Curling's Viral Ice Tech: The Michael Jackson of Ice?

Mark Callan, the head ice technician for curling at the Winter Games, has unexpectedly gained global attention for his distinctive "moonwalk-shuffle" while preparing the ice. This technique, performed while "pebbling"—spritzing de-ionized water onto the ice surface—has captivated audiences and earned him comparisons to Michael Jackson.

Callan's meticulous process involves using purified water from the Dolomites, which is sprayed onto concrete slabs chilled by glycol. This creates the signature pebbled texture crucial for curling stones to "curl" across the ice. The ice sheets are Callan's artistic creations, with different nozzle sizes used to ensure varied pebble sizes for optimal play.