Come out and Learn to Curl with us!

The Chesapeake Curling Club offers 2 hour group sessions to introduce you to the sport of curling.

During each session, we’ll go over the basics of curling:

  • Delivering the stone
  • Sweeping the stone
  • Basic strategy
  • Play a mini game with your new curling friends to show off your new skills

 

    2024/25 Learn to Curl sessions

    Each session limited to 24 Tickets.
    Choose your date LTC date below.

    We also offer corporate and group events, for more information email  Chesapeakecurlingclub@gmail.com

    Learn to curl

    Curling is for all ages

    Curling is an inclusive sport. Curling can be played by anyone at any age and of any ability.

    Curling has physical health benefits

    While you don’t need to be in terrific shape to be a good curler, the sport can give you a great workout.

    Curling is social

    Like any team sport, curling involves a great deal of camaraderie both on and off the ice.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Am I too old/young to start curling?

    Not at all!  There are curlers of all ages.  In order to play, you must be able to deliver a 38-44 pound stone the length of the ice. For public Learn to Curls we require all participants be 13 years old and older.

    What clothes should I wear?

    Loose fitting, athletic clothing is best.  Jeans can be restrictive when delivering a stone.  Wear clothing in layers, as you may want to remove some layers as you warm up during play. A lightweight, long sleeve, technical shirt is particularly nice as a base layer to keep the cold air off your skin. Avoid clothing that contains “fuzzies” such as worn fleece jackets.  These fuzzies can fall on the ice and impede a stones travel, causing it to “pick” and go off its intended course.  If you plan to wear a fleece while learning to curl, please wash the fleece prior to coming out.  A lint brush can also be helpful in cleaning the jacket. Wear athletic shoes with a soft, clean, rubber sole.  Cross trainers are designed with wider soles and constructed to provide additional lateral stability, making them particularly good choices.  Although any kind of sneakers will do.  Dirt brought in on shoes from the outside can fall off onto the ice, and cause a stone to “pick.”  Prior to coming to a Learn to Curl, wipe down your sneakers and remove any dirt and foreign matter with a nylon scrub brush.  They don’t have to be spotless or brand new – they just need to be reasonably clean to avoid depositing material on the ice.

    Do I have to buy anything special to play?
    No, much like bowling, where you can use a house ball and rent bowling shoes, we provide all the things you need to play.  You can buy your own curling broom and shoes at a later time, if you wish to do so.
    How do you not fall down?
    Curling ice is not the same as hockey or skating ice.  Typical arena ice is perfectly flat and smooth, but curling ice has tiny little bumps on it.  Before the games, the ice is prepared with a fine spray or tiny droplets of water (known as pebbling the ice), which freezes and creates tiny bumps known as the pebble.  The pebble has a better grip than your common skating ice.  Combining the pebbles with soft rubber shoes provides a decent amount of traction.  We also have grippers available for use, which are rubber “booties” that go over the sole of your non-curling shoes. Please keep in mind that people do fall on occasion.  They’re usually able to stand right up and continue.  But there is a small chance of significant injury.  Caution must be used at all times while on the ice.
    I have problems that prevent me from performing a “standard” curling delivery. Does that mean I can’t play?

    No. You have the option to “Stick Curl”, which can be used to deliver a curling stone, where you walk instead of sliding, and releasing the stone before the hogline.  This delivery method is especially popular with senior curlers.  Here is a video showing how it works. For people in wheelchairs, there is even a dedicated Wheelchair Curling Association. The curling world has done a great job making the sport accessible to people of all abilities.  The biggest physical impediment are balance disorders that can make it difficult to move across the ice.  We ask that you please use your best discretion in determine your ability to try curling.