2023 Golden Granite Awards

#BetweenTheSheets: And The Award Goes To...

The Return of the Golden Granite Awards

COVID-19 can knock you down but it cannot keep you down!

After the pandemic derailed our curling seasons over the past few years, 2022/2023 seemed to mark a full return to our regularly scheduled program.

And with that comes the return of the best post-season tradition on ice: The Golden Granite Awards!

Ok, I may be biased and hyping up my own awards show. But why not, right?

The Golden Granite Awards were first handed out at the conclusion of the 2015/2016 season.

TwineTime had no idea if the sport of curling would be interested in participating in award season.

But the feedback from the rock heads leaned into the Golden Granite Awards and history was made.

The awards continued in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Who knew a pandemic would try to ruin a milestone event when the Golden Granite Awards celebrated the 5 year history mark?

And while there may be some gap years in between from the last time these golden statues were handed out, you cannot keep a Golden Granite in the hack for too long.

All your favourite categories return for 2023. Each day a new category will be announced and the Golden Granite award winner will be revealed.

Yes, it means you have to come back to this blog space daily to check out the winner.

The Oscars are a 5 hour show and you still watch. Why can't the Golden Granite Awards be drawn out over multiple days? Curling over Movies right?!

Enough pre-show banter. Time to raise the red curtain and celebrate the return of the Golden Granite!

The most recent category and award announcement will be top of list in the post, making it easier to find the newest info.

All the previous categories and winners will follow further down this blog post. 😉

On with the show...

CATEGORY IS.....Nation of the Year

2019/2020 Winners: Canada

The nominees are: Canada, Scotland, Switzerland, USA

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: TIE - Canada / Scotland

Winner Is...CanSco? ScoCan?

Well...this is a first. We have a TIE!!

Now before everyone gets defensive and upset with this result, there is an objective process used for this award.

Each World Curling Federation championship event a nation competes in earns them points for this award. The better the result, the higher the point allocation.

The events included in this determination are: World Women's Curling Championship, World Men's Curling Championship, World Junior Curling Championships (Men and Women), World Wheelchair Curling Championship, World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, Pan Continental Curling Championships, European Curling Championships and World Senior Curling Championships (Men and Women).

And note, only the A-division or top division of these championships earn points towards this award. Apologies to those nations competing in B and/or C-division competitions but this award needs to go to the best of the best at the top of the game. #NotPersonalJustGame

At the conclusion of this season, Canada AND Scotland ended up with 114 total points.

When we break it down, we can see how these two nations ended up tied.

The results of the Pan Continental and European championships were a deadlock. Canada earned a gold (men) and bronze (women) at #PCCC2022 while Scotland earned a gold (men) and bronze (women) at #ECC2022.

Scotland defeated Canada in the world men's final, earning 1 more point overall.

Canada finished one spot ahead of Scotland at the world wheelchair championship, earning back the 1 point, and then gained 1 point by again finishing just above the Scots at the world mixed doubles championship.

A similar result was found at both men's and women's senior championships, Canada finishing 1 spot higher in the standings to generate those extra points.

And Canada finished on the podium at the world women's compared to Scotland, who struggled.

Where Scotland made up ground however, and ultimately secured the tie atop the standings, was at the world junior's.

Canada struggled mightily while Scotland won gold (women) and bronze (men).

Overall Scotland produced 2 world champions (men, junior men) and a continental champion (men).

Canada produced 2 world champions as well (men's and women's senior) and a continental champion (men).

Both nations also had small hiccups, with Canada at the world juniors and Scotland at world women's.

But when we break it all down, Canada and Scotland were the clear top nations of the season finishing 12 points ahead of 3rd place Switzerland (102 points) and 21 points ahead of 4th place USA (93 points).

And while the rest of the Golden Granite Awards can be considered subjective, for the final award of the season it is based purely on objective results.

As such, we celebrate a #HIStoric moment in the 1st tie in Golden Granite Awards history.

Canada. Scotland. We salute you both as the nations ruling over the curling world.

Can one of you outperform the other next year to claim this award solo?

