I am Jamie Sinclair, the 2017 National Curling Champion and Winter Olympic Hopeful. Have no idea what Curling is? Let me tell you about it. AMA!

Curling has always been my favorite part of the Winter Olympics. But I've always wondered how it's structured. How is competitive curling organized?

Are there leagues and seasons, or is it more like a series of tournaments? How does one qualify for the Olympic team?

There is a competitive season (September - April). During the season there are a series of tournaments that you go to with the hopes of winning and gaining points. Points are what rank you on the world curling tour. Every country qualifies their teams differently but in the US, we have an Olympic trials. Its a triple round robin and then best 2 out of 3 in the finals. The winning team will be the team to go to the Olympics.

As a Canadian, my question is this: How do you possibly think you can compete with the Canadians?

Good question! Well I played in Canada for 10 years so I have an idea of what it takes. The US is taking all the right steps in order to grow the sport and get our top teams on the podium more often.

So do Curlers need to work out of your sport? Thanks!

definitely! You need to build leg strength for when you push out of the hack and sweepers need to have really good upper body strength.

What do you think are the main concepts that kids should focus on in order to build their delivery as they get started with curling?

BALANCE. Check out my video on my YouTube Channel Curl Up With Jamie. I cover a lot of concepts that beginners should focus on.

Big fan! How did you end up in at a curling club in North Carolina?

Also, after growing up in Canada, how did you decide to compete for USA?

Love the youtube channel by the way, really looking forward to anything you might put up in the run up to trials and the Olympics.

When i was asked to try out for the National Program in the states i had to put down a curling club as my home club. Having grown up in canada for the most part, i didn't have any connections to any US clubs other than Charlotte where i taught a clinic and played in their summer spiel. So i put them down as my home club!

Sorry I'm late! Technical difficulties. Im here now, fire away with the questions!

I only watch the Winter Olympics for Curling. It's addictive and highly entertaining and I don't fully understand why. That said, I don't think I've ever seen it outside of the Olympics. What's a good way to stay up to date with the sport the other three and a half years?

You can watch Curling Night in America on NBCSN starting october 10th! You can watch all our games live on TESN.com or you can follow everything on worldcurl.com

Are they televising any of the Olympic Trials this year? I feel like they aired a couple games pre-Sochi.

(Also it’s tesn.us)

I believe they are but i haven't seen a schedule yet.

Awesome, I'll be sure to check that out. I do have another question: Why do curlers yell "HARD" while sweeping?

to encourage our sweepers to sweep harder! The more intense i yell, the more intense they sweep

Do you have a day job, too? Or do you just curl all day, every day?

I do not. Right now i am a full time curler preparing for the Olympic Trials. With all the time spent on tour it would be near impossible to hold down a job right now

Jamie, I'm looking forward to watching your team compete at the Olympic trials in Omaha next month! What are your thoughts on the five rock free guard zone?

I love it. More rocks in play, more fun shots. Better for viewers. Read my blog about it! www.jamiesinclair21.com/blog

OK, so what is Curling? I have watched it but I can't say I understand the sport at all. Looks fun though.

Im glad you have watched it! Its played on ice, 4 people on a team, you all take turns throwing 2 rocks each. You are trying to get as many of your team rocks as close to the middle of the bullseye as possible. The bullseye is called the House. Once all the rocks are thrown, you count the score, and thats the end of the first End. In a game, you play 10 ends.

Now that we have robots that vacuum floors, would you be ok if a roomba entered the Winter Olympics?

haha they could enter but i guarantee they wouldn't do very well!

What is your biggest concern for the Nov. trials in Omaha?

No concerns. We are feeling well prepared and we are anxious to start!

What got you to start curling competitively? I’d imagine you started off just playing recreationally, but something had to happen to get you to start reaching for this level.

My dad got me into the sport when i was about 9 years old and then when i was 14 i won my first National Championship and i got hooked on the competitiveness of it. Growing up with 2 older brothers, I've always been pretty competitive.

What got your dad into it?

His dad also played. Its a real family affair.

How did his dad get into it? Where is patient zero? :)

My grandfather is from England so he was more familiar with it. He started playing when he moved to Canada because he lived right beside a curling club.

Having the hammer at the end of the game seems like a big advantage. What's the strategy for a team playing without the hammer in an extra end?

You have to go hard for the steal. Probably putting up 2 centre line guards and then drawing around and freezing to anything you can. The more rocks in play the better.

Drawing around and freezing would mean to get your rock behind and as close as possible to another rock, correct? I've watched some curling and am trying to get a better understanding of the game, but I don't have all the terms down yet

Yes, thats exactly correct! Good job!

I heard you’re a dual citizen who grew up in Canada. Why did you choose curling for the US after competing in Canada your whole junior career?

