Bozeman Curling Club hosts 'Learn to Curl' event to grow community interest

BOZEMAN, Mont. — As the winter sports season winds down, the Bozeman Curling Club is making efforts to expand interest in curling, hosting a "Learn to Curl" event at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon. 

"The Learn to Curls are really I think essential. Because they are the opportunity for us to show the public what we do and how much fun this sport is," said club treasurer Chris Young. 

Around 100 people attended the event, eager to try their hand at throwing stones and sweeping on the ice. Melisa Guthrie, a prospective curler who has experimented with the sport previously, shared her enthusiasm. 

"It's really, really fun. It's a very unusual sport. I know the first time I tried it felt strange, but it's really quite fun. And I think once you get the hang of it, you want to do it more," she said. 

Guthrie, who was inspired to give it another go after watching the Olympics, expressed her hope for the club's growth. 

Young highlighted the club's current size and aspirations. "We have 160 members -- active members. We want more, and there is interest for it," he said. The Bozeman Curling Club is the largest in the state, and while they are reaching capacity with their current ice time, they are looking for ways to expand. 

"I'm really hoping, actually, that they expand," Guthrie said. "And I know that there's, as you can see here, a lot of people interested. So, I'm hoping that they can expand and that this is something that can grow in the Bozeman area." 

The club is in the very early phases of developing a plan to one day build a dedicated curling facility, Young said. 

"If we can get a building, put our own sheets of ice in, we can expand the club even more," he added. 

The goal is to provide future curlers like Guthrie and others who attended the event a place to enjoy the sport. 

Guthrie also noted the community aspect of curling. "It allows you to get to know your neighbors. And I think that sports like that here are great because in a really fast-growing area like Bozeman, we often don't know our neighbors. So, I think things like this are really great," said Guthrie. 

For more information, visit the Bozeman Curling Club.