Or will one of the other nations around the world step up and take the award from your grasp?

Until next season rock heads....enjoy the offseason.

And CONGRATULATIONS to ALL our 2023 Golden Granite Award winners 🏆 😎

The full summary can be found in the remainder of this post, ICYMI 😉

CATEGORY IS.....Team of the Year - Men

2019/2020 Winners: Team Jacobs (CAN)

The nominees are: Team Dunstone (CAN), Team Edin (SWE), Team Gushue (CAN), Team Mouat (SCO)

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: Team Brad Gushue (CAN)

Photo Credit: Curling Canada - Michael Burns

As has been the case with each Golden Granite Award this season, all 4 finalists have valid cases to be made on why they should slide away with the coveted season-ending award.

Our men's Team of the Year category is no exception.

But when a team puts together a season record of 58-16, qualifies in all 10 events entered, reaches at least the SF stage in 9 of said 10 events, competes in 5 finals and takes home 3 titles...well it is hard not to recognize them as #1.

And they just happen to be the team who finished the season #1 on the world rankings.

Newfoundland and Labrador's Team Gushue put together a truly magical season.

The team added to their #gsoc winning resume, picking up the BOOST National title in October.

They made #HIStory by becoming the first team to lead their nation to gold at the inaugural Pan Continental Curling Championships.

They were able to #DefendTheIce at the Tim Hortons Brier, winning title #5 overall and making it 5 titles in the past 7 years.

They reached the world championship final, coming up just short against Scotland's Team Mouat but still winning the silver medal.

And they ended their season with another finals appearance at the Champions Cup in Regina.

If we look at their record against their fellow award finalists, they also come out on top with an 11-7 season Head 2 Head result.

Team Gushue remains the "Face That Runs The Place" for Canadian curling.

And while new challengers popped up this season, namely Team Dunstone, it was the familiar faces of Team Gushue leading the way.

The addition of E.J. Harnden certainly did not slow the juggernaut from #TheRock down either.

Brett Gallant is irreplaceable of course. But Harnden stepped into the role, with lots of eyes on him (and skeptics ready to point the finger should the team falter).

As we head into the important first-year of the Olympic qualification cycle, is Team Gushue already the pre-determined favourite to wear the Maple Leaf once again in Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics?

They are going to be VERY tough to beat.

Confidence. Momentum. Technique. Strategy. Skill. Fan Support.

In basketball they call it a possession arrow when a team has the advantage late in a game. If the same principle was applied to curling, the possession arrow advantage points directly to Team Gushue.

Congratulations on a stellar season and enjoy one final "virtual" award to add to the credentials.

CATEGORY IS.....Team of the Year - Women

2019/2020 Winners: Team Hasselborg (SWE)

The nominees are: Team Einarson (CAN), Team Fujisawa (JPN), Team Homan (CAN), Team Tirinzoni (SUI)

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: Team Kerri Einarson (CAN)

Photo Credit: The Canadian Press - Darryl Dyck

Little doubt on the 4 finalists for this prestigious award. All 4 teams were dominant this season, picking up big victories and showing why they are the best in the world.

And when the competition is this fierce, we are splitting hairs to determine which team comes out on top.

It was a close competition and one the committee wavered back and forth on but, at the end of the day, Team Einarson was the clear winner.

This team continues to make #HERstory, from accomplishing the #4peat at the Scotties to reaching 6 straight #gsoc finals dating back to last season to reaching 5 #gsoc finals this season and so much more.

The stats support the award folks. Overall Team Einarson compiled an impressive 63-25 record this season, for a winning percentage of .716.

When you are winning 72% of the games you play, you must be at or near the top of the world rankings.

And look...where did Team Einarson finish this season? #1 of course!

This team did not just sit back and "wait" for the Pan Continental Curling Championships or the Scotties. They were competing from September to May.

They competed in 11 events, which includes #PCCC2022, #STOH2023 and #WWCC2023.

They qualified for the playoffs in EACH event entered!

They reached at least the SF round in EACH event entered!

