Saskatchewan curler joins call for rules on high-tech brooms

Saskatchewan curlers are joining others in asking for regulations on new brooms that can change the direction of a moving rock.

Kirk Muyres is a former Canadian junior champion and currently plays on the Steve Laycock team.

"Our view on it all is that there needs to be regulations in place. Whatever standard that is," Muyres said.

New high-tech brooms, including the icePad made by Hardline Curling in Montreal, have directional fabric that can touch the ice differently than current brooms. Some have described the effect as "scratching" the ice to slow down a rock and shift its course. 

• Top curling teams say they won't use high-tech brooms

Muyres said he hasn't tried it himself but he has seen opponents use the new style of broom against him in a match.

"No matter really where the rock was coming down the ice, they didn't touch it until about the hog line," he said. "Not even with any pressure: Two little licks if they needed it to straighten out or curl a little bit and instantly it went where it needed to go. So it wasn't even like there was any power that needed to go into using it, just kind of guided into the spot with very little effort and really there was no athleticism with it at all."

Muyres said the issue is not about whether the new brooms are good or not, but making sure they are regulated.

"Moving forward and getting the best technology you can is a good thing," he said. "But there's definitely a point where it goes too far where you're not even necessarily curling any more. You're not sweeping any more." 

Muyres said someone has to decide what the line is and make a rule for all curlers.