It’s not every day you get to see curling fever sweep across both sides of the Atlantic, but February 2026 has proven to be a banner month for the sport—whether you’re in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, the snowy streets of Milwaukee, or even under the Olympic lights in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Curling, that age-old Scottish pastime of stones, sheets, and sweeping brooms, is having its moment in the spotlight, and fans both new and seasoned are sliding onto the ice to be part of the action.
At the Evergreen Curling Club in Beaverton, Oregon, excitement is palpable. Since its founding in 2013, Evergreen has become one of just six dedicated curling facilities west of the Rocky Mountains—a rare gem for enthusiasts in the region. "Hopefully Bend will be getting their own dedicated curling facility in the next few years but, right now, it’s just us and Seattle in the Pacific Northwest," says Kevin Wade, the club’s communications coordinator. The club’s membership, currently between 250 and 300 strong, is on the rise after a brief pandemic slump. Wade beams, "We’re stronger than ever. We’re doing a big capital fundraising effort for upgraded equipment to improve our ice… . We’re really excited because that’s going to give us some really consistent, flat and easy to maintain ice for the future."
For those who have only seen curling on TV during the Olympics and wondered what it’s like, Evergreen offers a welcoming entry point. Their Learn To Curl classes—a two-hour group session—introduce the basics and even get first-timers playing their inaugural game. For those bitten by the curling bug, Curling 101, a five-week course, takes things further, focusing on strategy and repetition. Wade explains, "That teaches you how to curl, but you’re also going to get the reps and learn the strategy of the game. From there you’ll be able to jump right into one of our leagues." And if that sounds a bit daunting, Friday Friends nights offer a laid-back environment for absolute beginners to dip their toes in the ice, alongside everyone from high schoolers to retirees.
Membership at Evergreen is accessible, with annual dues set at $95 for adults and $60 for youth 21 and under. Members enjoy exclusive access to leagues, free practice time, top-tier equipment, and a sense of community that’s as warm as the club’s own bar and pizza-equipped warming room. "I think that’s the really nice thing about our club, is there’s just so many different types of people and age ranges that have either found curling at some point in their life, curling their entire life, or heard about our club after the Olympics," Wade says. "Or maybe they did it as a kid growing up and wanted to get back into it. You can always find your community here." The most surprising takeaway for newcomers? Wade laughs, "Some people think it’s going to be easy, while others people think there’s no way that they can do it, but it’s impressive how fast someone can walk in the door and be able to be putting shots and scoring. I think that’s what makes this kind of addicting. In two hours you can get good enough to keep wanting to come back."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Milwaukee’s Wauwatosa Curling Club is celebrating its own centennial legacy. Founded in 1921 and nestled in Hart Park, the club has been a fixture in Wisconsin’s curling scene for over a hundred years. Club president Katie Moorhead reflects on the sport’s growth, especially since its inclusion in the Nagano Olympics in 1998: "My family had curled for many years pre-Olympics; and the club membership had grown significantly when I re-joined as an adult in 2017. I don’t have to explain the basics of curling anymore."
Wauwatosa offers four sheets of ice and hosts "Try Curling" sessions open to anyone aged 13 and up, with the next opportunity coming up on March 14, 2026. The club caters to all abilities, including adaptive curling for those with physical challenges and a vibrant senior membership. Junior curling for ages 10-18 is set to return in fall 2026 after a brief hiatus. The club’s season runs from mid-October through March, and tradition is alive and well—each session ends with "broomstacking," the post-game social that’s as much a part of curling as the stones themselves.
Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Flooding in August 2025 delayed Wauwatosa’s season and destroyed their basement club room, including cherished memorabilia and equipment. Still, the club is undeterred, fundraising and planning to rebuild. As Moorhead says, curling is "a sport for all ages and ability; we have a strong level of senior membership and offer adaptive curling opportunities, where we can accommodate individuals with varying levels of physical abilities."
Nationally, curling’s profile has never been higher. At the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, U.S. curlers Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin captured a historic silver medal in mixed doubles, adding to the men’s gold from Pyeongchang and fueling even greater interest in the sport. Across the country, nearly 200 curling clubs now welcome new players, with Wisconsin alone boasting almost 30. The Olympic spotlight has clearly driven a new generation to pick up a broom and give it a go.
The Olympic spirit isn’t just about the action on the ice. At the Cortina curling stadium, spectators braved heavy snow to witness a unique tribute to curling’s Scottish roots. The Cateaters Pipe Band, hailing from northeastern Italy, donned kilts and glengarry hats to perform traditional Scottish bagpipe music at the medal ceremonies. "It’s so emotional for us to play here for the world," said Marianna Spadarotto, the band’s lone woman and bass drummer. The band, usually seen at local events in Veneto, now found themselves center stage at the world’s biggest winter sporting event. Despite the cold, the musicians stuck to tradition, refusing to add Italian flair to the Scottish tunes. Band member Luca Eze shared his journey from playing the Italian zampogna to the Scottish bagpipes, while Cristian Negro noted, "I focus more on high tension snare drums because there are so few people who play it here. I get to play more music — and it’s necessary for someone to do." Their presence, along with Scottish flags waving in the stands, underscored the deep heritage and international camaraderie that curling inspires.
Even local media is getting in on the act. On February 20, NBC Boston’s The Hub Today aired a segment from Broomstones Curling Club, where hosts learned to "curl like the pros," further stoking curiosity and participation in the sport throughout New England.
With local clubs from Beaverton to Milwaukee offering classes, leagues, and a warm welcome, and with Olympic heroes inspiring new fans, curling’s momentum in the U.S. is unmistakable. Whether you’re drawn by the strategy, the community, or the sheer novelty of sliding stones across pebbled ice, there’s never been a better time to pick up a broom and join the fun. For many, that first shot is just the beginning of a lifelong passion—and who knows, maybe a trip to the Olympics isn’t as far-fetched as it seems.