They reached 7 finals!

They took home 2 titles (Masters, Scotties).

They were runner-up 5 times (National, Tour Challenge, Karuizawa International, Canadian Open, Champions Cup).

They won 2 bronze medals (Pan Continental, Women's Worlds).

And they accomplished these feats with Briane Harris expecting (Congratulations on her new baby!) and wowing the world with her sweeping abilities the entire time.

A shout out to Kerri Einarson as well for not only being a great mother (who doesn't love those pre-game hugs from her daughters?!) but also a great role model for the Mètis community. 

#RepresentationMatters

Within Canada, curling is Team Einarson's world and the rest are just living in it right now.

Internationally, while the team may not have won gold, they did land on the podium twice giving motivation for next season and room to improve.

And when you feed the beast with motivation, it only makes the beast stronger, hungrier and more dangerous.

Throughout this 4 year Scotties run, skeptics are waiting for the slider to fall off and the team to slip up. Or at least finally fall victim to the weight of their own success and have another Canadian team knock them off the podium.

Over those same 4 Scotties, Team Einarson has looked confident, poised and not ready to give any of their competition the slightest window of opportunity.

We say the pressure is on the Manitoba team heading into next season...but the pressure has been on them for 4 years now and look how that has worked out.

Team Einarson...you are the Team of the Year!

Congratulations and feel free to add the *virtual* #GoldenGranite Award to your already full trophy case. 😉

CATEGORY IS.....Team of the Year - Wheelchair

2019/2020 Winners: Team Kurokhtin (RUS)

The nominees are: Team Ideson (CAN), Team Nibloe (SCO), Team Petersson-Dahl (SWE), Team Wang (CHN)

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: Team Wang Haitao (CHN)

Photo Credit: WCF - Cheyenne Boone

Wang Haitao is rolling...and I do not mean that as a wheelchair pun.

When one is asked to name the best wheelchair curling athlete in the sport right now, Wang Haitao should be the answer on most people's lips.

This past season was another championship year for the Chinese skip.

Entering the 2023 World Wheelchair Curling Championship as the defending champ, Wang had a target on his back. Everyone wants to knock off the #1 team.

And this is not an unfamiliar story for the 33 year old. He had a similar situation in 2020 after winning the world title in 2019.

Unlike the 2020 championships, where he skipped his team to a first place finish in the RR only to lose both playoff games and miss the podium, 2023 would be his year to #DefendTheIce.

The team went 10-1 in the RR, completely dominating the competition. The Points For / Points Against margin was an astounding 72 / 28. On a per game basis, the team was winning with an average score of 7-3.

The SF would bring back 2020 and 2021 memories for Wang, drawing Swedish rival Viljo Petersson-Dahl. Petersson-Dahl knocked off Wang for the bronze in 2020.

At the last world championship in 2021 (wheelchair curling does not hold a world championship the same year at the Winter Paralympic Games), these same two would meet again but this time for gold with Wang earning his revenge.

Consider this a world championship playoff rubber match with Wang triumphant once again after scoring 3 in 8 with hammer and staking his claim as the best in the world.

The Chinese team would knock off Canada in the final and cement their legacy as world champions.

What makes the victory even more special for Wang is he defended his world title with a completely different team.

Is it safe to say Chinese wheelchair curling is the best in the world? The stats don't lie!

Not to mention the fact Wang is the skip of the 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympic Games gold medal winners. And, again, both of those Paralympic champion teams are different than the teams he led to world championship glory in 2019, 2021 and 2023.

Wang Haitao may be the skip leading his teams to victory but the fact Chinese wheelchair curling has that many strong athletes in the program to win world and Paralympic gold is a statement to why they are the best in the world.

The question is, which team will take the lead for the 2024 World Wheelchair Curling Championship?

And can Wang accomplish a feat never done at a World Wheelchair Curling Championship in pulling off the #3peat?

If you are into sports betting, I would not bet against Wang and Team China!

