As expected, new interest in curling is highest during the Winter Olympics, said Pittsburgh Curling Club President Dustin Devine. In fact, \u201cCan I play in the Olympics?\u201d is one of the frequently asked questions on the club\u2019s website.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our group of about 25-30 people gathered in the lobby to watch a brief explainer video and put rubber grippers on our shoes. We were instructed to leave any keys in our jackets or bags, as keys falling on the ice can damage the surface. The ice is pebbled, an effect created by sprinkling water droplets on it. This allows for less friction so the stones can slide more easily toward the target. During real gameplay, the ice is re-pebbled after each match.<\/p>\n
After breaking into smaller groups to learn the basics of how to throw and sweep,\u00a0plus general safety protocols for being on the ice, it was time for a game. Our instructor, Pittsburgh Curling Club Board Member Quintin Lovicks, was beyond patient with our group as we repeatedly asked about which direction to turn the stone and how to know when to sweep or not. We learned about the positions for a team of four (lead, second, skip, vice skip), how scoring works and got going.<\/p>\n
Despite spending at least 30 minutes beforehand learning how to get into the proper position (left leg on a shoe-sized piece of Teflon that slides on the ice, left hand gripping a plastic aid for balance, right hand ready to release the rock and right leg ready to glide behind in a lunge position), I wasn\u2019t able to perfect my form enough to be much help to my team.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sweeping, for me, was easier than throwing, but not easy by any means. I was exhausted by the end of the night. The bottoms of the brooms are nearly smooth, almost the texture of a lint brush. You\u2019ve got to give it your all to make any difference to the speed or direction of the stone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Most, if not all, of the participants in the session were first-time curlers. Some people picked it up quicker than others. None, though, could pass for a spot at Milano Cortina 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_9711-scaled.jpeg\")
Our \u201cLearn to Curl 1\u201d group from Friday, Feb. 6. Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Curling Club <\/p>\n
\u201cDo people really ask about if they can play in the Olympics?\u201d I asked Lovicks, who goes by \u201cQ.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, ALL the time,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Curling Club<\/a> offers three levels of Learn to Curl classes. There are accessibility modifications available including wheelchair-friendly curling and stick curling for those who may not be able to get into the lunge position. Classes are $50 apiece or $100 if you bundle levels one through three together. The next spots available for Learn to Curl 1 are in early April.\u00a0<\/p>\n PCC also runs several leagues, many of which are open to beginners, and all are open to spectators in-person or via YouTube livestream<\/a>.<\/p>\n