about lean

Lean Curling was created as a platform to discuss the science of curling. I believe any curler can better understand their own performance and how they can improve.

Curling-specific scientific research is limited compared with many other sports and our understanding of curling performance is constantly developing. Now is an exciting time to engage with new research developments, to better understand how curlers can improve, using an evidence-based approach.

Evidence-based practice is a core principle I try to contribute towards, and I believe every curler can find value in applying this to their own game.

about me

My name is Jotham Sugden, and I am a competitive curler from England, with over 50 appearances for my country. I am very interested in the underlying mechanisms behind sports performance, and I am always trying to better understand how curlers can improve, using evidence-based practice. I have qualified as a curling coach and as an ice technician, giving me a range of perspectives from which to analyse the game.

In 2023, I graduated from Lancaster University with a First-Class Sports and Exercise Science BSc. For my dissertation research project, I investigated sweeping performance analysis, using a SmartBroom 2.0, and became familiar with the available scientific research within curling. This led to me developing several tests to analyse key sweeping performance attributes. I am constantly looking to improve my understanding of curling performance and discuss the topic with others.