Club member Rich Collins visited his daughter’s school to talk about the Winter Olympics.  Students got a chance to touch a curling stone, try on adult sized curling shoes, and sweep their classroom before sliding foam curling stones across a table top curling sheet game. Surprisingly, many of the children had not only seen curling on the Olympics earlier in the week, but several of them were able to explain the purpose of sweeping and ohw a team scores in an end.  Earlier in the day students had a special science lesson on force, which they excitedly related to delivering a curling stone.

So, Virginians, where are you going to watch Team USA Women curl against Sweden tonight on the Olympics?  We will have plenty of space at our Curling Experience event both off AND on the ice if you want to try to throw a stone like USA’s Debbie McCormick!

Curling doesn’t just take place in far off places like Sochi, Russia; the Curling Club of Viriginia will take the ice tonight offering folks a chance to try the Olympic sport of Curling firsthand!  Drop by the Richmond Ice Zone from 6-9 pm for a 30-minute introduction to the Olympic Sport of Curling.

One of the great thing about curling is the curlers. From weekly league players to international comeptitors, curlers are a friendly group of people passionate about their sport. Olympians are no different, as you will read as some of our members share their personal memories of meeting Olympic curlers through the years.

Club President Scott Walters said, “Curling relationships, even with world class curlers, span across the world!  While curling on her high school varsity team, my daughter wanted to attend a curling camp, but couldn’t because the number of participants for U.S. curling camps in Wisconsin far exceed the spots available in the programs. At that time, the US Curling News advertised a camp in Füssen, Germany for junior curlers. Surprisingly, the cost was so inexpensive, adding the airfare made the whole week experience about the cost of the US camp.

“While in Füssen, (the same arena where the 2014 USA Men’s Olympic earned their Olympic berth!), my daughter was coached by the Canadian national curling association’s senior instructor and her roommate was introduced to us as simply “Denise”. We later learned that Denise was [Denise Dupont] on the Danish National Team [that went on to play in the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics]. She is now playing for the Danish Women’s National team, and maintains a connection with her curling “roommate” from Wisconsin.”

Curling commercials seem to be more popular than ever during the 2014 Winter Olympics.  The excitement of seeing our own club featured in the Virginia Lottery commercial with Game Guy made us want to search out other ads that showcase this amazing sport.

Here’s a collection of some of the greatest curling commercials. If you have a link to one that we do not have listed, please feel free to Email Us so that we can include it!

United Airlines “Athletes Aboard”

For over 30 years, United Airlines has been the carrier trusted to transport America’s leading athletes to the Olympic Games. In this fun ad, various sports are played in the terminal and on the plane before take-off. I’ve always thought the aisles were perfect for delivering a stone, haven’t you?

Sunday night, before Olympic curling began, Virginians across the state got a glimpse of this great sport as part of a new Virginia Game Guy commercial. Featuring our members as they took the ice downtown, club member Rich Collins gives Jason the Game Guy a 30 second lesson on why we sweep and how we score in curling – be the closest to the button!The Game Guy came out to learn curling with the club last month and jumped right into the game.  The Game Guy is the central character in the lottery’s “We’re Game” ad campaign and features the wide variety of games Virginians love to play, and curling is just one of them.

After spending time with us on the ice, he tweeted to the club, “Thank you!!! I had so much fun and I have a new appreciation for the sport! I’m hooked,” adding that it was “Way harder than it looks!”

“I love the game and must play again. Way more fun than watching on tv. Game On!!!”

If you would like a chance to get in the game, consider coming out for upcoming Curling Experiences or Learn2Curl classes.