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The Rubber Curling Hack
 Edmontonian Elias B. "Ole" Olson, like many Canadians, was an avid
curler. In 1939, during a bonspiel in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he was
preparing to launch his rock. He thought out his shot, took hold of the
granite stone, placed his foot in the dent hacked from the ice and began
to push off. Then, at the crucial moment, he slipped and missed his
shot. It is not known how hard Olson hit the ice, but like Newton, the
bump was enough motivation to invent a solution. For the passionate
curler about to make an important shot, a hole hacked from the curling
ice was simply too unreliable.
 Olson reasoned that rubber, commonly used in car tires and shoes for a
good grip on ice, would also serve the curler well. On his way home, he
purchased some raw rubber form a tire company and began tinkering. Using
the family stove he set to work baking the prototypes. Eventually, Olson
settled on a chunky design that provided grip for the thrower's foot and
prevented slipping.
The design was such an obvious improvement, that local clubs quickly
purchased the device. Olson was also an expert icemaker and was able to
embed the rubber hack in the curling surface during the ice-making
process. Doing this firmly cemented the rubber chunk so that curlers
could concentrate on their shots, confident that their foot was
positioned firmly. The risk of falling was greatly reduced. With a
secure push-off point, the curler could throw harder and more
accurately.
Although never patented, Olson's rubber curling hack became the industry
standard and curlers sought out Olson at his Edmonton store. The
embedded rubber hack was used by everyone from amateurs at local
bonspiels to professionals at world championships. Olson's Curling
Manufacturing and Supplies Ltd. still
sells a rubber hack and manufactures a bolt-down-style hack. In the true
spirit of innovation, the company has adapted to changes within the
industry even when these changes evolve beyond Olson's original design.
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