

Of Team Benton, Madison native Steve Day's the latest to pick up the medieval sport.

Day says after seeing curling in the 2006 Winter Olympics, he was hooked.

“What is this game, who is, what is this all about?” said Day, after watching the Olympics on television.

“So I went down to the Madison Curling Club and threw a few stones and then I was hooked," said Day.

As teams took to the ice – or sheets – before the qualifiers began, Day's eyes weren't on a national title, but just getting through the regional tournament.

And he says the key to that, is consistency.

There is no charge for admission to the qualifier, held at the Club's facility at 781 Potts Avenue in Ashwaubenon.

The tournament goes through the weekend.

• Click here to see the 2012 Men's Qualifier Schedule

Nationally, five teams are already qualified for the 2012 USA Curling National Championships February 11th in Aston, Pennsylvania.

The winner from the three regional qualifiers will also get a spot in the National Championships.

The runner-ups will go head-to-head in a challenge round for the remaining championship spots.

That will take place at the Eau Claire Curling Club the weekend starting January 19th.