A VISIT TO THE LONG-TIME CLUB FOR SOME CURLING ONE ON ONE. IT’S A COLD MORNING OUTSIDE. YEP YEP YEP YEP YEP. GOOD. AND INSIDE THE PHILADELPHIA CURLING CLUB. BUT THERE’S A WARM, FRIENDLY FEELING HERE. CURLING IS A SPORT THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON SPORTSMANSHIP AND BEING A COURTEOUS GAME, AND BEING FRIENDLY. NICE SHOT. CURLERS OF ALL AGES ARE ON THE ICE SHEETS, TAKING PART IN WOMEN’S LEAGUE PLAY. ALL RIGHT, THAT WORKS REALLY WELL. JOE HESS, WHO GREW UP IN LANCASTER AND NOW LIVES IN BERWYN, CALLS THE SPORT ADDICTIVE. TRYING TO MAKE A SHOT IS ALWAYS NICE. I THINK FOR ME AT THIS POINT, IT’S IT’S THE CAMARADERIE, THE IT’S THE CURLING FAMILY IS AMAZING. THE CLUB HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1957. IT’S HAD ITS SHARE OF CHAMPIONS, INCLUDING CURRENT OLYMPIAN TAYLOR ANDERSON, HEIDI OF BROOMHALL. HER FATHER IS A CURLING COACH AND THE FAMILY IS A BIG PART OF THE CURLING COMMUNITY. TAYLOR IS OUT HERE PRACTICING. SHE’S A GREAT TEAM PLAYER. SHE’S HARD WORKING, DEDICATED, SHE’S A PHENOMENAL SWEEPER. THAT’S ONE THING SHE’S KNOWN FOR SWEEPING, WHICH IS PART OF THE STRATEGY OF THIS CHESS GAME ON ICE CREATES FRICTION THAT MELTS THE PEBBLED ICE. THAT ALLOWS THE 42 POUND GRANITE, STONE OR ROCK TO TRAVEL FARTHER, GO STRAIGHT, OR HAVE MORE OF A CURL. THE BROOMS HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS. THIS IS AN OLDER ONE WITH HORSEHAIR. THIS IS A NEWER ONE WITH A HIGH TECH FABRIC AND A MUCH LIGHTER CARBON FIBER HANDLE. THE IDEA IN THE GAME IS TO GET CLOSEST TO THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE. THE BULLSEYE, KNOWN AS THE BUC-EE’S, COMES OFTEN, KNOCKING OUT YOUR OPPONENT. IT’S NOT ALWAYS AN EASY FEAT. IT LOOKS LIKE A GAME THAT YOU CAN TRY. IT LOOKS ACCESSIBLE TO AN INDIVIDUAL TO COME IN AND LEARN HOW TO PICK IT UP AND PLAY. AND ONCE YOU GET OUT HERE ON THE ICE, YOU LEARN HOW ACTUALLY COMPLICATED AND INTRICATE IT IS, AND THAT KEEPS YOU PLAYING. OKAY, I QUICKLY LEARNED THAT AS I SUITED UP AND PUT MY FEET IN WHAT’S CALLED THE HACK TO TRY TO LAUNCH THE CURLING STONE. SO YOU’RE GOING TO PUSH OFF ON THIS FOOT AND SLIDE. OKAY. THAT’S IT, THAT’S IT. BUT NOW WE JUST HAVE TO RELEASE THE STONE. OH, TAKE TWO. WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO IS LINE YOUR BODY UP SQUARE TO ME. YES. LOOK AT THAT. NICE. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU’VE MADE YOUR FIRST PRO. NOW JUST GETTING UP IS THE TRICK. ONCE YOU DO GET OFF THE ICE, YOU CAN HEAD INSIDE. BROOM STACKING IS PART OF A TIME HONORED TRADITION OF THIS SPORT THAT WAS BORN IN THE 1500S IN SCOTLAND. SOCIALIZING AND SHARING A DRINK. CHEERS TO A GOO
Philadelphia Curling Club, home to Olympian Taylor Anderson-Heide, offers welcoming vibe
Updated: 10:41 AM EST Feb 12, 2026
The Philadelphia Curling Club, home to Olympian Taylor Anderson-Heide, provides a warm and friendly environment for curlers of all ages to enjoy the sport. “Curling is a sport that prides itself on the sportsmanship and being a courteous game, and being friendly,” Mark Jones, from Philadelphia, said.Jo Hess, who grew up in Lancaster and now resides in Berwyn, finds the sport addictive. “Trying to make a shot is always nice. I think for me, at this point, it’s the camaraderie … The curling family is amazing,” Hess said.Championship pedigreeThe club, established in 1957, boasts a history of champions, including current Olympian Taylor Anderson-Heide from Broomall. Leslie Dudt from the Philadelphia Curling Club praised Anderson-Heide’s dedication. “She’s out here practicing. She’s a great team player. She’s hardworking, dedicated. She’s a phenomenal sweeper. That’s one thing she’s known for,” Dudt said.Sweeping, a crucial part of curling strategy, creates friction that melts the pebbled ice, allowing the 42-pound granite stone to travel farther, go straight, or curl more. The game aims to get closest to the center of the house, the red bullseye known as the button, often knocking out the opponent’s stone.Christine Gill from the Philadelphia Curling Club explained the complexity of the sport, saying, “It looks accessible to an individual to come in and learn how to pick it up and play. And once you get out here on the ice, you learn how actually complicated and intricate it is.”WGAL’s Susan Shapiro suited up to try curling. Christine Gill guided her through the process.”You are going to push off and slide on this that’s it now we just have to release the stone,” Gill instructed. “Slide directly toward the broom when you feel like have a little momentum.”Once off the ice, participants can enjoy broomstacking, a tradition of socializing and sharing a drink, celebrating the sport’s Scottish origins. Cheers to a good curl!
PHILADELPHIA —
The Philadelphia Curling Club, home to Olympian Taylor Anderson-Heide, provides a warm and friendly environment for curlers of all ages to enjoy the sport.
“Curling is a sport that prides itself on the sportsmanship and being a courteous game, and being friendly,” Mark Jones, from Philadelphia, said.
Jo Hess, who grew up in Lancaster and now resides in Berwyn, finds the sport addictive.
“Trying to make a shot is always nice. I think for me, at this point, it’s the camaraderie … The curling family is amazing,” Hess said.
Championship pedigree
The club, established in 1957, boasts a history of champions, including current Olympian Taylor Anderson-Heide from Broomall. Leslie Dudt from the Philadelphia Curling Club praised Anderson-Heide’s dedication.
“She’s out here practicing. She’s a great team player. She’s hardworking, dedicated. She’s a phenomenal sweeper. That’s one thing she’s known for,” Dudt said.
Sweeping, a crucial part of curling strategy, creates friction that melts the pebbled ice, allowing the 42-pound granite stone to travel farther, go straight, or curl more. The game aims to get closest to the center of the house, the red bullseye known as the button, often knocking out the opponent’s stone.
Christine Gill from the Philadelphia Curling Club explained the complexity of the sport, saying, “It looks accessible to an individual to come in and learn how to pick it up and play. And once you get out here on the ice, you learn how actually complicated and intricate it is.”
WGAL’s Susan Shapiro suited up to try curling. Christine Gill guided her through the process.
“You are going to push off and slide on this that’s it now we just have to release the stone,” Gill instructed. “Slide directly toward the broom when you feel like have a little momentum.”
Once off the ice, participants can enjoy broomstacking, a tradition of socializing and sharing a drink, celebrating the sport’s Scottish origins. Cheers to a good curl!