Everything Everywhere Daily — Episode Summary: Curling
Host: Gary Arndt
Date: February 22, 2026

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, host Gary Arndt explores the unique and unexpectedly captivating sport of curling. He traces its fascinating journey from the frozen lochs of medieval Scotland to its enduring role in the modern Olympics. While often perceived as accessible and even a bit quirky, curling’s rich history, specialized equipment, and mysterious physics make it a singular sport with global appeal. Whether you’re a hard-core curling fan, an Olympics enthusiast, or just intellectually curious, Arndt breaks down how “pushing rocks on ice” won a spot on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Essence of Curling

• [01:48] Arndt describes curling’s objective:

  • Two teams of four slide 44-pound granite stones toward the “house” (a target), aiming to land closest to the center or “button.”
  • Curling’s gameplay is deceptively simple but yields strategic complexity.

• Curling’s Accessibility:
  “Curling feels different. It feels accessible, something that anybody could do, even if you’ve been drinking.” (00:00)

2. Origins of Curling

• Scottish Beginnings:

  • The oldest known curling artifact: the Stirling Stone (1511), found in Dunblane, Scotland, is the “Rosetta stone of curling.”
  • Early stones were smooth river boulders, simply slid across natural ice—hence the nickname "the roaring game," from the stone's sound on rough ice.
  • Earliest written record: a 1541 challenge between a monk and a monastery official in Paisley, Scotland.
  • Scottish poetry, like Robert Burns’ 1785 “The Vision,” cements the sport in Scotland’s cultural DNA.
    • “The sun has closed the winter day / The curlers quat their roaring play.” (citing Robert Burns, 1785)

• Contested Origins:

  • Dutch Claims: Paintings from the Low Countries (e.g., Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1565) depict curling-like activity.
  • Scottish Curling Association insists the lack of hard igneous rock in the Low Countries rules them out as the birthplace.

3. Evolution and Standardization of the Equipment

• [03:25–08:00]

  • Early stones: “luffys” (small hand-sized stones).
  • 19th-century Scottish artisans standardized stones for consistency and competition.
  • Handles enabled curlers to impart a controlled spin (“curl”).

• The Importance of Granite & Ailsa Craig:

  • Elite curling stones are made exclusively from Ailsa Craig granite, an uninhabited Scottish island.

  • Two types of granite:

    • Green granite (toughness, impact resistance).
    • Blue Hone granite (water-resistant, forms the critical running band).

  • Granite is quarried in limited quantities for environmental and wildlife protection, notably to preserve puffin habitats.

    “All of the stones used in high level competitions such as the Olympics are made of granite from a single location, Ailsa Craig, a small uninhabited island off the coast of Scotland.” (08:12)

    “An Olympic quality Ailsa Craig curling stone is a very expensive item. A stone costs about $1,000 per stone and $16,000 for a complete set.” (09:55)

4. The Science of Curling

• Stone Physics:

  • The concave base minimizes surface friction; Blue Hone’s density helps the stone glide.
  • Curiously, “a curling stone follows its spin,” the opposite of most spinning objects—still a mystery to physicists.

    “The scientific community hasn’t come to a consensus on the physics of curling, although it’s not through a lack of effort. It’s been over a hundred years since researchers started trying to understand it. But the mechanisms behind the curling of the stone remain unsolved.” (paraphrasing Jennifer Vail, ~[12:50])

• Sweeping Technology:

  • From simple straw brooms to carbon fiber brushes.

  • Sweepers use friction to melt ice subtly and adjust the stone’s distance and direction by as much as 10–15 feet.

    "A manufactured stone on a proper surface with effective brooming can generate an additional 10 to 15 feet. That's the difference between a stone that sails through the house and one that lands perfectly on the button." (13:25)

5. Curling and the Olympics

• Olympic Journey:

  • First appeared (unofficially) at the 1924 Chamonix Games; recognized retroactively.

  • Demonstration sport in several subsequent Olympics.

  • Official sport again from 1998 Winter Olympics (Nagano, Japan); mixed doubles added in 2018.

  • Global popularity built through standardization (World Curling Federation), social play, and club participation.

    “This popularity is what made it an Olympic sport, which is not too bad for something that began as a bunch of Scotsmen tossing stones on the ice.” (15:00)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Curling’s accessibility:
  “Curling feels accessible, something that anybody could do, even if you’ve been drinking.” (00:00)

• Cultural roots:
  “The Stirling stone is sort of the Rosetta stone of curling … unmistakable proof.” (03:00)

• Environmental stewardship:
  “When crews harvest the granite, they only do so in October to minimize disruption to the puffin’s nesting and birthing habits, and they’re forbidden from using blasting.” (10:30)

• On curling stone expense:
  “A stone costs about $1,000 per stone and $16,000 for a complete set.” (09:55)

• Physics unsolved:
  “The mechanisms behind the curling of the stone remain unsolved.” (12:50, referencing Jennifer Vail)

Important Timestamps

• [01:48] — Introduction to curling’s rules and basic gameplay
• [02:15–05:10] — Origins in Scotland, artifacts, and the “roaring game”
• [05:45–08:00] — Equipment evolution and the standardization of curling stones
• [08:00–11:00] — Ailsa Craig granite, environmental practices, and stone manufacture
• [11:00–13:30] — The science of spinning stones, unresolved physics, sweeping technology
• [13:30–14:45] — Curling’s Olympic timeline and resurgence
• [15:00] — Summary and final thoughts on curling’s surprising popularity

Takeaway

Gary Arndt’s exploration of curling weaves together quirky accessibility, centuries of tradition, and scientific intrigue—proving this “roaring game” is more than just sliding rocks on ice. It’s a triumph of history, environmental stewardship, and sporting excellence, rooted deeply in Scottish culture and now celebrated worldwide every Olympic year.

Note: All ads, listener reviews, and unrelated banter have been omitted from this summary.