"But on Monday night, I joined dozens of people at an unassuming East Oakland warehouse to do just that. We had come to the home ice of the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club, the only dedicated curling facility in California, packed on this rainy night with novices hoping to learn how to throw stones and sweep like the Olympians we'd been watching in Italy."
"That means this year is its first opportunity to ride the wave of curling interest that crests with the games - and the all-volunteer club is taking full advantage. It's hosting dozens of "learn to curl" workshops through the spring, like the one I attended, along with lessons and leagues to bring new curlers on board. Club members are planning to gather for watch parties at Pizzeria Violetta in West Oakland's Prescott Market"
"Part of the club's pitch is that curling is a surprisingly accessible sport. While sweeping will raise your heart rate, you don't need to be in top physical condition to play, making it an option for everyone from kids to older adults. There's no need to drop a fortune on specialized equipment either, since the club provides everything from the stones and brooms to the rubber grippers that help"
A San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club opened a dedicated facility in East Oakland several months after the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The all-volunteer club offers dozens of 'learn to curl' workshops, lessons, and leagues throughout spring to convert Olympic interest into local participation. The facility hosts watch parties and supplies stones, brooms, and rubber grippers so beginners need minimal equipment. The sport is promoted as broadly accessible because sweeping raises heart rate but high physical fitness is not required, making curling suitable for kids through older adults. The club leverages community events to expand membership.
Read at The Oaklandside
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