CURL ON UP. The Eau Claire Curling Club (5530 Fairview Drive, Eau Claire) is encouraging more people to try out curling this year.

Curling season is officially upon us: the leaves are starting to tilt over into autumnal colors, temperatures are beginning to drop, and the Eau Claire Curling Club is back in action. The longtime organization is home to world class-quality ice, and this year, ECCC is launching even more opportunities for the community to get out there.

After an incredible performance from area high schoolers Ella Wendling and Benni Paral, an ECCC member, at the Youth Olympics earlier this year – and ECCC’s hosting of the Junior National Championships in April – the local club is putting even more focus into getting kids out on the ice.

“Our curling club is very proud of the junior teams who have come out of our club and found success, and we want to help others follow in their footsteps,” said Andrea Wendt, junior program coordinator.

Unique to the club’s junior program, attendance is never mandatory – many of the program’s participants compete in other sports, travel during the season, or drop in to practice when they can, Wendt said. “We highly recommend families sign up for one of the free Learn to Curl sessions on Oct. 26, to see if this sport is something their kids would enjoy!”

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it's a great way to meet new people, and get out of the house during the winter. 

eric rykal

saturday night open house event coordinator

For adults, too, more events and opportunities to try your hand at curling are available this year. While curling is often club-based – meaning if you want to curl, you have to commit to signing on for a full season or half-season league – ECCC wants to give people the chance to see if they enjoy the game before signing up, Eric Rykal explained.

New this year, ECCC is hosting Saturday Night Open House events throughout the season. “We have world-class quality curling ice sitting here unused most Saturday nights,” said Rykal, the event’s coordinator. “It seemed like a perfect chance to welcome people into our club and introduce them to our sport.

ECCC hosts regular Learn-to-Curl events, is host to leagues every night of the week, and offers a variety of options for a range of skill levels, from recreational to competitive. The new Saturday Night Open House events are for anyone and everyone, no matter their skill level.

The new events will offer dinner and drinks, instructors for brand new curlers, and all the equipment necessary to curl. “We wanted to build a fun experience for everyone regardless of their experience level,” Rykal said.

“We’re encouraging our existing members to come out as well, whether it be to curl, teach new curlers, or simply hang out and have a meal and beverage,” he said. “That really displays the twin goals of these Open Houses: we want to introduce new people to our wonderful sport, and give our existing club members an excuse to socialize.”

The social aspect of curling is a major facet of the game, and is woven into not only the “how to” of the game – one game requires two teams – but the culture of the sport.

“After you finish playing, you’re expected to sit down with your opponents, have a drink or two, and get to know them. It’s a great way to get to meet new people, and get out of the house during the winter,” Rykal said. “The curling community, by and large, is made up of some truly great people.”

Wendt, who started curling on the weekends with her dad while in high school, said the sport is adaptable and fun for the whole family. “It’s a sport I’ve seen folks pick up at age 6 or age 66,” she said.

View the Eau Claire Curling Club’s season schedule online • Find full details on the Learn to Curl Day and Saturday Open House events, and Junior Program online • Keep up with the club on Facebook