About Curling

Welcome to the New Zealand Curling Association's website! The NZCA is the national governing body for the Winter Olympic sport of curling in New Zealand. If you're new to curling, or new to this site, then please read on to get started.

About Curling

Curling is based around a very simple idea – slide your stones along the ice and get them closer to the target than your opponent's. This section will get you started...

• What curling is all about – the basics.
• The place to learn though is on the ice, so where in NZ can you try curling?
• Our sport is co-ordinated by the NZ Curling Association – find out more about the NZCA.
• Curling's history in New Zealand started with immigrants from Scotland in the 1870s.
• Every sport has its unique terminology – this glossary of curling terms should explain them

Curling is an extremely complex sport based around a very simple idea. Slide a stone down a sheet of ice and have it stop as close as possible to the centre of a set of rings (called the house) – the problem being that your opposition will do everything tactically to stop you from achieving this goal. So the game contains elements of great skill, strategy, finesse, exertion and endeavour and we promise you that the perception of a slow-paced game is just that, a perception.

It is often referred to as "bowls on ice" because the format scoring is similar, but the tactics involved also make "chess on ice" a good description. It is a sport that is easy to learn – you can be playing a game within an hour of first getting on the ice – but mastering it will take longer!

You've seen the curling at the Games on TV and you've thought that looks like fun – could I do that? Well, yes it is and yes you can!

We'd love to see you "down at the rink". You'll need warm, loose fitting clothing that you can stretch out in and clean, flat-soled shoes. Trainers are ideal.

We'll supply all the gear you need (there's not much) and give you a bit of coaching to get you started. You'll be curling in less than an hour. Where? Read on...

The NZCA is New Zealand's national governing body for the Olympic sport of curling.

New Zealand is a member of the World Curling Federation (WCF). The WCF administers the sport at a global level, conducting Men's and Women's World Curling Championships – Open, Junior (under 21) and Senior (50+) – as well as Mixed Doubles and Winter Olympic Curling competitions. The NZCA supplies New Zealand delegates to the World Curling Federation General Assembly.

The Spririt of Curling is at the core of our game. It is so important that the World Curling Federation has made it the first entry on the first page of the Rules of Curling:

Curling is a game of skill and of tradition. A shot well executed is a delight to see and it is also a fine thing to observe the time-honoured traditions of curling being applied in the true spirit of the game. Curlers play to win, but never to humble their opponents. A true curler never attempts to distract opponents, nor to prevent them from playing their best, and would prefer to lose rather than to win unfairly.
 
Curlers never knowingly break a rule of the game, nor disrespect any of its traditions. Should they become aware that this has been done inadvertently, they will be the first to divulge the breach.
 
While the main object of the game of curling is to determine the relative skill of the players, the spirit of curling demands good sportsmanship, kindly feeling and honourable conduct.
 
This spirit should influence both the interpretation and the application of the rules of the game and also the conduct of all participants on and off the ice.

1860 match at Eglinton Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland	2012 Pacfic-Asia Championships

Curling first came to New Zealand with Scottish immigrants in the 1860s. Early settlers in Central Otago and the Mackenzie Country of the South Island found the winter climate ideally suitable to their curling traditions.

	Thomas Callender. Image courtesy nzetc.victoria.ac.nz

In 1873 Thomas Callender, the "father of New Zealand curling", formed the Dunedin Curling Club, the earliest club that still plays today.

The Baxter Cup was first played for in 1884 as the Dunedin Club's points trophy, and it is believed to be the oldest New Zealand sporting trophy still competed for in any sport. It is now awarded to the winner of the Naseby Curling Council's one-day bonspiel.

Curling quickly spread to throughout Central Otago, and was a popular winter activity for the gold miners during the winter. In 1886 the New Zealand Curling Association was established.

9 October 2009 – Country Life heads to Central Otago to learn about the art of curling with sheep farmer and New Zealand team coach Peter Becker.