Everything You Need for Curling

Answer 1

In Canada, even small cities are known to have indoor ice rinks devoted solely to curling. These arenas are fully equipped with all the equipment one would need to simply set up and play a round. But in most other countries, unfortunately, one would be lucky to find a curling venue even in a large city. As such, those who would like to try out this interesting game may need to assemble their own set of equipment from scratch.

The most import parts of any curling set are the curling stones or rocks. These are stones of polished granite in the shape of a disc with a plastic handle on top to allow the stone to be thrown down the "sheet" of ice on which the game is played. A regulation curling stone weighs between 38 and 44 pounds, has a maximum circumference of 36 inches, and a minimum height of four and a half inches, as established by the rules of the World Curling Federation. Each team has eight such stones, meaning 16 stones in total are required for a set.

Curling stones are perhaps the most expensive part of any curling set, with even the most inexpensive stones being 300 dollars. As such, it is most likely that anyone attempting to assemble such a set will want to share their cost with others in their area who have a similar interest in curling, as by forming a curling club. There are, however, some organizations like the East Coast's Grand National Curling Club that offer stone rental.

After the stone, the next most important piece of curling equipment, and the one many people in countries unfamiliar with the sport most associate with the game, is the curling broom. The broom is used by the two "sweepers" to affect the movement of the stone down the sheet. While in the past, household brooms were often used, today professional curlers used specially made brooms composed of carbon fiber or fiberglass. Curling brooms run anywhere from 50 to 200 dollars depending on their quality. As there are two sweepers, a minimum of two brooms is needed to play if both teams exchange brooms during turns.

While not absolutely necessary for casual play, professional curlers also use specially made shoes. The both the thrower and slider wear Teflon-soled shoes that help them glide down the ice more easily, and the thrower actually wears a "hack foot shoe" on one foot to help him maintain balance and grip while sliding. The price of both is comparable to that of brooms, and is likewise related to quality.