34 Curling Facts: Rules, History, Equipment And More

Curling is a sport that is often underestimated.

It may seem easy to play at first, but there is more to it than meets the eye. Curling takes its name from the unusual twisting that happens at the conclusion of the stone's ice course.

Curling was nicknamed 'The Roaring Game' because of the rumbling noise the curling stone produces when thrown and how much it glides through rough ice. This is one of the fun facts about this winter game.

Curling is an ice-based team sport in which two teams take turns sliding granite stones towards a goal, also commonly referred to as a house.

History Of Curling

Curling has been dubbed 'The Roaring Game' because of the noise made by the granite stone when players push it over the flat ice. The detailed history of curling is explained below.

Paintings by Pieter Bruegel (1530-1569), a 16th century Flemish artist, depicted a pastime comparable to curling being performed on frozen ponds.

The first recognized curling clubs were created in Scotland, and the game was transferred during the 19th century to wherever Scots lived in cold areas across the world, most notably in the United States, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and New Zealand.

The original rules were drafted in Scotland, and the Grand Caledonian Curling Club, which was founded in Edinburgh in 1838 and has become the sport's governing body, legally approved them as the 'Rules in Curling'.

Queen Victoria was so taken with the game during her visit that she gave consent for the club's name to be modified to the Royal Caledonian Curling Club in 1843.

International curling competitions were held in Europe and North America in the nineteenth century, but no recognized international tournament for men's teams took place until the inaugural Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, in 1924.

After another 25 years, a conference was organized in Edinburgh in 1957 to discuss the development of a worldwide organization that would be essential to apply for the winter sport in the Olympic curling medal rank.

The federation's company was renamed the World Curling Federation in the '90s.

Curling was indeed an official sport for women's and men's teams at the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics in Calgary and Albertville, respectively.

Employees of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club were responsible for the governance of the World Curling Federation and the International Curling Federation from 1966 until 1994.

The first World Curling Championship for women was hosted in Aomori, Japan, in 2007, and the first World Men's Curling Championship was held in Beijing, China, in 2014. These events recognized the sport's rise throughout Asia.

Rules Of Curling

The following are important rules that must be followed in a curling game.

Curling matches are made up of 10 ends, which seem to be comparable to baseball innings. Both teams' four players alternate tossing stones at each end in a curling match. First, the lead throws, then the second, then the third or vice-versa, and lastly, the skip.

At world curling tournaments, each side uses a series of eight stones with the same grip color, red or yellow. Lead, second, third, and fourth are the most popular playing positions. The player who throws the very first two stones takes the lead. The third and fourth stones are played by the second.

By allowing the stone to curl slowly as it slides, the player may create a curved route. Two teams, each using eight stones, alternate turns to deliver stones. The team with the most accrued score points at the conclusion of ten ends is declared the winner.

After all 16 rocks have indeed been launched down the ice, teams of four take turns curling two rocks to the target area, with the team scores being tallied after every 16 stones are sent down the ice.

International matches are limited to 73 minutes on each side, with two-minute-long timeouts. In the case of a draw, each additional end is given 10 minutes as well as one timeout.

The stone has to be let free. Its front border crosses what's known as the hog line. Before they come to a stop or come into touch with other pebbles, foul throws are eliminated off the ice.

Sweeping, where players sweep the ice in front of a stone as it moves, can be done by two team members approximately to the tee line, but after that, only one participant can brush. After the tee, one opposing player may sweep.

Any stone handled or moved while in a curling competition by a competitor or their broom, will be replaced or removed, depending on the scenario.

The first to play team is determined by a coin toss, a 'draw-to-the-button' game, or win-loss records in Olympic play. Following that, the team that scores nothing in the preceding end is given the benefit of going last, which is known as the hammer throw.

If a team believes they are unable to win, they may concede, however depending on the activity and stage of the tournament, they may be required to wait until a specific amount of ends have been completed.

As fair play is so important, there is a tradition of self-refereeing when it comes to infractions, which is a key aspect of curling.

Invention Of Curling

Curling was invented in Scotland in the 16th century, and games were initially played on frozen lakes and lochs in the winter.

The very first stones were made in the Scottish districts of Stirling and Perth in 1511, and players began utilizing stones with handles in the 1600s.

We don't know exactly who invented curling. It's believed that the sport was developed by shepherds in Scotland around 1540 AD. The earliest record of a curling game was played on ice in 1620, but it wasn't until 1838 when the first official match took place between two villages near Edinburgh, Scotland.

Curling dates back to the 16th century throughout Scotland, making it one of the world's oldest team sports. Stones from Perth and Stirling were used in those early games, which were contested on frozen lakes and lochs.

Curling stones with handles were introduced in the 1600s, and the Grand Caledonian Curling Club drafted the sport's first formal regulations in 1838.

The standardizing of the stone, the invention of the team slides, including the use of indoor rinks, and chilled ice facilities were all significant innovations in the sport throughout the 20th century.

Tools Used For Curling

The following is a list of popular and currently used curling equipment.

Dust, mud, ice, frost, and snow are swept away in front of the hurled team's stones using a broom. Curling brooms with nylon brushes or foam are more widespread, and some, like the one utilized in the Olympics, incorporate temperature indicators.

To produce optimum friction, curling requires a level and smooth surface, typically called a curling sheet. According to the World Curling Federation, the surface is just a rectangular curling sheet. Multiple matches may be played concurrently by spreading more than one field.

Curling stones are governed by the regulations of international competition. They have a weight of 40 lb (18 kg) and are two-sided, so the person in control can alter where the grip sits and switch the curling stone across for a fresh one when it wears down.

The curling stone must be reshaped once both surfaces have worn down. Curling stones are available at most clubs, so a normal individual does not need to worry about acquiring them.

Curling stones may last for more than 10 years if properly cared for. One of the most prevalent issues regarding curling stones is that as they age, they have difficulties gripping the ice.

'Crampit and Hack' is a term heard in reference to curling. The crampit is just a component of the hack. The crampit seems to be the spot on your foot that you push off from. There are two crampits in the hack, one for right-handed curlers and another for left-handed curlers.

The crampit used to be chipped out of the ice, but now that the hack is frozen through into ice, it works just as well.

Clothing that is both comfortable and practical is perhaps the most critical piece of gear. You should dress in something that makes you feel good.

The shoes you wear must enable you to bend at the ankles, and the left shoe must have a slick surface for gliding on, except if you curl left-handed, in which case the right shoe should have a slick surface.

There are curling shoes particularly designed for this purpose, or you can acquire a shoe attachment that does the same thing.