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What Is Curling?

Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a circular target marked on the ice. Each team has eight stones.

The purpose is to accumulate the highest score for a game, points being scored for the stones resting closest to the center of the house at the conclusion of each end, which is completed when both teams have thrown all of their stones. A game may consist of ten or eight ends.

The curler can induce a curved path by causing the stone to slowly turn as it slides, and the path of the rock may be further influenced by two sweepers with brooms who accompany it as it slides down the sheet, using the brooms to alter the state of the ice in front of the stone. A great deal of strategy and teamwork goes into choosing the ideal path and placement for each situation, and the skills of the curlers determine how close to the desired result the stone will achieve.

A Blast From The Past

In 1921, a building in Buhl, MN was constructed for use as a farmer's market. In 1923, it was then converted into a curling club. The curlers "plan" was for the club to be used for curling 4 months of the year while the remaining months it would be used for community activities.

In 1979, the members of the Buhl Curling Club felt the need for a new facility, due to the need of numerous repairs on the current building. That fall, the members of the curling association approached the city requesting a new community center/curling club. After many town meetings and the June 21, 1980 vote, it was passed that a new facility be built.

After 3 months of non-stop work on this new facility, the very first function was held at the new Buhl Community Center/Curling Club. It was the Men's Simon's Bonspiel.

Today, many functions are still had at this community center/curling club, from curling bonspiels to the Minnesota Deer Hunter's Association banquets.