Question for Scottish mnetters about the curling

[Clearinguptheclutter]

So like many I get slightly obsessed with the curling every 4 years and hear nothing about it in between

I live in England and grew up in Wales. Despite some ice rinks around, I’m not aware of curling being a “thing” at all.

which makes me think, in Scotland is it something that everyone learns as a child? Are there rinks everywhere?
or is seen as a niche/middle class/even elitist thing? Genuinely curious.
it’s a shame it’s not more of a thing south of the border it’s a great game IMO

I’m Scottish and I don’t know anyone who’s played curling

It's definitely not middle class!

I think the biggest centre of curling is in Ayrshire.

We moved to Ayrshire from Ireland in the 1970’s and my Dad was told he would be ok as long as he stayed away from ‘the whisky, the women and the curling’ and he did to be fair!

No it's definitely not something we're brought up with.
And for the record I think it's boring as AF.

It depends where you are. It’s not such a big thing where I am in the central belt, but it was quite big thing where I grew up in the north east of Scotland.

I’m a Scot and curling is definitely a thing. I know lots of people who curled. Now and before.

It‘s mainly a west Scotland thing though I think. Maybe it’s also a class thing?

There are some places outside Scotland - Deeside ice rink (north wales) used to have curling, and as far as I know Preston still does

In Scotland is it something that everyone learns as a child? No

Are there rinks everywhere? I think cities usually have ice rinks, my city has always had an ice rink. My grandparents met going to watch ice hockey at our local ice rink as it was a big thing back in the day. We don’t have ice hockey here anymore but we do have curling and ice skating.

Is it seen as a niche/middle class/even elitist thing? I would say that curling is a middle class sport but I only say that because everyone I know who plays curling is middle class. Though I’m sure there will be people out there playing who are not middle class.

No, it’s not something everyone learns as a child. Why on earth would you think that? 😂

Highlands here. Never known of anyone who did it. There is nowhere to do it locally. Must be a Lowlands thing. Although I did live in a couple of Scottish cities for a year or two, and nobody ever mentioned it then either to be fair. I think it must be pretty niche.

if you live in the French alps all the kids learn to ski. I don’t think it’s a crazy thought. Though if there aren’t the facilities everywhere then clearly it won’t be possible

My friend started playing 3 years ago when she retired. She loves it. Plays on 3 teams. All the teams from various areas come to Edinburgh to play but she has played in Ayrshire too. My 2 children were at school the year above and below Bruce Mouat. But no it's not a common thing to do.

It’s like asking if everyone in England learns Morris dancing.

The stone for every curling stone comes from Ailsa Craig just off the Ayrshire coast. Our local rink had curling and it was annoying as it makes the ice really wet. If you fell whilst skating you’d have a soaked arse!

Apparently there is a Welsh quarry that produces stone for curling stones too - though I think the elite level ones (Olympics etc) are from Ailsa Craig.

We live near Paisley and I know of one curling rink fairly close to us. I don’t know anyone who curls, though.

My uncle moved to Ayrshire and he and his wife became curling addicts. I always remember my dm being furious when he didn’t come straight up to Glasgow when my other uncle died because he didn’t want to miss a curling match! The only other people I know who participated in curling moved in agricultural circles.

To be fair everyone I know learned Scottish Highland dancing at school so it might have been like that.
No curling with me (Edinburgh) but my granny used to curl at duddingston loch

Decades ago, before global warming, ponds would freeze over enough that people would curl. The lake of monteith was well known for curling matches. For a time, the ice rink in Stirling was where the Scottish curling team practised. So although I didn't ever curling, I have known about it for a long time

DH curled from a young age in Ayrshire. Our DC both started curling at 8 years old in Perthshire. I think it’s really closely linked to farming which was how DH grew up.

I think it depends if you have a local rink, or are willing to travel to one.

It was not on my radar as a child but I learnt as an adult in Aberdeen and have played in Edinburgh where people do seem to travel in from all around - ie lots from the borders area.

I think it's like any sport or hobby - if your parents do it you are going to be exposed to it.

I looked this up as my kids wanted to give it a go - there are 21 ice rinks where you can learn to curl in Scotland, 3 in England and none in Wales, so there are certainly more opportunities to learn in Scotland, but were hoping to give it a whirl as we're lucky enough to live near one of the English ones! 🥌 🥌 🥌

My dad and grandad were both very keen curlers, both skips of their rinks, both played competitively and in tournaments although not internationally. The woman who lives over the road plays, as does her daughter.

There are clubs all over Scotland just as there are for other sports, if there;s one local to you then you'd perhaps look into joining.

To add - both my dad and grandad curled in the east of Scotland. Both were keen on sports in general and it was very much golf in the summer, curling in the winter. Golf doesn't have the "posh" association in Scotland that it does/did in England, lots of council run courses in the past and something lots of people did.

I played for years, in Scotland and England. I did also play at school, but that was the later stages of secondary

My daughter curls. In fact she’s competing in a slam today.

It’s very common in some parts of Scotland but not in other. There are loads of rinks and clubs in my part of Scotland. It’s definitely not elitist. It’s one of the cheapest extra curriculars she does.

we are in Fife