CATEGORY IS.....Team of the Year - Mixed Doubles

2019/2020 Winners: Team Anastasia Moskaleva / Alexander Eremin (RUS)

The nominees are: Team Jones / Laing (CAN), Team Kaldvee / Lill (EST), Team Roenning / Braenden (NOR), Team Thiesse / Dropkin (USA)

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: Team Marie Kaldvee / Harri Lill (EST)

Photo Credit: WCF - Eakin Howard

Team of the Year awards are always difficult to hand out. The finalists usually have very similar resumes, recording tour wins, going deep in many events and finishing the season ranked high on the world rankings.

This year is no exception.

We have the world champions, who dominated the championship in almost every stat possible (including atop the podium), but played a reduced schedule this year.

We have a Canadian duo who, on individual resumes alone, compete one of the most formidable duos in the sport and this season put it all together with a Canadian championship, a deep world championship run and ended the season with the #1 world ranking.

We have a 2023 #GoldenGranite winner already, with a Norwegian team who surprised many all season and have become a team to watch going forward.

And then we have our award winners from Estonia: Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill.

This is a duo anyone who follows the discipline should be familiar with. They have been a consistent presence in mixed doubles curling for a number of years, having competed at 6 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships.

While they have yet to land on the podium in those appearances, you know the rule of this blog right rockheads? Consistency, Consistency, Consistency!

Kaldvee and Lill put in the work this past season, starting with a QF appearance at their first event in August and ending with a QF appearance at the world championship in April.

Overall they competed in 10 tour events, winning 2 titles. They reached 3 additional finals alongside 2 SF and QF finishes.

10 events. 9 qualifications. 2 titles. 57-18 record overall.

Not to mention winning a 5th straight Estonian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and 6th overall.

They were also a strong podium contender at the world championship, finishing the RR with a 7-2 record. Their record included victories over past world champions Jenn Dodds / Bruce Mouat (SCO), Olympic champ Stefania Constantini (with new Italian partner Sebastiano Arman) and fellow Golden Granite award finalists Jones / Laing.

Their world championship run ended in the QF however at the hands of fellow award finalist (and #TeamUpset award winners) Roenning / Braenden from Norway.

From a ranking perspective, people may be skeptical since they started the year #6 in the world and finished at #3.

Sure, it is only a 3 position jump. BUT...it is a 3 position jump! Of those Top 5 duos ahead of them to start the season, only 1 remains ahead of them still (Switzerland's Perret / Rios at #2).

Ask any athlete from any sport, building a high world ranking is hard. Keeping it is difficult. Improving it is almost impossible.

Estonia's Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill accomplished all of the above and continue to prove they are one of the best mixed doubles teams in the world.

And, in doing so, they improved Estonia's national world ranking in the discipline this year, moving up 4 spots to #12 from #16.

Remember, Estonia is a small Baltic Sea nation of just over 1.3 million people. Curling continues to be a growing sport, with sport funding at a premium.

Kaldvee and Lill continue to be the "face" of Estonian curling and their results continue to put the nation on the curling map.

CATEGORY IS.....#TeamUpset of the Year - Men

2019/2020 Winners: Team V. Roberge (QC)

The nominees are: Team Hood (NZL), Team Husain (GUY), Team Jeong (KOR), Team Karagoz (TUR)

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: Team Rayad Husain (GUY)

Photo Credit: WCF - Steve Seixeiro

Another closely contested award with all 4 finalists having strong cases to be made on why they should walk away with the Golden Granite this year.

However, when we look at this from a #growthesport lens, the Pan Continental Curling Championships result from Team Husain is hard to overlook.

Quick, how many of you curling readers know about the nation of Guyana? Can you identify it on a map?

When discussing the winter sport of curling, we do not often think of South American nations. Yet, here is Guyana, a nation of only 795,408 people (slightly more than the province of New Brunswick but less than the province of Nova Scotia for comparison sake), ready to make their move onto the 2023 Pan Continental Curling Championships A-division ice this fall.

Rayad Husain, who does call Ontario home, skipped a mighty team in Calgary at the 2022 Pan Continental Curling Championships. In fact, for the majority of the event, the team competed with only 3 players.

