If curling had a theme song, it would just be someone yelling “HURRY HARD!” on loop. It might be the most recognizable phrase in the whole sport, and also one of the most misunderstood by anyone watching for the first time.
What It Actually Means
When a skip or sweeper shouts “hurry hard,” they’re telling the sweepers to get on the stone and sweep as hard and fast as they can. Usually that means the rock is traveling a bit light and needs help covering the rest of the distance. Sweeping smooths the ice slightly in front of the stone, which helps it travel farther and curl less, so a well-timed “hurry hard” can be the difference between a rock landing in the house or sliding right through it.
Why You’ve Probably Heard It Before
This phrase escaped the rink a long time ago. It shows up in commercials, on t-shirts, and in basically every curling joke told during the Olympics. Plenty of people who couldn’t tell you the difference between a draw and a takeout will still happily yell “hurry hard” at their TV. That’s just the kind of reach this little phrase has.
Next time you’re watching a game and a rock looks like it’s coming up short, listen for it. Someone on that team is about to ask for everything their sweepers have.
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