Curling on Lake Winnipesaukee!
 

A friend of mine built his own curling stones and scraped out a curling surface on the lake next to his "Ice Shack."

We took a few videos I thought I would share. It was so much fun. These videos were taken minutes after the snowstorm ended last Friday. It was so beautiful out.

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Ok HN, what are those "stones" made of? They look more like a pressure cooker.:laugh:

Very Cool Hazelnut thanks for sharing

Pretty sure he made them by putting together dog bowls and filling them with cement. The handles are made from heavy pipes. They worked out pretty awesome.

Looks like Fun!
 

Curling looks like fun, especially on the lake! Could this be a future big event for fund raising, like the Rotary Derby? :D

LOVE Curling!!!
 

I am a HUGE curling fan (and have never done it).
I actually got a miniature curling stone from the folks that make the stones for the Olympics. They are from KaysofScotland.com. A full-size curling stone is pretty expensive, but I think there are used ones that you can buy.

Gosh. If a few people want to start curling I will be the first to join.
(when we get up there)

One more fun winter activity.

The McGyver of curling
 

It's official, the guy who made those stones is my hero. Dog bowls, cement and heavy pipe and you are all set.

The only thing missing is the guys with the little scrubby brushes :rolleye2:

curling addict
 

I was one of those guys who got absolutely addicted to curling during the last Winter Olympics. I love the idea of curling on Winnie and the ingenuity of the dog bowls and cement! I'd love to come over and curl a few games. Or would it be curl a few matches? Or come over and curl? Not sure how hard curling is (though it looked tough on TV) but the verbiage sure ain't easy!

Make your own Curling Stones
 

Ok - I'm the nut who made the homemade curling stones -it was way more fun than we ever imagined for kids and adults !

Here is the link I based the stones on:

http://www.mindenoutersclub.com/make...ng_stones.html


Also, Imade a few adjustments including smaller 18 # rocks (vs 42#) because I have to transport them but they worked just fine.
If you are at ALL interested check out the link and just do it !

My son Sam after a great match!

I know what your saying. My husband got hooked on it during the Olympics as well! Seems and sounds so easy....but we know there is a lot more involved in it.

Thank you JB Long Island for sharing your story, pics and ideas with us. Sounds like you all had a fun time this winter. :)

I am a finesse games enthusiast, but more of a participant then a spectator. Curling is certainly a game one can play well into a long life. Hmm maybe something I could use to get me through the long winter without a golf-club in my hand.

Any thoughts about this one.. What if someone bought the Wiers Pier and maintained a curing space nearby on the lake? Parents could sit and enjoy quality food on the pier while watching the children glide a stone. Could an annual Curling event be organized? Could the talent in the lakes region grow to challenge the great curlers of Minnesota and Wisconsin?

with the current ice conditions, looks like a good weekend for curling :D

Curling Next Year
 

Let's pick this up again next year, I'm done with the cold for now ! Happy to post the location of the curling bonspiels in feb 20012 but right now bring on the warmth and ice out !

Amen! But curling for next winter sure has some potential!

Next winter
 

We would be willing to help get a couple rinks built for all to enjoy. We can help supply parking, access to the lake, equipment (snow blowers, plows, etc), and some creative thinking. We could do it out in front of the marina. I can see if we can make up some of the stones for all to use and leave them in a crate of the shore?

Could be a ton of fun...

JB, Look what we (more like you) started! I look forward to seeing curling all over Winni next year. I'm thinking a club league could be in the not so distant future? :D

Curling
 

Yes Hazel, good times ! Akwamarina obviously the ice maintenance is key to making curling enjoyable and tough to do when you (unfortunately) don't live on the waterfront. We had to abandon the earlier games due to poor ice conditions so a properly maintained rink would be worth the investment and wort traveling for ! Rain and warmth on the way, salmon fishing soon...

size
 

What size should the rinks be it seems like we could get away with something smaller than 146'x14', I feel like I would throw my arm out. Maybe scale it down 75% ~100'x10'?

even half that works - we shoveled probably 50 feet and was fine

I hope Curling isn't like bowling....where serious bowlers bring their own bowling ball. Those official-weight curling stones would be darn heavy to lug all over the lake! :laugh:

An Awesome And Very Enjoyable Sport...
 

Should I bring my portable curling iron to?...

Let us all bring what ever we can to enhance the Lake that we all so love! A Big Smile Of The Great Spirit Greets us at our front doors, windows and views every day. This very wonderful WebSite was created to repay...
T

Does any one know how to put the colored line in the ice, ( I know we could probably get away with not doing this but if we are gonna do it might as well do it right)

To make the circles we used a piece of strapping with lag bolts every 6in and spun it on the ice to score the rings then used red and blue food coloring worked great But now time to focus on ICE OUT and salmon fishing !

I really hope we can do some curling next winter. I am SO on board with this.
And thanks to Akwa Marina for volunteering to create and maintain a little curling "sheet". (rink)

Here is a link to the specs of a curling sheet:
http://www.mycurling.com/Articles/curlingsheet.html

And here is a link that describes game play. (simply)
http://www.mycurling.com/Articles/howtoplay.html

Ice soon
 

We will have ice soon and I have not forgotten about getting a public curling spot set up for all to enjoy. I really can't wait to try it out for myself.
Does anyone have any good ideas on how to handle leaving the curling stones out for everyone to enjoy? I really hate to say it but I am a little concerned they could grow legs, and I am not sure on how to handle it.

