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Glancing around the ice , it ’ s clear the league serves a range of skill levels . While some players lunge with the grace of an Olympic athlete , just as many wobble . The longtime members zoom around on specialized curling shoes — one coated in Teflon for sliding , the other rubber for gripping — but an old pair of Chuck Taylors modified with stick-on grippers works just as well , Rosler assures me .
The OSCC is the state ’ s largest curling club , but it ’ s not alone . The Pawcatuck River Curling Club was formed after the local YMCA hosted a demonstration and now competes seasonally on an outdoor rink in Westerly . Howard Taylor , a founding member , says the club continues a long tradition of Scottish and Italian immigrants curling in the region after bringing the sport from their native countries .
“ We ’ ve been curling down there for about seven years ,” he says .
With four simultaneous matches underway in Smithfield , shouted instructions echo around the rink . Equally important to the competition , Rosler says , is the tradition of broomstacking , when players convene at a local bar before or after a match .
“ Harking back to the days of curling lodges and things like that , you literally go with the team you played against , stack your brooms up , and sit down ,” he says .
Next month , the club will showcase the sport when it hosts the Grand National Curling Club Arena Club Championship April 24 – 27 . Clubs from around the East Coast will descend on Schneider Arena at Providence College , where the competition will be open for public viewing . It ’ s a good opportunity , Rosler says , for those considering joining a Learn to Curl event to see how the sport is played .
Until then , they ’ ll have to make do with a smaller audience . As the curling continues late into the night , one straggling hockey player presses his face into the Plexiglas , peering curiously at the Teflon-clad figures sliding around the rink — one more convert for a sport that ’ s still going strong in the Ocean State . oceanstatecurling . org 🆁
32 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I MARCH 2025