The 2026 Winter Olympics may be wrapping up in Milan-Cortina, but that doesn’t mean your dreams have to be dashed. From September to May, the Charlotte Curling Association welcomes visitors to join their passionate group of curling league members on the ice at their facility along Sunset Road.
“Like everyone else, I grew up watching [curling] on the Olympics every four years,” Julie Dellibovi, president of the Charlotte Curling Association, told CLTtoday. “I didn’t know what they were doing, but thought it was the coolest thing ever, so we gave it a try. Nine years later, we’re completely hooked.”
The goal of curling is to get the stone (a smooth, 42-pound rock with a top handle) into the house (bullseye-looking marks on each end of the ice). You get one point for each stone that lands closer to the bullseye than any opposing stone. Because the ice is pebbled, sweepers clear a path to reduce friction, but also alter the path of the stone — thus, curling.
The best part? Curling is a sport for all ages and all abilities.
“We have curlers as young as five and as old as 97,” said Dellibovi. “We offer wheelchair curling and stick curling, so anyone with mobility issues can try it.”
The volunteer-run Charlotte Curling Association offers everything from Learn to Curl events to competitive bonspiels (curling tournaments). Dellibovi recommends keeping an eye on social media for upcoming events.