And they were winning!

They started the B-division competition strong, knocking out wins over Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kenya, Nigeria and India before falling in their final 2 RR games vs. Kazakhstan and Hong Kong.

With a 5-2 RR record, the team qualified for the playoffs as the #4 seed, needing 2 victories to achieve promotion.

In the SF, they faced off the with undefeated #1 seed Hong Kong, skipped by fellow Ontarian Jason Chang. Hong Kong had just defeated Guyana in the final RR draw to clinch 1st place and set up the rematch.

Similar to the RR game, the SF was a back and forth affair coming down the 10th end with Guyana down one with hammer. They would score their 2 and book their spot in the final with the #TeamUpset result.

And the #TeamUpset results would continue as they dominated India in the gold medal game, winning the final 8-5 and securing their ticket into the A-division for 2023.

Heading into the event, Team Husain was ranked below Kazakhstan, Hong Kong and Qatar but knocked off all 3 en route to earning promotion.

They started the season ranked #308 in the world. They ended the season ranked #228. When you can raise your ranking by 80 spots in one season, you deserve the recognition.

Some teams go a full season, or even years, with never knowing the feeling of being on centre ice with a gold medal around your necks. Guyana's Team Husain is not one of those teams folks!

This may have been the only men's event the team played this past season but for a newly formed team to enter a continental championship, compete with 3 members and win the gold medal...how else do you qualify as a #TeamUpset Golden Granite winner?

And lets give credit to skipper Rayad Husain. Husain has been working hard to get the sport of curling on the map in his home nation. He has promoted the sport through his results on the ice (including competing with his sister in mixed doubles) and raising the awareness of the sport off the ice.

Husain has put in the effort to #growthesport from doing numerous interviews and podcasts to guest speaking arrangements and promoting not only curling in Guyana but also taking the sport to the next level in terms of the Global Initiative for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in curling.

Leadership and success can come in many forms, from gold medal wins on the ice to strengthening a community off of it. 

The Guyanese motto is "One People, One Nation, One Destiny" and it held true in Calgary last November.

The question is, can it hold true once again at #PCCC2023 in Kelowna?

Guyana may not contend for a medal in 2023 but they are in the A-division and will be fighting to retain their spot in the top flight.

Tiny nation. Big heart. One destiny. 

CATEGORY IS.....#TeamUpset of the Year - Women

2019/2020 Winners: Team Y. Han (CHN)

The nominees are: Team Dupont (DEN), Team Grandy (CAN), Team Ha (KOR), Team Rørvik (NOR)

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: Team Madeleine Dupont (DEN)

Photo Credit: @teamdenmarkcurls - IG

This was a VERY close race.

Team Grandy came out of the hack strong right from the start and fed into their momentum throughout the season, culminating with a strong performance at the 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Team Ha surprised everyone with their Korean championship win to open their season and reached the final at the inaugural Pan Continental Curling Championships.

Team Rørvik may have struggled at Euro's but made up for it at the 2023 World Women's Curling Championship, riding a hot streak all the way to the final and winning a silver medal.

But the way Team Dupont dominated the 2022 European Curling Championships was the ultimate #TeamUpset performance of the year!

This is not a new team. This is not a team without experience. But this is a team who, entering this season, was still trying to find their footing on the competitive curling ice.

And then they arrived in Sweden for #ECC2022 and everything clicked.

It was not just the team winning the gold medal and becoming the first Euro champions from Denmark since 1994 (Team Blach Lavrsen), it was how methodical they were in the process.

They wrapped up the RR with a convincing 8-1 record, their only blemish being a loss to Turkey in Draw 8. They dispatched all the favourites coming into the event: Switzerland's Team Tirizoni, Sweden's Team Hasselborg, Italy's Team Constantini, Germany's Team Jentsch and Scotland's Team Morrison.

And they were not just winning, they were dominating. They outscored their opposition in the RR by a 81 PF / 42 PA margin. They won 41 ends and only lost 29. They wore the #StealPants for 17 ends.

