How much is a set of Olympic curling stones?

A single curling stone certified for the Olympics costs over $600. That makes a full set of 16 stones worth $9,600. Since 2006, every stone used in the Olympic Winter Games has come from Kays of Scotland. The company has produced curling stones since 1851. But making these stones isn't easy. For every stone it makes, Kays uses granite from one tiny island off the coast of Scotland called Ailsa Craig. By combining Ailsa Craig's common green and blue hone granites, Kays produces the only stones allowed in World Curling Federation contests and the Winter Olympics.

Curling Stone

A curling stone is what is thrown by a curler during a game. Curling stones weigh about 42 pounds and are made of granite. Each team throws eight stones during an end for a total of 16 stones. After the stone is thrown, one or two other curlers will sweep it as it travels down the ice, making it travel both straighter and farther.

The underside of a curling stone is concave, meaning that there is an air pocket under the stone as it travels down the ice. Since curling ice is textured, there are miniature air pockets on the surface of the ice. The presence of these air pockets on the stone and ice is what allows a curling stone to travel 150 feet down the ice. Additionally, only a small part of the curling stone makes contact with the ice - this part of the stone is known as the running band or running surface.

Dimensions

The official dimensions of a curling stone are regulated by the World Curling Federation, the global governing body for the sport of curling. Based on their regulations, a curling stone must have a circumference no larger than 36 inches and cannot be shorter than 4.5 inches. Additionally, there are weight standardizations between 38 and 44 pounds. Note that this weight includes the handle and the bolt that attaches the handle to the stone.

Purchasing Stones

Curling stones are usually sold in sets of eight or 16. They can be sold either new (directly from the manufacturer) or used (from one curling club to another). The only difference is that the new stones have not been used for curling yet.

From a price perspective, used stones are less expensive. For a curling club with limited funds, it may be easier to purchase a used set of curling stones and paper them before use to save money.

Stone Handles

Curling stone handles are made of plastic and come in a variety of colors. The two most common colors are red and yellow, as seen in most curling clubs and international competitions.

On the handle of each stone, there is either an engraving or a sticker with a letter in front of the handle and a number to each side of the handle. This is to distinguish one curling stone from another. Although curling stones look the same to the average person, each one behaves a little bit differently from the others.

Stone Material

As previously mentioned, most curling stones are made of Blue Hone granite, which comes from Ailsa Craig in Scotland. Additionally, the curling stone handle is made of plastic, and gets attached to the curling stone via a screw that runs through the middle of the curling stone (from top to bottom).

Ailsa Craig

Ailsa Craig is an island off the coast of Scotland and is one of the few places in which the granite used to make curling stones is mined. Some people believe that the island also looks like a curling stone.

Three types of granite are harvested from Ailsa Craig: Blue Hone, Red Hone, and green granite. The granite harvested from Ailsa Craig is different from the granite that is used in countertops because it is significantly more impact resistant. Therefore, a curling stone will never crack or rupture when being used in a game.

Trefor Granite

Trefor granite is one of the types of granite that curling stones are made from. The main manufacturing company to use trefor granite is the Canada Curling Stone company, which uses both blue/black and red/brown trefor granite. This type of granite is known for being impact resistant, which means that the curling stones will not fracture or crack when they collide with one another on the ice.

Stone Price

Typically, curling stones are sold in a set of 16: enough for one sheet. For this quantity of stones, the expected sale price is anywhere between $8,000 to $12,000. Average curling stones will be worth $500 to $750 each.

Some curling stone manufacturers do not sell their stones with handles. Therefore, you may be required to purchase stone handles separately, which usually run about $30 to $40 per stone handle.

Types of Curling Stones

Since curling has become a rather standardized sport, there is only one type of curling stone used for play at most curling clubs and international competitions. However, there are some differences between curling stones at a 'regular' curling club and for high-level competition.

At high-level competitions, each stone is installed with an electronic hog line sensor. This device illuminates green if the stone is released before reaching the hog line and red if not (meaning that a hog line violation was committed).

For young children, there are curling stones that weigh 21 pounds as opposed to 42 pounds. These lighter stones allow for children who may not be able to physically push a full-sized stone to curl.

Stone Weight

Generally speaking, curling stones weigh approximately 42 pounds. Due to manufacturing processes, there is slight variation in the weight of a curling stone. Therefore, it is said that curling stones weigh between 40 and 44 pounds.

