Curling is rapidly growing in popularity across the US, and around the world! New curlers are drawn to its mix of strategy, athleticism, and community.
Here at the Long Island Curling Club, our mission is to promote and foster competition in the sport of curling on a local, regional, national and international level, and attract, support and train athletes interested in curling competition.
Curling can be played by participants of all ages and abilities. Some curlers come alone, and make new friends. Others come as friends, families, couples. We've had league curlers as young as 11, and in their 80s. It is a lifetime sport. Wheelchair participants can also curl: in the same games, and on the same teams, as other participants. This is unique among sports.
The problem? Our organization does not have a facility of our own. We rent leftover ice time from a hockey rink. This leads to many challenges!
- Scheduling is difficult. We are almost completely unable to offer daytime programs for schools, company events, and other specialty/niche events such as for seniors, overnight workers, wheelchair curlers, and more.
- Ice is costly. Regardless of whether 30 curlers are on the ice, or fewer than 10, we must rent the entire rink.
- Ice quality. While hockey players may not notice the subtle rises and falls of a rink, curlers absolutely do notice! A subtle slope can make a game nearly unplayable.
- Curling is social! With a facility of our own, we'll be able to bring a social experience. With a facility, curlers will be able to get off the ice, sit down in the "warm room," eat, drink, talk, and build the connections that truly make the curling community a worldwide, close-knit group.
- We cannot be nearly as inclusive as we strive to be through our mission. With more ice time, we'll be able to introduce more guests to the game, host school leagues, welcome more wheelchair curlers, host company events, and more.
We want to solve these challenges. We want to be able to bring our sport to ALL Long Islanders and visitors. There are so many wonderful public sports facilities in our area, for so many sports; sports that don't share curling's wide reach across ages and abilities. Curling is unique in this regard. Dedicated facilities have been introduced successfully in places as non-traditional as Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville, Phoenix, San Francisco, and more. We want to do it here, too. It's time.
Make it happen. Donate today to the Long Island Curling Club's Dedicated Ice Initiative.