And they were the highest team percentage of the week, curling an amazing 82.2%. The closest competition was Switzerland curling 80.1%.7

They were the leaders in all the important statistical team categories. And teamwork makes the dream work, right?

Second Denise Dupont and vice Mathilde Halse were also the top players at their respective positions.

They dominated Scotland in the SF and then held their breath in the finale against Switzerland, picking the pocket of the overwhelming favs in the extra end to score 4 and "steal" the Euro title from the world champions.

Sure the team struggled at the world championship, finishing with a 5-7 record and missing the playoffs.

But for that one week in November in Sweden, we saw how good this team can be and why skipper Madeleine Dupont should always be considered a main contender at any event she enters.

As announced at the end of the season, Halse will be taking a step back from the sport. It may only be a temporary leave though as Halse plans to finish her bachelor's degree in physiotherapy. We can never fault any athlete who chooses education (and long-term personal/professional sustainability) over athletic competition. We wish her all the best in achieving her educational goals off the ice.

So the layout of the team will be different next season.

Can they hold on to their Euro championship with an new lineup?

And can they once again surprise the world with a strong season?

We might want to consider them no longer a #TeamUpset challenger but a main title contender going forward.

Off the ice, they also crush it on social media. From #DanceParty stories to having fun behind the scenes at events, if you are not following Team Dupont on Instagram, what are you waiting for?

Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

CATEGORY IS.....#TeamUpset of the Year - Wheelchair

2019/2020 Winners: NEW AWARD

The nominees are: Team Emt (USA), Team Lee (KOR), Team Marchese (ITA), Team Selnekovicova (CZE)

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: Team Lee Hyeon-chul (KOR)

Photo Credit: WCF - Cheyenne Boone

Korean wheelchair curling has had a roller coaster ride over the past 10 years. From world championship podium finishes in 2012 (silver), 2016 (bronze) and 2019 (bronze) to bottom/near bottom of the world championship standings in 2013 (10th) and 2021 (9th).

The nation even won Paralympic silver in 2010.

Luckily the nation has avoided relegation from the world championship A-pool but the level of consistency has not been there.

When Lee Hyeon-chul took over skipping duties of the national team this season, it was a bit of an unknown on how the team would perform.

The team did have world championship experience in vice Yang Hui-tae. Yang skipped the bronze medal winning team in 2016 and threw final stones on the bronze medal winning team in 2019. Yang also threw last stones at the 2020 world championship, where the team finished 6th.

The new look team also welcomed 2022 Paralympian Jang Jae-hyuk. Jang also skipped the world championship team in 2021.

But heading into the 2023 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, this team was not considered to be a medal contender against a stacked field of experienced teams.

The goal was to avoid relegation into the 2024 B-championship.

Team Lee had much loftier goals in mind however.

The team not only avoided the relegation conversation, they were in the playoff discussion from their opening W over Scotland.

Overall the team finished the RR with an impressive 8-3 record, reaching the playoffs as the #3 seed.

Scotland would extract their revenge on the Koreans in the QF but, for Korea's Team Lee, it was a resurgence of confidence in the discipline.

Team Lee would end up with a final placement of 5th place, knowing they were a medal threat throughout the entire event. Their final result also bolstered Korea to a final world wheelchair ranking of #4, up 2 spots from the previous season.

Plus they recorded those RR wins over eventual world champions China, silver medal winners Canada, bronze medal winners Scotland and 4th place finishers Sweden.

If this team can stay together with support from the Korean Curling Federation, they could be a dangerous podium threat heading into this Paralympic cycle.

And momentum heading into the 2024 World Wheelchair Curling Championship as the host nation with Gangneung, Korea being named the host city for the event from March 2 - 9, 2024.

The Republic of Korea continues to show they are an elite curling nation, in all disciplines!

CATEGORY IS.....#TeamUpset of the Year - Mixed Doubles

2019/2020 Winners: Team Clancy Grandy / Patrick Janssen

The nominees are: Team Lander/Holtermann (DEN), Team Matsumura/Tanida (JPN), Team Roenning/Braenden (NOR), Team Tonoli/Gosgens (NED)

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: Team Martine Roenning / Mathias Braenden (NOR)

Photo Credit: @worldcurling

When you think of Norwegian mixed doubles teams, your first thought goes to Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten.

