Risk rating

of the session, the stones were almost going in the direction I had intended. My trousers were also soaked.

The sweeping element requires even more skill; moving at speed, while listening to instructions from the captain and controlling sweep strokes without touching the stone. This part of the training was never going to be glamorous. There’s always next time.

Why you should try it

Curling is a low-impact sport that is both social and competitive. Ian from Auckland Curling says that it accommodates beginners very well, as even novice curlers can contribute to their team.

‘‘It’s a very inclusive sport – on any club night we can have first year curlers playing with Olympic curlers, teenagers with seniors, and we’ve had wheelchair curlers too.’’

Though less physical than other winter sports, it requires a reasonable level of flexibility. The most obvious risk with curling is slipping on the ice. Ian says they minimise this risk by supplying everyone with ‘grippers’.

‘‘These are rubber overshoes that fit snugly over your own shoes and provide a good non-slip platform for you to walk with. Everyone also has a curling broom that provides an extra point of balance on the ice. We’re careful to give beginners safety tips before they come out onto the ice as well, and to make sure that people don’t try to exceed their capabilities.’’

Find out more

Find your local curling club via curling.org.nz