Canadian curling star Jennifer Jones spoke to the media after her team’s match against Norway at the Continental Cup on Sunday.
Jones and the rest of the curling team are headed to Russia next month to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, which are being held in Sochi.
Jones and her coach, Brad Jacobs, both commented on the Canadian team’s seemingly successful preparation for the Games.
Jacobs’ team played in a match against Norway at the Continental Cup this weekend, giving them a chance to prepare to fight for a win when they are matched against Norway.
Thomas Ulsrud, who captured the silver medal for the Norwegian curling team in 2010, said that the Canadian team were difficult opponents, but are going to have to “work for” a win in Sochi.
Upon the end of the match, Jones confidently said, “We couldn’t have asked for more or for it [the week] to go any better. We just feel real good with the ice and how we’re playing heading into Sochi.”
Jacobs discussed the strategy of focusing on Canada’s own curlers, rather than worrying about what their opponents were doing, saying, “We’ve played them before, We focus on our game. Everyone’s throwing the rock well right now, that’s the main thing for our team. I really like what I see as skip from the other end. It’s really nice to be here, playing on this great ice surface in really serious competition that everyone’s trying their hearts out at.”
In an attempt to prepare for the Games, the ice of the Sochi arena was mimicked at the Cup; Hans Wuthrich, the ice-maker for the 2014 Games, also prepared the surface at the Continental Cup.
The Continental Cup consists of matches in traditional curling, mixed doubles, singles, and skins play, pitting six North American teams against six other World teams, according to The Canadian Press.
The 2014 Olympic Winter Games will begin February 7 and last through February 23 in Sochi, Russia.
Main image courtesy @CCACurling via Twitter.