New Curler 101
What to know before your first day on the ice.
Equipment
You don't need to buy anything to get started. The club provides all the basic equipment: a slider (for your foot), a broom, and a stabilizer (to help with balance while learning the delivery).
As you get more into the sport, you may eventually want to invest in your own curling shoes, broom, and clothing — but none of that is required on day one.
What to wear
The ice surface is approximately 40°F (4°C). The key is layers you can add or remove:
- A base layer (t-shirt or long-sleeve shirt)
- A sweatshirt or fleece
- Sweatpants or athletic pants — something that allows a lunge motion
- Avoid bulky coats that restrict arm movement
Footwear
Clean athletic sneakers only. This is the one hard rule.
Not allowed on the ice: boots, dress shoes, Uggs, flip-flops, heels, or deck shoes. Dirt from street shoes damages the ice surface. If you plan to curl regularly, it's worth keeping a dedicated pair of sneakers in your bag that never touch regular pavement.
How you'll learn
New curlers start with their peers, working through a series of foundational drills of increasing complexity. Once team play begins, less experienced players are paired with more experienced ones — you learn by doing, by watching, and by being coached in real game situations.
Broomstones offers Learn to Curl sessions for new members before the regular season begins. Check the Junior Curling page for upcoming dates.
How curling works
Not sure what curling even is? The Wikipedia article on curling is a great starting point for rules and history. If you prefer video, a 2-minute YouTube explainer will cover the basics. But honestly — the best way to understand curling is to play it. Everything clicks once you're on the ice.