By 
Winter Olympics 2022, here I come! Yeah, right. But, I did get to check a second item off my bucket list and try something new. Curling was a fun experience. Anyone can pick up the basics quickly. I thought our instructor summed it up well when he said “curling takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.”
I was in no way graceful on the ice, and I had no idea when I should and should not be sweeping, but I enjoyed it so much that my husband and I are talking about joining a beginners league.
Here’s the story…
What was the activity?
Curling. An extra bonus is that I got to do it in an Olympic training facility during the Winter Olympics.
Who participated?
I checked curling off the list with my friend Nancy Garlie. 
When was it completed?
February 10, 2018
#27 on my 40 Before 40 List
2nd item checked off my list
Where was it completed?
Four Seasons Curling Club at Fogerty Arena. This club is located in Blaine, Minnesota- the town where I live. It is an Olympic Training Site, and it hosted the 2018 Olympic Mixed Doubles Trials.
Why did I choose to put this item on my bucket list?
Since the Winter Olympics are happening this year, I thought it would be fun to add some winter sports to my list that I have never tried. In addition to curling, I will also be trying out snowboarding this year. At one time, I had “going down an Olympic ice luge” and “skiing down a ski jump”, but I decided to save those for a later date:).
How did I find out about this activity? How would one go about making arrangements to do this activity?
One of the fun things about publishing my 40 Before 40 Bucket List is that several people have reached out to say they want to check off an item with me. I love that the list has connected me back to some folks I have not seen in years. In this case, Nancy sent me a message saying she was signed up for a curling class and asked if I wanted to join. The answer was “of course”.
If you would like to take a “learn to curl” class at Four Seasons Curling Club at Fogerty Arena, registration information can be found here. If you aren’t in the Twin Cities, just Google “curling lessons” and your city’s name. Chances are there’s a curling club offering lessons near you. I happen to be in Atlanta, Georgia while I am writing this and typed in “curling lessons” in my browser. Beginner class information at the Atlanta Curling Club can be found here. You don’t have to live in the arctic to play this Olympic sport!
Interesting Tidbits:
- Curling originated in Scotland.
- There are four players on each curling team. Each player has specific responsibilities. This article titled “ Curling for Dummies” gives a good overview of positions and curling terminology.
- 7 of the 10 Team USA 2018 curlers are from Minnesota.
Bucket List Score:
I give curling 2 buckets. It isn’t mentally or physically challenging although I did end up with a bruise on my knee. It is a fun activity that can be enjoyed by all ages!
