I tried curling in Alabama and learned why it’s harder than the Olympics make it look. Here’s what beginners need to know to learn to curl.

For years, I’ve watched Olympic curling from my couch with a mix of fascination and confusion. Athletes slide stones across ice while teammates frantically sweep with brooms, shouting things that sound like either strategy or panic. It looks pretty simple and a little elegant, even. Like a winter sport designed by people who wanted to stay relatively warm and avoid breaking bones.

Then I tried it myself at the Rocket City Curling Club in Huntsville, Alabama, and realized I’d been a fool.

The Olympic Bump Hits Alabama

I’ve been to Huntsville, Alabama three times and I like it more each time I go. On one trip for the Southern Travelers Explore Conference, a group of us received an invitation I couldn’t refuse. The Rocket City Curling Club wanted to know if we’d like to try our hands at curling!

I thought if the Olympics could make curling cool enough for Snoop, surely I could manage to slide a stone without embarrassing myself.

Spoiler: I could not.

Why Huntsville? Why Not.

Here’s the thing about Huntsville that catches people off guard—it’s a genuinely surprising travel destination. When you think “Alabama vacation,” you probably picture Gulf Coast beaches or Birmingham’s civil rights history. Huntsville doesn’t immediately come to mind, and that’s precisely why it’s become one of my favorite under-the-radar Southern cities.

Home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville has attracted scientists, engineers, and innovators for decades. This influx of brainy, adventurous people has created a city with an identity crisis in the best possible way.

There are so many great things to do in Huntsville! You’ll find my favorite speakeasy (I’m not telling you which one—you’ll have to explore) tucked behind an unassuming door, James Beard-worthy restaurants serving elevated Southern cuisine next to excellent Thai and Indian spots, a thriving craft brewery scene, and surprising cultural venues like the Huntsville Museum of Art and Von Braun Center.

The outdoor scene punches well above its weight class too. Monte Sano State Park offers hiking trails with views that’ll make you forget you’re in Alabama, and the Land Trust trails wind through unexpected pockets of wilderness right in town. It’s a city where rocket scientists go rock climbing on weekends and a curling club seems not just possible, but inevitable.

Which brings us back to the ice.

The Reality of “Chess on Ice”

Curling is also called “chess on ice” because of the strategy involved. Players have to read the ice, always planning multiple shots ahead, and communicate well with their team. What they don’t tell you is that it’s also like trying to play chess while slipping around on ice, balancing on one foot, and doing ab exercises simultaneously.

The Rocket City Curling Club members greeted our motley crew of travel writers with the kind of patient enthusiasm usually reserved for teaching golden retrievers new tricks. They explained the basics: push off from the hack (a foothold in the ice), slide down while releasing a 42-pound granite stone, and aim for the house (the target circles). Your teammates sweep the ice in front of the stone to help it travel farther and straighter.

Simple enough, right?

My first attempt involved pushing off with what I thought was athletic grace, immediately losing my balance, death-gripping the stone handle, and essentially falling down the ice in slow motion while the stone wandered off like a confused tourist. I did not look like an Olympian. I looked like a baby giraffe learning to walk.

The Humbling Truth About Olympic Athletes

Watching Team USA compete in Milan-Cortina after my Huntsville experience is like watching magic. What I had experienced as controlled falling, they make look like a ballet. The precision, the consistency, the ability to make those stones curl exactly where they wanted—it suddenly made sense why these athletes train for years.

The sweeping alone nearly destroyed me. For about 30 seconds, I swept with enthusiasm, thinking “I’ve got this!” By 45 seconds, my arms were screaming. By a minute, I understood why Olympic curlers have the cardiovascular capacity of marathon runners. They make it look effortless on TV. In reality, it’s a full-body workout in disguise.

But here’s what the Olympics don’t show you: the accessibility.

A Sport for Every Body

One of the most remarkable aspects of my Huntsville curling experience was watching how adaptive the sport can be. The Rocket City Curling Club demonstrated delivery sticks—devices that allow people who can’t get low to the ice to still deliver stones with precision. Wheelchair users can curl. People with varying levels of mobility can participate meaningfully.