In addition to regular sized curling stones, there are also stones that weigh 21 pounds for children to throw. Many young curlers ages 12 and under will throw these smaller stones, commonly known as "Little Rocks." This allows young people to enjoy the game of curling just as much as a teenager or adult, but have an easier time delivering the stones.

FAQ

What is a curling stone?

A curling stone is the piece of equipment that curlers will throw during a game of curling. Each stone weighs approximately 42 pounds and is made of granite. A plastic handle is attached to each curling stone for players to grip when they are delivering the stone. During an end of men’s or women’s curling, each team will throw eight stones, for a total of 16 stones. In mixed doubles, teams throw five stones each or 10 total.

What are curling stones used for?

Curling stones are thrown down a 150 feet long sheet of ice during a game of curling. After they are thrown, two other curlers sweep the stone as it travels down the ice. Based on where the stones land in the house, points are awarded to one of the two teams.

At some arena curling clubs, the curling stones are also used to smooth out the pebble before curling begins. This is done to cut the top of the pebble for a flat, but textured playing surface. If the ice isn't completely level, a blade may further dish the ice, but curling stones will not do that.

Where do you get curling stones?

Curling stones can be purchased from a few manufacturers in the world. The most common two are Kays of Scotland and the Canada Curling Stone Company. Each of these manufacturers uses a different type of granite, but the resulting curling stone still weighs in at around 42 pounds. Additionally, note that curling stones may or may not come with handles attached to them. If the handles aren't attached, you must purchase them separately.

How do they make curling stones?

First, granite for curling stones is harvested from a granite mine. These large slabs of granite are broken down into a smaller size such that curling stone 'templates' can be cut. After the 'templates' are cut, stones are individually sanded and ground down to represent the shape of a curling stone. Next, the circumference of the stones are pitted with glass beads to better distribute the impact forces when the stones collide with one another. Lastly, a plastic handle is attached to the stone via a screw.

How much does a set of curling stones cost?

An average set of 16 curling stones will cost roughly $8,000 to $12,000. This means that each curling stone costs about $500 to $750. However, the prices are significantly lower for the 21 pound stones that children throw. These stones cost about $4,500 per set: about $280 to $300 per stone.

Note that some curling stones are sold without handles, so you may need to purchase them separately.

How long does a curling stone last?

Curling stones, if taken care of properly, can last for more than ten years. One of the most common problems with curling stones is that they have trouble 'gripping the ice' as they age. To remedy this, curling clubs will "paper the stones." This means that curling clubs use sandpaper to texture the running surface of the curling stone so that the stones can have a better grip on the ice and travel down the ice as one would expect them to.

What are the dimensions of a curling stone?

According to the World Curling Federation, a curling stone must have a circumference no larger than 36 inches and must be taller than 4.5 inches. This guideline is given because the manufacturing of curling stones isn't an exact science; each stone will turn out a little differently than every other stone. This imprecision in manufacturing also explains why each curling stone behaves differently from others.

Where should I buy curling stones?

There are a few companies that sell curling stones. Some of the top companies are the Canada Curling Stone Company and Kays of Scotland, both of which have produced curling stones for the Winter Olympics. Another common curling stone manufacturer is Thompson Rink Equipment. Note that when you purchase curling stones, they may come in sets of eight or 16, depending on the manufacturer.

Why does a curling stone curl?

In general, the physics of curling hasn't been studied well but we do know that there is some friction between the curling stone and the ice. This friction acts as a source of heat, which melts a small layer of the pebble. Since the front of the curling stone 'sees' the pebble first, it encounters a higher frictional force than the back of the curling stone. The additional friction at the front of the curling stones allows the back part to move faster. This frictional force differential creates a velocity differential, thus allowing the stone to move laterally.

What kinds of curling stones do they use in the Olympics?

Since 2006, curling stones used in the Olympics have been manufactured by Kays of Scotland, which come straight from the island of Ailsa Craig. This means that no curler has used the curling stones before the Olympics begin. Having new curling stones for the Olympics helps ensure that the stones play as consistently as possible since they have not been used yet. Before 2006, the curling stones were produced by the Canada Curling Stone Company.

What colors do curling stones come in?

Curling stones come in one color, gray, because that is the color of the granite that is used to produce all curling stones. The curling stone handles, however, come in a variety of colors. While the most common colors are red and yellow, other colors such as blue and green can also be seen on a curling stone handle. On the curling stone handles, there may also be an engraving, which is painted a different color from the main color on the handle.

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