It’s no secret that Zermatt is known as a world-class skiing destination, but did you know it also has a long history of curling? The Curling Club Zermatt is the most successful curling club in Switzerland, and world-class curlers train on the ice in Zermatt. As we took a walking tour of the village with our guide Fabiene from Zermatt Tourismus, we stopped for a while at the two rinks to learn a bit more about curling in Zermatt.
Basically two teams of four players each slide polished granite stones across the curling sheet toward a target, called a house. Points are scored for the stones resting closet to the center of the house. Two sweepers run along the ice and use their brooms to feverishly polish the ice so that the stone gains speed and slides further. The stone must touch at least the outer ring of the target in order to score any points.
Some Fun Facts About Curling
- The stones weigh a whopping 38 – 44 pounds!
- Curling traces its roots back to Scotland in the 1500s and in the 1920s, Scotsman had to pack those stones in their luggage and haul them all the way to Zermatt to be sure not to miss out on curling fun.
- A special shoe called a Teflon Slider shoe is worn on only one foot to help glide down the ice when delivering a stone.
- A typical game lasts about 2 hours.
- The Horu-Trophy, one of the largest and best open air curling tournaments in Europe, takes place in Zermatt the third week of January. Around 60 teams from Europe compete.
Clutching steaming mugs of glühwein, we laughed and watched in fascination as 16 games unfolded before us, the players each strategizing like it was a game of chess on ice. The team of four would gather, pointing as they determined the best path for their stone to reach the house. One team member would launch the stone and then the sweepers were off, feverishly brushing the ice to keep the stone from “curling”.
Curling is definitely a social sport. A tent was set up selling glühwein, beer, and ironically, aspirin (you know, for the hangover you’re surely suffering the next day!). Sausages were being grilled up and picnic tables were full of teams taking a break to enjoy the action. Rubbish bins practically overflowed with wine and beer bottles, confirming our suspicion about why aspirin was on offer at the tent.
Would you like to try your hand at curling? Unlike the Scottish hauling their stones in their luggage, equipment rental is available from several shops in Zermatt such as Bayard Sport and Fashion, Glacier Sport, or Julen-sport. Rink rental is CHF 75.00 per rink for 2 hours daily November – February from 10am – 7pm.
Jennifer Dombrowski
Jennifer Dombrowski is a location independent globe trotter and bases herself in Prata di Pordenone, Italy. She works as a social media and innovation strategist in higher education and is a regular contributor on johnnyjet.com. Her website, jdombstravels.com, is the 2012 Destinology Travel Bloggy Best Newcomer award winner. Google+
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We’re Jennifer and Tim and we love traveling! We are just one ordinary couple who have found that travel brought us closer together, taught us patience, the art of compromise, and how to truly appreciate the diversity of this extraordinary world. So far, we've visited 37 countries, lived in the United States and Italy, and Tim has lived in Korea. And we do it all while both holding down full time jobs. 
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memographer
February 19, 2013 at 1:43 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I’ve never played curling. It is a fun game, but, not popular here in Atlanta
Thanks for the story. I like the shot with a falling man. It tells the story
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Sofie
February 19, 2013 at 3:35 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
When I saw curling at the Christmas market in Leuven last year, the first thing I thought was that it is probably the only activity where men feverishly use a broom to polish something:D
Sofie recently posted..In search of the light: Italy, a skeptic converted
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
Love it, Sophie!
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Larry
February 19, 2013 at 5:40 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I like to watch curling. Unfortunately, it’s rarely shown in the U.S. The Olympic games really show how much skill is needed to get the rocks to end up where they need to be and the strategy needed to block an opponent. Good article.
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 7:07 pm
Thanks! Did you know curling wasn’t officially a winter Olympic sport until as recently as 1998?
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Linda Bibb
February 19, 2013 at 8:09 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Thanks for explaining a bit more about curling. It looks like a very social sport for sure. I wonder if their wives ask them to practice brushing the ice by mopping the floor?
Not sure if I could handle such heavy stones, but I could sure handle the gluhwein!
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 11:35 pm
Too funny, Linda! There were teams of both men and women training. But that’s definitely good logic that sweeping the floor would help with training!
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Leah
February 19, 2013 at 11:52 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I think I’d actually like to try curling just for the simple fact I’d like someone to explain the rules to me. It’s so weird to watch on the Olympics. Oh, and I REALLY want to visit Zermatt.
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
February 20th, 2013 at 1:52 am
That’s what we thought too, Leah. It makes so much more sense when someone explains it to you! Zermatt was incredible. Definitely go if you have the chance!
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D.J. - The World of Deej
February 20, 2013 at 11:05 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
So I am a bit of a curling junkie every Winter Olympics. I watch it for hours on end, and would love to give it a try sometime!
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..Historic Jekyll Island Shines on Georgia’s Golden Isles
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:27 am
Zermatt has hotels you would swoon over, Deej! Curling and luxe hotels: sounds like a match made in heaven for you!
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Andrea
February 21, 2013 at 3:37 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Never tried curling – looks like fun!
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Any sport that involves drinking lots of hot wine is a-okay in my book!
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The Village of Zermatt - Jdomb's Travels
February 26, 2013 at 3:28 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
[...] of the largest and best open air curling tournaments in Europe, takes place. We stop for a while and learn more about the sport while sipping on [...]