In our group of travel writers, we had different ages, fitness levels, and physical abilities. Everyone could try. Everyone could contribute. Not everyone could do it well (I’m looking at myself here), but the sport’s design allows for participation in a way that many winter sports simply don’t.

This adaptability is part of why curling clubs across the United States are experiencing their quadrennial “Olympic bump” right now. USA Curling reports that roughly 170 clubs nationwide are hosting learn-to-curl sessions during the Olympics, welcoming waves of curious newcomers who watched Team USA on TV and thought, “I could do that.”

We all think we could do that. We’re all wrong. But it’s incredibly fun to try.

What I Learned on Alabama Ice

By the end of our session, I had managed exactly one decent throw. The stone released smoothly, curled beautifully toward the center of the house, and I felt a rush of accomplishment that was probably disproportionate to the achievement. My teammates cheered. The Rocket City Curling Club members nodded approvingly. For one glorious moment, I understood what Team USA feels like.

Then I tried to replicate it and immediately fell on my backside.

But that’s the beauty of curling—it’s humble AND rewarding. Every successful shot feels earned because you’ve experienced firsthand how many things can go wrong. The ice conditions matter. Your timing matters. The weight of your delivery, the line, the curl, the sweeping—it all matters.

Watching the Olympics now, I notice things I never saw before. The subtle adjustments in body position. The communication between skip and sweepers. The way they read the ice like sailors reading wind. I see athletes at the absolute peak of their sport, and I have a newfound respect for what they’re doing because I know—deeply, personally, in my still-sore muscles—how hard it is.

Frequently Asked Questions About Learning to Curl

How much does it cost to try curling?

Most curling clubs offer affordable “learn to curl” sessions ranging from $15-30 per person. The Rocket City Curling Club and similar facilities provide all equipment, including sliders for your shoes and brooms. Many clubs offer these intro sessions specifically during the Olympics to capitalize on new interest, so it’s a great time to try without committing to a full membership.

Do I need to be in good shape to curl?

Not at all. While Olympic-level curling requires incredible fitness, recreational curling is accessible to most fitness levels. Yes, I was sore afterward, but that’s more about using muscles in unfamiliar ways than needing athletic prowess. The sweeping is a workout, but you can take breaks, and as I mentioned, delivery sticks and other adaptive equipment make the sport accessible for people with mobility limitations.

What should I wear to try curling?

Dress in layers—curling rinks are cold (it’s ice, after all), but you’ll warm up quickly once you start moving. Wear stretchy, comfortable pants that allow you to bend and lunge. Clean, rubber-soled athletic shoes are essential (no street shoes on the ice). The club will provide sliders that go over one shoe. Avoid jeans if possible—they restrict movement and you’ll be doing a lot of lunging and squatting.

Is curling hard to learn?

The basic concept is simple, but executing it well takes practice. You’ll grasp the fundamentals in a single session, and you might even make a few decent shots. But understanding ice conditions, perfecting your delivery, mastering strategy, and developing consistency? That takes time. It’s exactly this learning curve that makes curling so rewarding—and why watching Olympic athletes is now so mesmerizing to me.

Can kids learn to curl?

Absolutely! Many curling clubs have junior programs, and the sport is great for kids because it emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship rather than just physical prowess. Plus, it’s one of the few sports where families can compete together regardless of age or size differences.

It’s Your Turn to Learn to Curl

If the 2026 Winter Olympics have you curling-curious, don’t wait another four years. You should definitely take a learn to curl class! The “Olympic bump” means clubs across the country are ready and eager to welcome beginners. USA Curling’s website has a club finder that can point you toward your nearest facility.

And if you find yourself in Huntsville, Alabama—whether for a conference, a space center visit, or just because you’re craving excellent barbecue and want to explore an unexpectedly cool city—the Rocket City Curling Club offers regular learn-to-curl sessions.

Just remember: it’s harder than it looks on TV. Your legs will shake. Your arms will burn. You will probably fall.

And you’ll absolutely understand why Olympic curlers deserve every bit of respect they get.

Because let me tell you—after trying to curl in Alabama, watching Team USA compete isn’t just entertaining anymore. It’s awe-inspiring.

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