r/Curling

Props to Trevor Gau for releasing his new curling-specific stopwatch.

In the most recent World Curling Board meeting minutes (June 3, 2026)
https://worldcurling.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Minutes-Board-Meeting-3-June-2026.pdf

There is this line:

>The UAE venue (possible venue for WWCC2027) has recently been awarded a major ice hockey event, suggesting it is viable and competitive.

>Next step suggested: Ask MAs involved to “test the water” before making a decision.

Is this referring to the Al Ain Ice Rink in Abu Dhabi?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/d9ie7G3rajnTxbdM6

It was recently awarded 2027 Men's Worlds, Division II, Group A for the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation)
https://www.iihf.com/en/news/74747/iihf_congress_allocates_tournaments

They appear to be asking Member Associations (MAs) before finalizing the decision.

Other things of note in the minutes:

>There has been no interest in Wheelchair events so far (WWhCC and WhMDCC) and that is the biggest concern at the moment.

>WMDQE in October is also a possible challenge, but hopeful of finding a host. There has been some interest in the WSCC and the WMxCC.

World Curling seems to be having some issues finding hosts for all of their events. There is a lot of them and not all of them draw crowds, not sure what the solution is here sadly.

Thoughts? I definitely didn't have the UAE on my radar for a curling host, so I was taken aback reading the minutes today.

Planning a bonspiel in late November for our club.
Are there any fun/memorable bonspiels you played in that that had a theme?
This is a women's one day fun bonspiel held to honor members of the club who have passed away. Former themes have been: pajama party, black and white, the fabulous four.
Would love to hear some of your favourites.

I just saw the announcement from USA Curling and, like many, am shocked by the glowing omission of team Peterson. Even more concerning than the probable retirement announcement is the fact that none of both Petersons, Taylor, or Cory (I know she’s still playing MD) are on other teams. Are they all retiring?! Taylor is a fantastic lead why not get her on another team?

Let me know if anyone knows anything or has any thoughts!

For over 20 years, the sport of curling has been a part of my everyday life. I’m not the youngest anymore, and those of us who are a bit older know all too well that as we get older, the exciting moments—the activities that can still stir up strong emotions—become fewer and fewer, and their intensity also gradually fades. Thanks to curling, I’ve learned that even older people can fall in love all over again. I never would have thought that anything could captivate me as much as curling and its unique aspects.

When I first became interested in the sport, players like Glenn Howard and Kevin Martin—as well as Andrea Schopp and Annette Norberg—were at the top, with Thomas Ulsrud and Dave Murdoch, and Mirjam Ott and Jennifer Jones, hot on their heels. Gradually, talents like Niklas Edin and John Shuster, Eve Muirhead, and Bingyu Wang followed. At one point, there was a full field of exciting athletes competing in countless thrilling tournaments. As a man, I often found myself admiring the female players; I was equally impressed by some of the gals for both their looks and their talent.

Anyway, let’s fast-forward 20 years—and now the very last of my early curling heroes have finally retired. More than once, I stayed up late into the night watching Tirinzoni and Ulsrud amongst many others. Now that they’ve retired, I really miss that connection.

The fact that so many players will now be competing with new teams doesn’t help much either. I’m finding it extremely hard to see Pätz, Amos Mosaner, Joel Retornaz, Lacedelli, Oskar Eriksson, Benjamin Kapp, Mark Nichols, Satsuki Fujisawa, Kerri Einarson—all of them—on the ice with new partners. I’m convinced we’ll see many new great curlers, especially Xenia Schwaller and Serena Gray-Withers, but I just don’t belong there anymore.

I’m very grateful that I was able to be part of this wonderful era. Above all, I’d like to thank Thomas Ulsrud (RIP) and all three of his teammates, Glenn Howard, Johnny Frederiksen, Jiri Snitil, E. J. Harnden, Brad Gushue, Sven Michel, Amos Mosaner, Matt Hamilton, Marc Muskatewitz, Silvana Tirinzoni and her three 2019 teammates, Andrea Schopp, Carmen Küng, Ludmila Privivkova, Iveta Staša-Šaršūne, Analena Jentsch, Dilşat Yıldız, Sarah Wilkes, Lauren Gray, Seina Nakajima, and Giulia Lacedelli. My favourite events were the WMCC in 2012 and the WWCC in 2019, will help me get over the loss of my great love—at least a little bit.