#FANDango in Fargo: The Finale
Jesus Christ this is taking forever. Figure it'd be better to get this finished before the new year. In case you missed the previous parts in the series, you can check them out here. So let's just dive in, shall we?
Ready for my workout session at the Fargo Family Wellness Center w/ 3X NCAA wrestling champ Steve Saxlund. #FANdango pic.twitter.com/t9lth0K7h9
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 16, 2013
The day started butt ass early at the Family Wellness Center in Fargo. The contest called for a work-out with 3-time NCAA wrestling champion Steve Saxlund, so naturally I came prepared to wrestle! However, he only kicked my ass in circuit training at the fancy gym. Steve is also part of the Convention and Visitor Bureau, and was an integral part in making the whole trip happen. Many of the non-curling bonuses happened with his help.
Now, thoroughly worked, I got to undo all that work by drinking some fine fruit wine with the gang at the Maple River Winery. It was a very cozy operation. They're packed with wine and wine making tools. Their classic recipes are quite popular. See, grapes don't grow in North Dakota (or at least not worthy of making wine out of) so they make all kinds of fruit wines, like apple and rhubarb. Plus, a whole bunch of other flavors. In addition to the plentiful wine tasting, they sent me home with a gift basket featuring their Wood Chipper (seriously, Fargo loves them the wood chipper) rhubarb wine and a couple of branded wine glasses.
Wait, wait, wait... Apple jalapeño wine?! Yes please. @MapleRiverWine FTW
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 16, 2013
Mmmm... Just like licking a honeycomb! @MapleRiverWine's Honey Comb Plum!
— Jen Gamboa (@cupcakecurler) November 16, 2013
As good as it all was, we couldn't stay for long, there was a busy day of curling ahead, starting with helping the ice crew! #FANDango!
Workout & wine. Now time to prep ice with @shawn_olesen at the #OlympicTrials for the Shuster/Fenson match. The Fargo #FANdango continues.
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 16, 2013
My job was to line up Shuster's yellow stones so they looked nice and weren't touching the barrier. A task I handled with great ease, as it was the only ice crew task I was qualified for. More importantly, I got to bestow upon Terry Kolesar her ice crew sash with her "Rookie of the Year" badge. She must have gotten the award from me stuffing the "favorite ice tech" ballot box with her name.
I wore my official Ice Crew hat for this job.
Then, the curling started. Shuster v Fenson, game 2 in a best of three.
@HollywoodCurl in #Fargo with @FargoBrewing = awesomeness. #OlympicTrials pic.twitter.com/dzCHNc9T4J
— chris olander (@colanderland) November 16, 2013
"Curl, you son of a gun!" - @Shoostie2010 #OlympicTrials
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 16, 2013
“@NoHoCurling: Zez and Lands: Power Sweepers. #OlympicTrials #curling” I want to sweep like them when I grow up.
— Jen Gamboa (@cupcakecurler) November 16, 2013
It cannot be understated just how much cow plop John Shuster pulled himself out of
— Matt Sussman (@suss2hyphens) November 16, 2013
Great #curling match tonight. Rojeski & Polo played amazing. Shoostie got himself out of jams. Let's do it again tomorrow. #OlympicTrials
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013
After Fenson won in the extra end, we still had a tight schedule to keep. The ladies were up at 7pm, but we were off to attend our pal Jerome's reception for his Hall of Fame induction. It was a classy affair at the Ramada, with an eclectic group of folks, including a couple other California curlers! Wes Seeger and Jay Diamond from San Francisco were there, so it was nice to see some familiar faces. It was also nice to meet some new folks, as curlers are wont to do. At our table were some nice Canadians who were there to support Jon Mielke, who was also inducted in to the HOF that weekend. Turns out, one of them was The Curler, Resby Coutts!
Now, I'm not terribly familiar with Resby's work, but I can't forget such a great curling name like that! We chatted about curling and all that good stuff and he talked about his radio show. He then asked our group who was the best speaker, which prompted all of us to point to each other in this bizarro Mexican standoff. He then pulled out his portable recorder and microphone and interviewed Marissa and me on the spot about our club and our awesome bonspiel!
Now it was time for the ladies to play their second match in the best of three, so it was back to Scheels Arena for that game.
Watching @RockEBro continue their quest toward Sochi! #goteamgo #OlympicTrials pic.twitter.com/Q5g8H5ZrJ5
— Marissa Messier (@dydirect) November 17, 2013
This game was another close one, as expected. They're such evenly matched, it came down to the last end as Team Brown was coming home with the hammer.
Tick. Tick. Peel. Peel. Peel. Peel. Draw. Draw. Win.
— E.Bro (@RockEBro) November 17, 2013
Just like that, Team Brown booked their trip to Sochi. But first, they had to get their trials medals.
Yup, as a last minute #FANDango addition, I got to give out the gold medals. I think Deb and Jess were a little surprised to see me up there. Jen handed out the silver medals to a gracious Team Pottinger. The worst part of the weekend was being on the ice, and seeing Allison and Nicole after the loss. I guess that's one of the problems when you'd be happy with either winning team, when one of them loses, you feel terrible for them.
Chris took this great photo with the gang, Debbie and Pete McCormick. We've had a few laughs over the years, hanging with them at the Wine Country Curling bonspiel, so it was nice being able to share this moment with them.
I think part of the #FANdango prize is @cupcakecurler gets to be fifth for @RockEBro, right @Jess_Curls?
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013
It was another night in the Holiday Inn bar. Liza and I chatted with Kyle, giving him some fodder for this terrific post. There was a live band, and maybe even some twerking. Then we called in a night. Originally, the men were supposed to play in the morning, but because the women finished in two games, the men were bumped to the afternoon. Yay for sleeping in, boo for early evening flights.
When we saw Shuster in the hotel lobby on Sunday morning, we suggested an early end would help us make it to our flight in time...
Whoa, congrats to @TeamShuster! Kick some ass in Germany! #RoadToSochi #Curling
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013
Alright Team #FANDango, let's get our shoes on and fill this TV time.
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013
Here they are! Team USA/Shuster for the Olympic Qualification Event in Germany and then on to Sochi. #OlympicTrials pic.twitter.com/ROmnWgNmLQ
— Terry Kolesar (@terry_usacurl) November 17, 2013
It was a doozy of a game, one in which the stunned crowd sat silent as it wrapped up. Shuster had told us they have to play six ends because of TV, so when Fenson shook after four ends down 11-1, it was quite a stunner. No one wants to cheer in a situation like that. The fiver for Shuster was crazy enough, but to follow that up with a steal of four? Not the way you want to see something like that end.
As it stood, it was just in time for us to say goodbye and make it to the airport for our long journey home.
*single tear* “@terry_usacurl: And just like that it's over. #teardown #OlympicTrials #scheelsarena #hockeytime pic.twitter.com/HEHa7nn9YH”
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 18, 2013
Thanks to @terry_usacurl, Rick, @knit1curl1, @shawn_olesen, Steve, Jon, Carmen and everyone in Fargo. Can't wait to come back.
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013
Thanks #Fargo, @NoHoCurling is right, you're the Paris of the Midwest. So many great times this past #Curling week. #awesome
— chris olander (@colanderland) November 18, 2013
Epic week in Fargo. Journey home begins now. First stop MSP.
— Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013
Now that that's done, time to look forward to Sochi. Tickets purchased, flights booked, visa's in passports. Really excited for this one, you know, if it actually happens.