Free curling clinic lets participants flex their muscles along the canal

Heidi Studebaker crouches down preparing to take her shot at the target. Shoving the curling stone, it slides towards the target before sliding to the right side of the board and stopping short of reaching the first ring.

It’s Studebaker’s first attempt ever at curling, a sport that some might think of when picturing the Winter Olympics.

She and other participants take their turns, gradually getting a feel of the stones and board. The sounds of stones sliding across boards can be heard along the canal as members of the Circle City Curling Club guide participants through the basics of the sport.

“Curling is actually referred to as chess on ice because of just the planning and the strategy it takes,” said Tyler Miller, one of the clinic instructors and member of the curling club, while talking to the group.

Miller said he enjoys introducing people to the sport he plays.

“I actually love it because it's like a light that turns on in somebody's eyes. You introduce them, and they're like, ‘Wow, this is actually neat,’” Miller said.

The weekly free curling clinic aims to bring more people into the sport. This is the second year that the free clinic has been offered along the downtown canal.

Indianapolis Cultural Trail Director of Planning and Public Relations Amy Marisavljevic said she’s seen people go from the clinic to joining the club.

“It’s affordable, accessible, to try it for themselves, and we get all ages, all abilities, to come out here,” Marisavljevic said. “We’ve had people drive for a little over an hour away just to come to these clinics. So really great interest.”

The curling location on the canal is an elementary version of the sport with a smaller playing surface and no sweepers to help guide the stones to the target.

For Studebaker, that’s exactly what she needed her first time playing.

“It’s definitely an abbreviated version of the Olympics, but it’s just great because it’s so accessible. This is free. I just came out, hopped right in. I’m getting a taste of it,” Studebaker said.

The clinic hosted by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail runs Sunday’s from 1 to 3 p.m. until March 2.

Marisavljevic said outside of the clinic time there are open curling hours when the weather is nice.

Contact WFYI All Things Considered newscaster and reporter Samantha Horton at shorton@wfyi.org.