How do you play curling? 

Curling is a team sport of great skill and strategy that dates back to Scotland some 500 years ago. Though the game has evolved and developed greatly over the years, the basic premise is the same; to get more of your stones closer to the center of the target than your opponents. Click here to upload a printable PDF document showing how the game scores.

Today; curling is played on a sheet of ice 15 feet wide by 146 feet long. The stones are 42lb each and there are 16 stones – 8 per team. Click here to upload a printable PDF document with terminology and dimensions of a curling sheet.

There are four people on each team; each person alternates throwing two stones. The shot making requires precision not unlike billiards, darts or golf; the strategic thinking required to win has lead curling to be referred to as “chess on ice”. It can be a very competitive game of great mental and physical challenge, or it can be a very relaxing game strictly for recreation, amusement and socializing.

Click here for a PDF document with a "nut-shell" description of how the game is played. Also, for comprehensive curling instruction and information go to CurlTech.

Who Curls?

Curling is played by the young, old, men and women - most anyone can learn how to curl. Whatever the case, curling is a growing sport. Curling became an Olympic medal event in 1998 and since then the popularity and growth have increased greatly world wide. Because it is an ice sport, it is most prevalent in the northern regions of the globe; however, you now see it in places like Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, Arizona, Florida and California.

No place in the world is the game more popular then in Canada, where there are an estimated 3 million curling fans; about 900,000 people play it each year, of which about 500,000 play on a regular basis.

Curling is very popular in Minnesota. All totaled, most of the curlers in the United States are from Minnesota and Wisconsin. Though very popular in the northern and eastern regions of Minnesota, curling has been largely void in the west central and southwestern areas of the state.