WMDCC2023 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: World Mixed Doubles Curling

Championship Preview

20 nations compete for world championship glory

Enjoying the week off of curling rockheads?

We just wrapped up a leaping (Brad Thiessen) good time at the Players' Championships and we are now looking ahead to the next world championship event on the curling calendar.

The World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and World Senior Curling Championships are up next in the Season of Champions.

Before sliding into the preview though, similar to last year's preview post, can we take a moment to once again admire the event logo?

I don't think enough credit is given to the careful consideration and thought placed into developing these World Curling Federation logos.

When we look at the #WMDCC2023 and #WSCC2023 logos, the first striking image to the eye is the flying curling rock.

Outside of the fact the rock is yellow for mixed doubles and red for seniors, you may not notice the subtle reference the image has to the host location.

Gangneung, Korea will be the welcoming location for both championships. You may be familiar with this location as it hosted all the ice events during the 2018 Winter Olympics. And yes, that does include curling.

But the "flying rock" is not just placed within the logo by chance. It is actually a subtle reference to the host city's emblem.

Check out the Emblem of Gangneung to the right.

The reference is subtle but inclusive.

For the emblem, the red sun represents the sunrise and the blue wave represents the sea. The white background is also purposeful, representing clean nature, the citizens' mild temper and limitless potential.

Did you know Gangneung is close to a very popular tourist spot called Jeongdongjin?

Jeongdongjin is one of the most popular spots in Korea to watch the sunrise, especially on New Year's Day. 

When we look back at the event logo, the curling rock is positioned like a sun while the tail end of the rock and the imagery on the bottom looks representative of the sea.

Some may say perhaps I am reading too much into the logo but I really like the careful consideration made by WCF when finalizing logo's for these major international championships.

If you have never noticed this in the past, start looking at the logo's in the future. They really do give respect to the host cities/nations.

And, as mentioned last year, WCF really should seize the day on these clever logos.

There is heavy merchandising and marketing opportunities to be made here.

Hats. Shirts. Pins. Socks. Drinkware.

Bring. It. On.

For the fans of course!

Thanks for listening to the #TwineTime TedTalk.

Bring on the world championships.

Players' Championship Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Players' Championship Preview

Welcome to the final major of the season

"The more things change, the more they stay the same"

This has been the championship theme for curling in 2023.

We saw it at the Scotties.

We saw it at the Brier.

We saw it at the World Women's Curling Championship.

And then we wrapped up the World Men's Curling Championship with a different result.

Sweden's Team Edin was unable to stay #5Alive and lost in the QF round of the playoffs.

And a new foursome ascended to the throne as Kings of Curling: Scotland's Team Mouat.

Mouat defeated Canada's Team Gushue in the final Sunday afternoon to earn their first world championship...and end the Scottish streak.

Switzerland's Team Schwaller captured bronze earlier in the day on Sunday by knocking off 2022 world bronze medal winner Italy's Team Retornaz.

For what it is worth, #TwineTime did accurately predict all 6 #WMCC2023 playoff teams, both finalists AND the final result in the preview post. Just sayin' 😁

The championship theme may have been disrupted in Ottawa but could it be retained in Toronto?

When looking at the defending champions at the Players' Championship, it just might happen once again.