Curling

curling

Curling is an Olympic sport in which teams of four throw 42-pound stones down a 150-foot sheet of ice. The sport of curling originated in Scotland, in which teams would throw small stones along the surface of frozen lakes and were swept with brooms made of corn bristles.

As the game of curling evolved in Scotland, the stones used to play the game became larger and were eventually fitted with handles. The sport continued to spread across Europe and later expanded into North America during European immigration in the 1800s.

FAQ

Which curler is the thrower and which ones are the sweepers?

All curlers throw two stones per end, so no curler is specifically "the thrower." When a curler isn't throwing a stone, they are either sweeping their teammates' stones or acting as the Skip and instructing the sweepers on when to sweep (as well as calling what shot is to be made.)

Why do curlers sweep the stones?

A stone is swept to either make the stone travel farther (preventing it from decelerating) or to make the stone travel straighter.

What are the positions on a curling team?

There are four positions: Lead, Second, Vice, and Skip. Additionally, teams may have a Fifth, an extra player in case one of the four becomes ill or injured, and a Coach.

How heavy is a curling stone?

Curling stones weigh approximately 42 pounds. Due to manufacturing techniques, not every curling stone is exactly the same, making each one unique.

Where can I curl?

If you aim to play in the United States, you can find a list of curling clubs on the United States Curling Association website. If you are in Canada, you can find a list of curling clubs on the Curling Canada website.