Curling is believed to be a Scottish game. This is purely a winter game. However, the technological explosion that shook the world, and still at it, has made this winter sport playable not only in summer but also in tropical countries! It was recorded that as long back as in February 1541, curling teams matched their wits in a small time town in Glasgow! 

How it was played in ancient times? 

The game was played on icy surface. Standard field dimensions existed. On an icy surface you have to hurl specially designed rocks, more in the line of a bowling game where you hurl the heavy bowling ball to knock off the pins at the other end. Here there are no pins but you have to glide your rock so that it stops right at the center of the ‘circle‘ at the other end. There was no specification on the size or weight of the “boulder” as the rocks were known those days.  

The “boulders” used were very heavy, and, in fact a “boulder” named “The Jubilee Stone” weighed almost 59 kgs!  This was in the 18^th Century. Because of the weight of the “boulders”, they used to move the boulders with their leg! Slowly it evolved into a team game with specific rules and regulations. In the year 1784, they had devised means to hollow grind the rock and the weight had been brought down to 19 to 20 kgs. A handle for grip was also devised on the topside of the “rock” and now they have to hold the stone and deliver.  

In Scotland, a lake used to be called a loch. In winter months, all the lochs or lakes remained frozen and people used to play ‘Curling’ on such frozen lochs. Sometime during 1800 AD, the game entered North America, more particularly Canada, where it is played with vigor.