This thread had me curious to know if curling stones could actually be purchased, and if so, how much? (Not really, and TOO much)

Didn't find much there but did stumble across this. Those who are really interested in curling may want to drive to Boston this weekend.

http://www.curlingrocks.net/news/201...nderway-boston

Still Interested
 

I'm in Wolfeboro now and ready to start curling!!
At this rate we're probably looking at February for the ice.

Dang, Cate!
 

I'm impressed about how fast that you have picked up the lay of the land around here, ( so to speak )...

Some folks are asking when will ice fishing start, and when The Alton Winter Festival Festivities will get underway!..
We all need to doo the ice dance first, and after we have safe ice, we are golden and good to go!!!!

My wish to everyone is to have a very happy and safe winter here for and throughout all of the winter out of door sports that are available on, and around this wonderful area!!!!

Terry
____________________________

Curling
 

I always enjoy watching curling during the Winter Olympics, but unfortunately that is the only time you ever see it on TV. It would be great to provide a venue for it here in the Lakes Region and might pick up a substantial following if it catches on. Good luck in your endeavor to introduce it to this area. I can envision New Hampshire becoming the destination for curling enthusiasts everywhere - World Championships and the Olympic Games. Why not dream big!

No Natural Ice
 

Well...if there is interest, we can always look into using an ice rink. We have one here in Wolfeboro.

Would have figure out how to lay down the "court" and where to get used curling stones. New ones cost a pretty penny..like 50,000 pennies. :coolsm:

Curling???? how about we get some hockey on the lake

Curling: Best Sport Ever
 

Taken on an outing in Switzerland up to a mountain resort. Had instructors, equipment, huge rink area with 3 Curling lines.

Never thought I'd say this but Curling is a ton of fun. But to do it the way the real athletes do it, no way. Which is to say, those guys are pretty good athletes.

Be careful! If Curling catches on on the Lake, Europe will be flocking to it. 50 years from now, the Lake will be part of the EU, Rattlesnake Island will be renamed Insel Klapperschlange, no more American cars will be available for sale within 100 miles, and the Big Mac will have Swiss instead of American cheese.:)

Curling in Gilford
 

Read in yesterday's Citizen that the Gilford Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring an adult curling program. It started last night and will be held at the Arthur A. Tilton Ice Rink from 6:30 to 7:30 pm every Thursday evening from January 24 through February 28. Thought I would resurrect this old thread as there was interest shown a couple years ago in getting the sport started on Winnipesaukee. I have always enjoyed watching this sport during the Olympics. Curling anyone?

Curling soon !
 

Hope to be out on the lake with the homemade stones very soon ! Likely will be off Trexlers so if you see some guys hanging around a bob house with a flag laughing and drinking bud lite stop in! - shouldn't be too hard to find....

Curling on Winni
 

It must be very difficult to get lake ice smooth enough for curling, especially after the snow layers melt and refreeze. The ice in the matches I have seen on TV appears to be as smooth as glass. Curling on Lake Winni must be more of a challenge. Hope you have a good season this year as the sport is being introduced to the Lakes Region.

Curling Update Anyone?
 

Are the Winni curling enthusiasts still active on the lake this winter? There was also a group starting in Gilford last year and wonder if they are still engaged in the sport. Enjoyed watching the matches in the Olympics again this year and was glad to see them being covered so well on TV. There must have been a good deal of interest to devote that much air time to them.

Interest
 

There is a group trying to see if there is enough interest to start a curling club in Wolfeboro at the Pop Whalen arena.

http://i44.tinypic.com/1499wms.gif covata, I just noticed that you are really new to posting on the forum but have been a member for sometime. We are glad you have joined us and your comments. Please come more often and have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.:)

http://i54.tinypic.com/2e56yqf.gif

Thanks for the kind words. I have been a member for while and have not visited for some time. I remembered this thread and heard about attempts in Wolfeboro to get curling going so I thouhgt I would visit again.

There were a few friends who curled at Green's Basin some years ago. I met some of them a few years back. Plymouth State University has started to offer it this spring and may again this summer.

http://i44.tinypic.com/1499wms.gif covata, I just noticed that you are new to posting (3 times) on the forum even though you have been a member since 2006. We hope to see more of you on the blog as when more people log on the more fun and interesting comments are made by the members. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.:)

http://i54.tinypic.com/2e56yqf.gif

never gave up
 

SO, After years of trying I have never been able to find a good way to get/build or buy stone without buying the real thing. Has anyone else? I went as far as designing one and trying to get a local shop to mold it out of HDPE and then fill it with concrete. Any ideas? Clock is ticking I just finished making a half size sheet, that will work for 2 games. So the rink will be ready soon just need the stones.

Here's a couple ideas I found on the web...

http://www.mindenoutersclub.com/make...ng_stones.html

http://brojects.tv/curling-stones/

I had seen the first one and didn't like it soo much, have not seen the second one. I like that idea but had concerns about the concrete impacting and breaking in brittle cold conditions. I may give that one a shot seems to work for them, Maybe I will add steel shavings to the concrete for some added strength. I will be sure to update, especially if it works well.

Concrete Curling Stones
 

You can add a poly fiber to the concrete but you really should not have an issue. Remember one thing when is comes to concrete, although water is necessary, less is more. Make a nice stiff mix and you will be fine.

https://usa.sika.com/dms/getdocument...r%20PPM-us.pdf