And for obvious reasons. The duo has 2 Olympic medals (Silver - 2022, Bronze - 2018) and 2 world championship medals (Silver - 2021, Bronze - 2015). They have been the "face that runs the place" for mixed doubles in Norway for years.

But now ask yourself the question "Name the highest ranked Norwegian mixed doubles team this season?"

Enter our #GoldenGranite Award winners: Martine Roenning and Mathias Braenden.

While Skaslien and Nedregotten still had a strong season, finishing 14th in the world, compatriots Roenning and Braenden cracked the Top 10 with a #9 final ranking.

The duo did pick up 3 titles this season, winning 2 tour titles in Tallinn, Estonia and taking home the Norwegian Mixed Doubles Championship.

People may turn around and want an asterisk next to that national title because their main challengers did not compete; however, do not let that argument sway you.

Just look at how the young Norwegian duo performed at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship.

The duo, making their world championship debut, went 7-2 in the RR including victories over "bigger name" duos from Switzerland, Sweden, Spain and Germany.

They qualified for the playoffs, knocked off an experienced Estonia in the QF and pushed Japan in the SF. Ultimately they lost the SF game but rebounded to defeat Canada's Jennifer Jones/Brent Laing in the bronze medal match.

Still think they deserve an asterisk next to their names?

Imagine the fun banter in the locker room between Team Roervik teammates Roenning and Skaslien too. Perhaps Skaslien's winning ways are now rubbing off on her young teammate?!? The duo were also part of the silver medal world championship win for Team Roervik after all.

If so, we can only hope for a fun Norwegian rivalry building between the "names" and the #NextGen duos in the discipline.

It is never easy fighting behind the shadows of a world class, top notch team in your home nation. But this season, Roenning/Braenden not only fought their way out of the shadows but found their own deserving place in the sun.

The question remaining now is whether the young duo can survive the sophomore challenge next season with a target on their backs? Keep your eyes on this team rock heads!

CATEGORY IS.....#TeamUpset of the Year - Nation

2019/2020 Winners: Turkey

The nominees are: Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: New Zealand

This season was the "Welcome Back" season for New Zealand curling.

The Kiwi's on ice shocked the world early in the season with their results at the inaugural Pan Continental Curling Championships.

Serving as a new continental championship event and a direct qualifier to the world championships, the men's and women's team arrived in Calgary believing they stood a chance but were still considered a long shot.

With nations like Canada, USA, Japan and Korea being the "Big 4" of the competition, it left 1 world championship ticket up for grabs for both genders.

Oceania rivals Australia were considered the best bet to snag the 5th and final spot with Chinese Taipei (men) and Kazakhstan/Hong Kong (women) being tabbed as the next batch of contenders.

Team Hood and Team Smith surprised them all by finishing 5th at #PCCC2022 and securing world championship tickets for both Kiwi teams.

For Team Hood, the result would mark a return to the world championship for New Zealand men's curling since 2012.

For Team Smith, they made #HERstory by securing a debut appearance at the World Women's Curling Championship for New Zealand curling.

And while both teams may have finished 13th overall at the world championships, qualifying to compete on the "big ice" is an achievement for a nation often overlooked as of late.

The teams may not have landed on the podium but they did take home some hardware. Men's skip Anton Hood was awarded the Collie Campbell Award while women's second Bridget Becker won the Frances Brodie Award. Both awards are selected by curlers at the event with the recipients being recognized as best exemplifying the spirit of curling at both championships.

Of course the men's and women's teams were not the only successes of this past season. The senior men's and women's teams turned some heads at the World Senior Curling Championships with the men finishing 13th overall and the women finishing 14th. 

And we cannot discuss New Zealand curling without recognizing the amazing crowdfunding campaign hosted by the member association and national teams.

