Not every sport involves bagpiping and Drambuie toasts, but then again, curling isn’t your usual sport. The 16th-century Scottish ice game is one of the world’s most unique.

Also referred to as “chess on ice,” its strategic methods and quirky traditions have captured hearts worldwide, including in Virginia.

The Curling Club of Virginia, based in Richmond, is the first of its kind in the commonwealth. “Our main [mission] is to try to get people involved and build the sport,” says club president Matt Athayde.

Curling requires teams to carefully slide a 42-pound granite stone toward a circular target while sweeping the ice with brooms to adjust the stone’s speed and direction.

With 10 registered members and numerous other statewide participants, the sport attracts people for a variety of reasons ranging from an enjoyable way to exercise to establishing long-lasting friendships.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” says member Dave Norman who moved to the city four years ago. Norman grew up curling in Cleveland, Ohio (his parents even once hosted the renowned Royal Caledonian Curling Club), and has participated in a vast array of bonspiels (curling tournaments)—including one in Cortina, Italy with the exclusive Margarita Curling Club against international teams.

There’s also Josh Crunk whose journey into curling began in 2022 after moving to Richmond. Crunk was searching for local activities to meet people and later attended the club’s Learn2Curl session. “I instantly fell in love with the sport and joined the club,” he says. “Ever since then, I’ve been curling every chance I get!”

But while many Richmonders take part, the club is designed for curling enthusiasts throughout the commonwealth, like Joe Boates who lives in Williamsburg. Boates moved last summer to Virginia from Canada and has been an avid curler since high school. He’s played competitively for years and was even part of the team that reached qualifiers to potentially represent Nova Scotia at the Canada Games in 1999.

Boates continues to compete occasionally but is now particularly passionate about sparking excitement for curling in the next generation. “Since I have moved to Virginia I mostly look for [bonspiels] that are focused on fun more than winning so I can team up with my 10-year-old daughter and keep her love of the game going,” he says.

Virginia Curling Club came to fruition in 2011 after a handful of curling-loving Canadians and other Richmond transplants decided to open a club. While some members grew up playing the sport, many, like Crunk and Athayde, were introduced thanks to the Winter Olympics.

The club continues to draw players but things have slowed down over the past two years due to the challenge of finding ice space that isn’t too costly, accommodates curling’s specific needs and can host meeting times that work for everyone. One of the last major local events the club had was in 2023 when curler Tyler George, a 2018 Olympic gold medalist, visited.

“The club is still here,” says Athayde. “We definitely want to be active and are looking at new opportunities.” There are hopes of more area ice spaces opening up soon or the club eventually obtaining its own facility.

Until then, these curlers continue to travel around the country attending bonspiels, especially at the Triangle Curling Club in Durham, North Carolina, but other frequent destinations are Maryland, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and New York.

For many curlers, it’s not just budget-friendliness and inclusivity that makes the sport stand out, but the infinite possibilities of each game. You never know what to expect.

“I’ve played with people twice my age and they just dominate me absolutely,” says Athayde. “[You could] go play against people who have played for a long time and are really good and manage to get one up on them.”

It’s also friendly to all athletic preferences. “The game is very easy to learn the basics and it is exceptionally hard to master so it caters to all skill levels,” says Boates.

The overall camaraderie though is perhaps most appealing. “It’s a very social sport,” says Norman. “If it didn’t have that social aspect I wouldn’t be a curler probably—it wouldn’t be as much fun.”

But this isn’t limited just to one’s team. Curlers respect competitors and have a distinct tradition where winners buy losers a first round of drinks after the game. It’s a social time known as broomstacking.

“The first round is almost always obligatory,” says Norman. “It’s really considered rude not to at least sit down for a few minutes and broomstack.”

During matches curlers often gather and trade commemorative pins depicting clubs, locations and events. Norman has accumulated an impressive collection over the years, like a Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic pin and a 1922 Heather Curling Club in New Brunswick one.

“Curling is incredibly fun and accessible to newcomers,” says Crunk. “The community is welcoming, supportive and always happy to help new players learn the game. It’s a great way to meet new people while trying something unique.”