I was scouted and it was an opportunity to compete at a higher level. Im excited to be back living in the US and competing here!

Cool! Does it feel as meaningful representing a country you didn’t grow up in vs. if you were representing Canada where you lived the majority your life? Just wondering since you went to school there, competed there, lived there.

It would mean everything to me to represent USA. Ive been working so hard for years now and if i am ever so fortunate to represent our country i would stand proud.

Have you ever had or seen an eight-ender? What's the most number of rocks you've cleared with one shot?

Ive never gotten an 8 ender nor seen one. But i have made 5 rocks disappear with one of mine!

Do you enjoy any other sports? Can you give an outline of your day as a full-time curler?

Recreationally i enjoy golf, tennis and horseback riding. We have a team practice at 9-11am every day. Lunch. Gym session in the afternoon. Sometimes sports psychology meeting also, or video analysis. Then dinner. Then i do a lot of work on my computer woking on stats, plays, emails, sponsors, all the admin work that a team has to do.

Thanks for all the questions! It's been fun! Bye!!!!

It looks like a fun sport when watching it but what kind of (special)discipline you need to achieve in order to be successful in this sport?

Thanks and congratulations.

You need to be a student of the game. Watch as many games as you can and learn the strategy. Practice, practice, practice in order to be consistent.

Is the ice in Curling the same ice as it is for other sports like Ice hockey or figure skating? Thanks and good luck.

The ice is very different! Curling ice has "pebble" on it. Its like little frozen rain drops that reduce the friction under the rock. It would be extremely hard to curl on hockey ice, the rock would not go very far.

What's your favorite kind of sandwich?

BLT!

I wasn't aware of curling at all until the last Sochi Olympics, and I was hooked!

Canada's teams killed it in the last olympics; If I recall correctly, the women team won all their games.

Is that the rival to beat in the next olympics?

If it is not them, who?

Yes, Canada always manages to produce top level teams. They are definitely top competition but I also wouldn't underestimate the Swedish team, they are currently ranked #1.

Do you and your fellow curlers have any inside jokes?

yes... but you wouldn't get it :P

Ouch. I feel like I was just 3:16'd.

no no! that was just me trying to be funny. We spend so much time together on tour that we definitely have some inside jokes, always nice to have fun and laugh!

Hi Jamie! My friends and I love curling even though we're in Kentucky. We look forward to the Winter Olympics every time because of it! We're hoping to make it up to Cincinnati for the WinterFest tour in December.

For my question: what is the strategy on the ice like between the team? As skip, how do you handle occasions where there are differences in opinion on how to approach a particular situation?

Good luck, we'll be rooting for you and Team USA!

We spend a lot of time off the ice working on strategy to make sure we are all on the same page. As a skip, ill take into account everyones opinion but i would have the final say. Sometimes when we are debating between 2 shots, ill leave it up to the thrower since they are the ones that actually have to throw and make the shot.

Do you have time for a significant other during all your training or no?

Nope! Maybe after the Olympics

Hi Jamie! Big fan of you and your team. Rooting for you all to represent the US in the Winter games.

My question for you is Did you enjoy your time in Jacksonville, FL when the 2016 National championships were held? Was it strange curling in a southern state? Would you like National championships to be held in other non traditional curling states?

I live in Jax and was able to attend 4 days worth of the event and loved it. Wish we had a curling rink here. Thank you!

I loved Jacksonville! It was a fantastic National Championship and the weather was perfect! Normally when we are curling its a snowstorm outside, so Florida was a nice change of pace! I would definitely encourage the Nationals to go to different states because i think it would help grow the sport and get more awareness of it!

How did you get into Curling? Did your school growing up have a team? Is it something a lot of people from Alaska partake in?

I started curling when i was 9 years old because my dad put my brothers and i into it. I played on my high school team and my university team!

if you had to describe curling with one word, what would it be? I'd say "neat"

Fun! Sometimes frustrating haha but mostly fun!

Now that you're living full-time in the USA and training down there is there anything that you miss the most from your childhood in Canada?

I mostly just miss my family. And maybe Poutine!

Since the rock is sourced from United Kingdom, are there any alternates for which you play with?

Yes, the rocks all come from Scotland and every curling club has their own set of rocks so the players don't need to bring any. Also federations and big competitions will have their own sets of rocks

Have there been any other songs about Curling besides Jonathan Coulton's "Curl"?

No that i know of.....

I know you must be busy, but what would be your favorite TV show or series?

Right now i am watching How to get away with murder and I'm addicted to it! Its so good!

Are you ready for curling to go back to it's pure roots or are you ok w/ its current crass comercialism?

Curling always has pure roots. Its a great sport that you can play at any age, at any level of competitiveness.