Millions of viewers across the globe have been glued to their screens, captivated by the precise, tactical drama of curling at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. While the sport may not always match the adrenaline of downhill skiing or ice hockey, its curious blend of strategy, teamwork, and suspense has drawn in an ever-growing fanbase. This year, Team GB’s Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds have already secured their place in the mixed doubles semi-finals, thrilling supporters back home with a tense victory over the United States. Yet, behind every spectacular shot and dramatic end lies a fascinating story of craftsmanship, tradition, and two remarkable sources of stone: Ailsa Craig in Scotland and Trefor Quarry in North Wales.
It’s a connection that stretches far beyond the rink. Curling stones—those iconic, polished granite discs—are forged from rock found only in these two locations worldwide. This unique heritage has bound the sport to the landscapes of the British Isles for generations, with each stone carrying a legacy of geology, industry, and pride.
At the heart of this tradition is Kays of Scotland, a small but mighty factory nestled in Mauchline, East Ayrshire. With just 15 workers, the team at Kays have honed their craft since 1851, carving, grinding, and polishing curling stones that have graced Olympic ice from Chamonix in 1924 to the present day—every Winter Games, in fact, except for the 2002 event in Salt Lake City. “It fills everybody full of pride to see our curling stones on the world stage,” said Operations Manager Ricky English. “We’re just a small factory in the heart of a wee part of Mauchline. You bring all the granite from Ailsa Craig on the West Coast of Scotland, back from the island, to us here in the factory, and you then make something that you see on the world stage.”
The process of creating these stones is as meticulous as it is steeped in environmental responsibility. Every five to ten years, Kays harvests granite from Ailsa Craig—a striking volcanic plug island famed for its rugged beauty and rich birdlife. The island is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and strict planning and environmental legislation governs every aspect of the harvest. “It’s quite a big process,” English explained. “We have a 52 page planning document we have to adhere to. We have to do that in the winter months because the Ailsa Craig is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and it’s obviously a nature reserve for the birds. Then we have the logistical side of it. Obviously because we have to do it in winter, when there’s no birds there, you’ve got a landing craft then we have to put an excavator and dumping truck on that.”
Once the granite is carefully extracted, it’s transported back to the mainland by boat and stored until it’s time to transform the raw boulders into finished curling stones. Kays produces around 2,000 stones each year, aiming for a target of 48 stones every four-day working week. The company’s reputation for quality has made their stones the standard for Olympic competition, with their handiwork traveling as far as Canada and China.
What makes Ailsa Craig’s granite so special? For the main body of each curling stone, Kays uses Ailsa Craig Common Green granite, prized for its unique ability to absorb impact energy. “At Ailsa Craig, when the two stones hit together, it’s perfect for impact rather than shattering on impact,” said English. “It kind of absorbs that energy and shoots it out the other end like a spring motion which makes it perfect for the body of a curling stone.” For the running surface—the part that glides over the ice—they use Ailsa Craig Blue Hone granite, which is both waterproof and exceptionally hard-wearing. “When we use the Ailsa Craig Blue Hone, that’s effectively a waterproof type granite and it’s very hard-wearing which makes it perfect for going over a surface like ice.”
Yet Ailsa Craig isn’t the only source of curling stone granite. Trefor Quarry in Gwynedd, North Wales, stands as the only other location in the world providing stone for this purpose. Team GB’s website recognizes Trefor Quarry, located on the Llyn Peninsula, as the exclusive alternative to Ailsa Craig. Trefor granite, characterized by its pink, blue, and grey hues, low water absorption, and high durability, has long been valued in the sport. Its resilience prevents chipping and moisture absorption on Olympic ice, and it’s been used in curling stones for competitions in Canada as well as the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
All 132 curling stones used at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were sourced from Ailsa Craig, but it remains unclear how many of the stones sliding across the ice in Milan and Cortina this year originated from Trefor Quarry. Regardless, the North Wales site’s contribution to the sport is undeniable, having supplied granite for Olympic stones and for a variety of other uses, including monoliths and flooring, thanks to its renowned strength and beauty.
This year’s Winter Olympics have not only showcased the athletic prowess of competitors like Mouat and Dodds but also shone a light on the craftsmanship and natural heritage underpinning their equipment. As the tension builds toward the curling finals, fans are becoming increasingly familiar with the sport’s unique terminology—the “house,” the “sheet,” the elusive “button”—and, perhaps, with the unsung heroes who shape the stones themselves.
The connection between these two quarries and the world of curling serves as a reminder that even in a global sporting spectacle, there’s room for tradition, sustainability, and local pride. From the windswept cliffs of Ailsa Craig to the rugged hills of North Wales, the journey of a curling stone is one of patience, precision, and passion—qualities mirrored on the ice by those who play the game at its highest level.
As the Milano Cortina 2026 curling competition continues, the world waits to see which nation will take home gold. But win or lose, the stones themselves—shaped by nature, crafted by artisans, and cherished by athletes—remain at the heart of this captivating sport, carrying with them the stories of their origins and the pride of those who made them.