Over the weekend, be sure to check out some of the rare opportunities for us Stateside folks to view some live curling. The Continental Cup is underway — it’s kind of like the Davis Cup in golf — in Langley, British Columbia, and the World Curling Federation is helping to bring TSN’s coverage of the event to an audience outside of Canada. Teams from North America are squaring off against teams comprised of players from the rest of the world.

One event that you may want to keep an eye on is the Mixed Doubles curling. In this event teams of two square off against one another in an event that is quite interesting — once you get past the oddities. Two stones are placed in play prior to the start of each end. The teams then throw 5 stones, with one player throwing the first and last stone of an end, and the other player throwing stones 2, 3 and 4. Each player then sweeps their own stones… it’s something to behold.

The World team is making some news off the ice as well. They have banned their players from indulging in alcohol until the last stone of the cup has been thrown. One reporter from Winnipeg has let it be known that the event in the past has been the “most beer-soaked and philandering curling event” that he’s covered. The Godfather of Kalamazoo curling, and host of The Curling Show, Dean Gemmell, Tweeted about the controversy: “I’m not saying an in-comp booze ban is wrong. But a weird event for it. And I don’t like the inference that curlers always overdo it.” He goes on: “I mean, hockey players?Basketball players? Or skiers? I’m pretty sure those men and women leave a mark on some scenic Alpine villages.”

What do you think? Let us know on our Facebook page.

It’s been a fantastic week, and we can’t express enough enthusiasm and appreciation at the VOLUNTEER officials who came from all over the country… the VOLUNTEER ice crew that came from far and near… all the other VOLUNTEERS who made this event possible… and, of course, to all the fantastic, fun, good-spirited athletes that were at the center of this all… We have truly enjoyed hosting you this week, and look forward to seeing you again… on the ice! Thank you! Great curling!

With that, we offer you the final edition of The Early Draw, and a link to the live web stream of the final matches: ladies at 10 AM EST, and men at 3 PM EST.

And here’s another YouTube video… something that you can do on your Wii: