The discovery of curling: there's a boom in requests to try the stone

The frenetic curling strokes and the final throw are a hit among Milanese: the Milano Curling Club's courses are sold out for the entire competitive season, which ends in May.

The curling strategy, the frenetic curling strokes, and the final throw are a hit among Milanese. The Milano Curling Club's courses are currently sold out for the entire competitive season, which ends in May. The sports association, along with the Jass Curling Club, with which it shares the playing spaces, are the points of reference for players in the city.

Together, they had to request additional trial evenings to accommodate the more than 500 requests that have arrived in the last few days. "Considering that there are no more than 400 members in all of Italy, Milan is a focal point in this wave of enthusiasm," comments Martina Erba, president of the Milano Curling Club. The only facility in the Milan area dedicated to curling is the Palasesto in Sesto San Giovanni, which has already opened its doors to the first new curlers with additional courses, but there are still not enough to meet all the requests. "Since the game only lasts until the end of April, it would be a shame to postpone anyone's tryout until next year," continues Erba. Enthusiasm for curling traditionally resurfaces every four years during the Winter Olympics, "but never like this year," explains Luca Bignardi, a thirty-year-old curler who has turned his passion for chess into the strategic key to throwing the stones. "Playing at home has had an unprecedented effect," she adds, "and then the videos on social media and the popularity of the Stefania Costantini-Amos Mosaner duo have helped fuel the boom," adds the president. Everyone wants to try it: young and old. "The maximum age in our club is over 80," says Bignardi, "because it's a sport you can start at any age."

Among the more than 500 requests are those from several Milanese schools interested in allowing younger people to experience this Olympic sport, which until now has been considered a niche sport. "What's still struggling to attract people is the lack of facilities and a lack of knowledge of the rules," Erba continues. "I don't expect all 500 people to sign up, but I hope at least they'll be given a chance at curling, which is much more than what you see on television." It's not just Milan: courses in Varese are also sold out until March, and Varese Curling announces on its website: "We're happy and inundated with requests; we're working on new dates. Long live curling!".

Link to the website: https://milano.repubblica.it/c...