Once both men's and women's teams qualified for the world championships, fundraising was required to help make the results a reality. Setting a fundraising goal of $20,000, the curling community from all around the world helped send the Kiwi's to the big show.

Overall, 121 donors contributed a total of $28,950 to the campaign, achieving 144% of the target.

New Zealand Curling has also conducted a successful rebranding with a new website and increased funding opportunities for its national teams.

I doubt many saw this #growthesport result come out of New Zealand when the season started...yet here we are celebrating the success of the Kiwi!

Could the results of this past season be the lift off needed by the Pacific Ocean island country as they start their 2026 Winter Olympic aspirations this upcoming season?

INTRO

Everyone grab your drink and take your seat. Our show is ready to begin.

Welcome to the 6th Annual Golden Granite Awards

The 2023 Golden Granite Awards will be highlighting some of the best moments of the 2022/2023 curling season.

From those #TeamUpset results to top moments of the season, this award show celebrates them all.

And while not every team/athlete will walk away with a coveted Golden Granite award, remember it is always a compliment to even be nominated.

Practice those winning moment faces and rehearse those positive (yet devastated) losing smiles. We don't need any face crack moments this award season.

There will be 11 categories to be presented. And TwineTime will be celebrating all disciplines, from 4-person to mixed doubles to wheelchair. Plus recognition for those nations who, collectively, owned the sport throughout the entire Season of Champions.

Lets get to our first award.

As has become Golden Granite tradition, we start our award show with the Grant Hopley Award.

This is a very special award for TwineTime and the #CurlingFamily as we annually celebrate the life of curling fan Grant Hopley and recognize him for the social aspect he brought to a venue, whether through volunteering or being a fan in the stands.

If you are unfamiliar with the history behind the naming of this iconic award, check out the full story HERE.

This award is solely based on the feedback from the fans. The same people who pay to watch the sport and help make the sport special.

Fan engagement is a key element to sport and curling is no exception.

While you may have great results on the ice, what you do off the ice can be just as valuable in winning over fan support.

And teams are starting to take notice. With TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and other social media platforms making it easier for teams/athletes to engage with their biggest supporters, this award celebrates those who did it best over the past season.

The nominees were determined via social media opinion poll, narrowing it down to our Final Four.

The SF votes were conducted and the final vote for the Golden Granite Award took place all via social media.

Grant, we miss you daily and your smiling face always lit up a curling venue. We hope this award brings another smile to you as you continue to cheer on the sport from your special bird's eye view above.

CATEGORY IS.....GRANT HOPLEY AWARD (SOCIAL TEAM OF THE YEAR)

2019/2020 Winners: Team Tipple

The nominees are: Team Galusha (CAN), Team Gushue (CAN), Team Homan (CAN), Team Jones (CAN)

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: Team Homan

The fans have spoken and Team Homan picks up the win. But it was a battle to secure this trophy.

Homan defeated Team Jones in the SF vote and prepared to take on the juggernaut popularity of Team Gushue (who defeated Team Galusha in the other SF).

These two teams have been engaging in social media warfare all season...indirectly of course.

Both have been posting fun videos and creating .gif moments causing fans to LOL across social media platforms.

And if you think these awards don't mean anything, think again!

Both teams went full battle mode to win this award during the two-day voting period.

From re-sharing iconic social posts to encouraging fans to "rock the vote", this vote went back-and-forth numerous times.

Gushue took an early lead. Homan responded and regained the lead. Gushue would fight back and took back the lead and vice versa.

Overall, there may have been 5 or 6 lead changes in this vote!

But in the end, Team Homan prevailed with 55% of the vote.

Take note, there were over 9,000 votes cast folks. AH-MAZE-ING!

And Team Homan is a very deserving winner of this award.

From the Super Bowl video to the Stuffed Animal Ride video to the Smile More video to the Tortilla Challenge and so many others, Team Homan stepped up the social media game this season.

They even created their own hashtag #StayWeird and it resonated with fans all season.

Congratulations Team Homan!

The question now is...what will they do to try and retain this award next season?

And who will step up to challenge them?