Curling is one of the oldest team sports and is played on ice. The game dates back to medieval Scotland where competitors slid stones of various sizes across frozen lochs. Today the stones are standardized, composed of 42 pounds of granite with composite plastic/fiberglass handles bolted into the rocks. Curling gets its name from the rotation placed on the stone once it is released. It has seen a rise in popularity since becoming a medal sport in the 1998 Winter Olympics.

No. Curling is not played on ice skates. It is played in rubber soled shoes. All you need to give it a try is a clean pair of sneakers with decent traction. We ask that you bring your sneakers with you and change into them once inside the club so as not to track dirt from outside onto the ice.

Yes. Curling is a sport that can be enjoyed by anyone ranging from children as young as 12 to senior citizens.

For an overview of game play, rules, and some basic terminology, visit our Intro to Curling page under the "What is Curling" menu.

Not to worry. If an injury or your physical ability prevents you from getting into the "lunge position" you can still participate by using a throwing stick. Similar to shuffleboard, the throwing stick allows you slide the stones down the ice from a standing position.

The curling stone is a thick granite stone disc weighing between 40 and 44 pounds with a handle attached to the top. The handle allows the stone to be gripped and rotated upon release; on properly prepared ice, the stone's path will bend (curl) in the direction the front edge of the stone is turning, especially as the stone slows. The handles are colored to identify the stones by team.

Yes, most curlers will eventually want to get their own pair of curling shoes. Curling shoes come equipped with a teflon slider attached to the sole on your non-dominant foot and a coarse dense rubber sole on your dominant foot. A rubber "gripper" goes on over the teflon slider when it's not your turn to throw. However, for your first time trying curling, a clean pair of sneakers will do. We will provide grippers and step-on sliders for you to use.

Nothing, as long as you have a clean pair of sneakers and warm comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. We have grippers, sliders, and brooms that you can use. Over time, most people who continue with the sport do prefer to buy their own pair of curling shoes, broom, curling pants, gloves, etc. 

The heat generated by the friction that's created by sweeping the ice directly in front of the stone will make the stone go further and straighter. Remember, all shots are thrown with a rotation that causes them to curve (or curl, which is why it's called "curling") in the direction of the rotation, sweeping will help keep it straighter.

Unfortunately you can't. You're not allowed to touch the stone and sweeping will make it go farther and straighter. However, even if the stone is thrown too hard, it's important that you relay that information to your Skip right away. Your Skip may use that information to switch to a plan B and do something different with that stone, which may require you to sweep it.

Communication between teammates is essential for success in the sport of curling. The sweepers relay information to the "Skip" or team captain who calls all the shots, about the weight of the throw (how hard it was thrown and how far they think it's going to go.) The skip uses that information and watches the path that the stone takes and relays information back to the sweepers about whether or not they need to sweep. As the speed and path change over the length of the ice, they constantly yell new information and instructions back and forth. Generally, the louder a skip yells, the more crucial it is that the sweepers sweep as hard as they can. You'll often hear the skip yell "HAAAAAARRRRD!" Most clubs have more than one curling sheet (we have three) so there is usually more than one game going on at a time. Therefore the skips and sweepers are always trying to be heard over the people yelling in the other games.

Nooooo! Curling ice is prepared differently than ice skating or hockey ice. While skating ice is flat and smooth, curling ice is has a bumpy texture called a "pebble." "Pebbling" the ice is done by sprinkling water droplets on the ice that then freeze, creating a textured surface. The stones ride on top of the pebbles. If the ice were flat and smooth there would be too much friction to slide the stones all the way down the ice. The pebble will wear down over the course of a game and therefore the ice is repebbled before each game.

We're careful. Also, the pebbled texture of the ice combined with the grippers on our curling shoes give us enough traction. However, it is always important to remember that you are on ice and you can still slip. When you're new, some basic rules to ensure your safety are to never run on the ice, and never walk backwards. Some people do opt to wear protective equipment such as knee pads, elbow pads, and protective headgear, though none of this is required. There are curling supply shops where you can purchase padded hats for extra protection in the event that you do fall. 
Pro Tip: Despite the cool temperatures, keep your hands OUT of your pockets. Then if you do fall, you'll be able to help break your fall with your hands.

We play 8 end games. In national and international competition they play 10 ends. An 8 end game typically takes about 2 hours to complete.

Practice. Period. And listen to the more experienced curlers who will try to help you by giving you pointers about your technique, delivery, sweeping, etc. There are also several companies that offer instructional "camps"  that typically range from anywere from 2-5 days. At the Ardsley Curling Club, we often offer specialized skills clinics throughout the season at no cost or for a very low fee for our members.

Yes. As long as you get good enough and win the Olympic trials. It's important to remember that the people you see in the Olympics have been playing at a very high level for many years and there is a reason why they're Olympians. While it takes many years of practice to reach the elite level of Olympic play, most people can overcome the learning curve to be able to participate in leagues relatively quickly. After a 3 session learn to curl and a couple weeks playing in our instructional leagues you'll feel very comfortable on the ice.

Broomstacking is an important tradition in curling. Curling is a very social game. At the end of each game, team members from both teams sit together at a table in our cozy warm room and socialize over drinks and/or snacks. We have a fully stocked bar with both alcoholic drinks (for those over 21) and juices and soft drinks for those who prefer something non-alcoholic. Tradition has it that the winning team buys the first round of drinks for the losing team and the losing team reciprocates with the second round. To find out the history of it and why it's called "broomstacking" you'll have to become a member and ask one of the experienced curlers. Or just Google it.