Norwegian curlers show off more than just trousers (News Feature)

By David Hein Feb 20, 2010, 4:18 GMT

Vancouver - They cannot be missed, not with those fancy pants.

The Norway curling team has drawn loads of glares of amazement that skip Thomas Ulsrud's quartet are actually wearing diamond-patterned red, white and blue bottoms.

But observers looking past the flamboyant Norwegian kit would actually see that Ulsrud has his group playing great curling and is a serious medal contender at the Vancouver Olympic Centre.

It's just too bad those fancy pants cannot be overlooked - no, not those bottoms in Norway's colours.

'I didn't expect this fuss about the fancy pants,' said Ulsrud after his team's opening session against Canada.

Team Norway had originally planned on wearing them only during training. But Christoffer Svae convinced his mates to wear them on the ice as well.

'I figured we should have something that would spice it up a little bit,' said Svae, who ordered the slacks online.

He found the trousers - called 'Dixie' - from the same California-based Loudmouth Golf that outfits golfer John Daly with the promise of 'The first argyle pants for men in the world!' The price tag is 90 US dollars.

'So I found some golf pants and they are comfortable to play in, which is the most important thing. And it seems like we are getting some attention for them,' said Svae.

That's to say the least.

'We saw four clowns coming up and down the ice - that's a fun thing to do,' Sweden's Niklas Edin told reporters after the first day of action.

'Norway has the crazy pants,' US alternate Chris Plys posted on Twitter. 'Kickin it retro I guess.'

'They were wearing them in practice, so we've seen them a couple of times. But it's unique,' said Canadian skip Kevin Martin said.

England's reigning world champion David Murdoch could not befriend them - despite being a Scottish native: 'Plaid curling pants? No, not now, but maybe later.'

Norwegian double alpine medal winner Aksel Lund Svindal, however, said fans should see his trousers.

'Have you seen my pants? The curling pants are nothing compared to mine. I wear tie-dye,' said Svindal about an hour after winning super-G gold.

Canadian women's skip Cheryl Bernard and British third Jackie Lockhart were both fans.

'It's great for the sport. This is good for curling. They're great. The sport needs a little life and it doesn't hurt,' said Bernard.

'It means we've been recognized and people are thinking curling? That's brilliant. Anything to get your sport in the limelight,' added Lockhart.

When asked about the reaction back in Norway, Ulsrud said: 'The tendency is, the chicks dig them and the guys ... they're not too sure about it.'

One guy, Switzerland's Ralph Stoeckli, thinks the Norwegians' gear takes away from the game somewhat.

'I don't think they need those trousers because they are a great team and people shouldn't focus on their fancy pants but how they play and they're one of the best teams out there,' said Stoeckli.

And Stoeckli should know. His Swiss side was beaten by Norway 7-4 on Thursday.

Norway were second in the curling standings with a 4-1 record, behind only Canada at 5-0.

The Norwegians missed a golden opportunity to beat the overwhelming favourites but Ulsrud was out-foxed by Martin in the extra 11th end and Canada won 7-6.

But it was a learning experience for the 38-year-old Ulsrud, who is making his Olympic debut after winning bronze at the world championships in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Ulsrud and his men may just show they are more than some funny-looking fancy pants.