With the Paralympic Winter Games set to start in Beijing, the 5 strong ParalympicsGB Wheelchair Curling team who will take to the ice rink will be comprised entirely of Scottish athletes. These 5 athletes are at the very pinnacle of the sport, but curling is at its heart a sport for everyone. We’ve teamed up with Scottish Curling to create a brief profile to help you understand more about the sport and if you are inspired by the Paralympic Winter Games, how you can get involved and enjoy this fun and inclusive sport yourself.
What is Wheelchair Curling?
Curling is a fun and challenging team game played on ice combining physical and tactical skill where the aim is to get the most stones closest to the centre of the target or ‘house’. Wheelchair curling, first played in the 1990s, is played with the same 20kg granite stones on the same ice as regular curling.
The beauty of Wheelchair Curling is that it truly is a sport for everyone who has access to a wheelchair, with age absolutely no barrier with players aged from 8 to over 80 regularly enjoying the game – if you get into the sport young, then you can stay in it for a very long time. It is a non-contact sport which isn’t particularly gruelling on the body, though this is not to say it doesn’t contribute to improved fitness. The sport can be played with other wheelchair users but also with non-disabled people which demonstrates its reputation as an incredibly inclusive sport which can be enjoyed by everyone.
Curling at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games
From 4th to 13th March the Paralympic Winter Games will take place in Beijing with the squad of 5 ParalympicsGB athletes all hailing from Scotland. Profiles of each athlete can be found here:
You can find out when they will be competing here
How can you get involved in curling?
There are currently 22 Curling Facilities across Scotland which all have access for wheelchair curling with ramps onto the ice with 12 wheelchair specific clubs around the country. There is currently one Vision Impaired club with regular sessions played at Kinross. Curlers with a Vision impairment are helped by a sighted assistant. All Scottish rinks hold regular Try Curling sessions to allow everyone to get a taste of the sport. These are open to people of all abilities and can easily be found and booked online.
No special equipment is necessary in order to get started with curling and for wheelchair curling a regular wheelchair can be used. Being such an inclusive sport, individual needs can be met in a supportive and appropriate manner for all to enjoy the sport. You don’t need other wheelchair users to play with as wheelchair users are welcome in non-wheelchair clubs.
Curling is played at every level of ability. Fun leagues have complete beginners and people playing for the social side of the game. This is a great place to learn how to curl. As you improve, you may want to play in leagues that will test your skills.
The Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association is the collective voice for wheelchair curling clubs and runs several competitions a year, in association with Scottish Curling. Several Clubs run their own competitions which are open to other curlers. Teams are usually made up of four, with both male and female players required for bigger competitions. There are also triples, pairs and mixed doubles formats played. For those with the appropriate classification, mindset and sporting potential, the Paralympic pathway is another option.
Further resources
Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association
Try Curling – Scottish Curling’s major participation programme
WCF Discover Curling – A series of videos presenting curling techniques, including for wheelchair curling