Curling, A Winter Olympic Sport
www.kccurling.com or upcoming calendar below.
The Kansas City Curling Club offers curling throughout the year and is open to all. By joining, your level of play can go as high and as far as you desire, whether it be a drop in player, recreational league curler, bonspiel (interclub) competitor , USCA sanctioned regional/national player, or working toward the Olympic Trials in 2013.
Curlers start as young as 8 to 10 years old and can play the rest of their life as long as they are physically fit. While sports generally honor the youth, it is not unusual to see the highest level competitive curlers in their 30's , 40's and some team captians (skips) have played into their 60's.
Curling's challenges are a nice mix of physical skills, game strategy, keen awareness and mental toughness. Easy to learn , but will surprise you how difficult it is to master. Whether you bring a large group, a team of 4 or signup as a individual you will find curling both social and competitive.
Contact/Questions: email us or phone 913-599-9965
Calendar
Programs, Click for Details
- Free Open House
- Groups/Corporations should consider renting the ice anytime year round.
- Spring Bonspiel
- Summer Open Play - Monday Night
- Fall Heartland Cup - Skins Play
- Winter League Saturday Night or Sunday Afternoon
Don't know Curling? Watch Curling Matches Online (Free Video on Demand)
- 2009 Olympic Trials Bronze and Gold Metal Matches
- 2009 Mens Canadian Brier
- 2009 Womens Worlds Championship
Overview
Curling is a team game, where all four team members' efforts contribute directly to each shot. Teams can be composed of both sexes and all ages, and like golf, curling is a lifetime sport. A curler at any skill level, like a golfer, finds that his or her skills decline only gradually from about age 45 onward. A national class curler, like the pro golfer, realizes that once the physical aspects are mastered, the mental aspect of the game separates the good player from the champion.
To continue with the golf analogy, it can be said that the curler who is at the height of his or her game has the same edge as the golfer who is sinking the key putts: great nerves, will to win, and mental toughness.
Historical and Descriptive Notes
It is generally agreed that curling was developed in Scotland in the 16th century. The climate in Scotland was colder then, and curling took place on the many marshes (since drained).
Scottish farmers curled on the frozen marshes using ?channel stones,? which were naturally smoothed by the water?s action. The principles of the game were similar to the modern game, although there were many differences in rules and equipment.Scottish immigrants brought the game with them to North America, first to Canada around 1759, then to the United States around 1832. By 1855, curling clubs flourished in New York City, Detroit, Milwaukee and Portage, Wis. Curling in the rest of Europe developed in the 20th century.
Two developments ensured that the modern game would be marked by a high degree of physical skill and mental toughness:
- the standardization of the stone, and
- indoor, refrigerated ice.
The modern stone is round, and about 42 pounds. Curling is played, for the most part, on indoor, refrigerated ice, which helps ensure a fast, consistent and predictable playing surface.
