North Star Curling Club was formed in 2022 after a group of friends were talking about the recent Winter Olympics and wondered why St. Cloud was the only area in Minnesota without a Curling Club. Two of the neighbors, one with many years of Curling experience and the other with a business and non-profit background decided to start making calls to see if curling was a possibility at one of the local arenas. Herb Brooks National Hockey Center happened to be available on Sunday nights and it was full speed ahead from there.
“After we confirmed availability at HBNHC, we formed the nonprofit organization, found many community partners, and acquired all of the equipment in the fall of 2022,” shared Jessica Dahl, Co-founder and VP. “Close to 300 people learned how to Curl with us in January 2023. Three leagues filled up during the Spring of 2023. Now, our plans for the '23-'24 season include launching programs for youth and adding more leagues.”
Curling is a winter sport for ages 8-80+ with many adaptive options for different abilities. In a typical game, two teams of four people take turns sliding granite stones across the ice toward a target called a “house.” Teammates sweep the ice in front of the stone to help influence its speed and direction. The team with the rock closest to the center of the house scores points. Curling is a social sport that requires both physical ability and strategy. Many people use Curling as a way to stay active and connected during the long winter months.
As a new non-profit, North Star Curling is learning a lot in the first year of operation. “We are 100% volunteer-led and run. None of us had direct experience in operating a curling club and other clubs in Minnesota are so gracious in teaching and helping us along. Members of the Brainerd Lakes Curling Club and Glacial Ridge Curling Club even volunteered to teach Learn to Curls and now curl with us in the Fall. Recently we visited Brainerd’s dedicated facility for a friendly curling competition and it was inspiring to see what a club can be. Many people have expressed a desire for more day/time options since we are limited to Sunday evenings for now. We’d love to open a dedicated Curling facility with an attached bar/restaurant in the coming years as our membership grows. We are launching a capital campaign this season to help accomplish this goal and expand the programs we can offer. As a 100% volunteer-led and run club, there’s a lot of ownership by members in making the club successful.”
Despite the learning along the way, North Star Curling Club continues to grow and thrive. “We love being part of Central Minnesota. Launching the club in this area was a great experience. It was a grassroots effort and everyone we talked to was excited about the idea. Greater St. Cloud is full of people and organizations who cheer on new ventures. The support we received from local businesses and community members truly made Curling possible in the area. We’ve met so many people who share a passion for Curling and recognize the importance of staying active and socially connected during the winter months.” Locally, they partner with a variety of organizations that make the club's efforts possible. The Herb Brooks National Hockey Center at SCSU is of course at the top of the list, providing the location, ice time, and concessions. They also partner with Kyle Hedtke State Farm, Deerwood Bank, St. Cloud Orthopedics, Meshbesher & Spence, Premier Real Estate, Good Life Chiropractic, Howie’s Sports Bar & Grill, Alloy Insurance, and Finken. White Box Marketing designed the logo and also won a Central MN American Advertising Award for the club’s branding.
North Star Curling Club aims to strengthen the health and well-being of individuals and the community as a whole. “We’re building a wonderful community of curlers that are learning and growing together. Many people have become friends after meeting at Learn to Curl or looking for teammates on our Facebook group. Players often remark on how curling provides a little bit more of a workout than they anticipated. It’s definitely not as easy as it might look on TV but new curlers are typically sliding and sweeping pretty well after a couple of hours on the ice” shared Nathan Lee, Co-Founder and President.”
“We love the new friendships that are being made and the positive energy on the ice every week. Recently a group of high school students formed a team and we are excited about helping more youth participate in the sport.” The Sartell High School Curling team is looking for other high school teams to play. Students from any local school in grades 7-12 should reach out to northstarcurling@gmail.com if they are interested in Curling.
They’ve got some great opportunities to learn, watch, and try out curling if you’re interested. Mark your calendars for:
- 12/17/23: 10 Week Winter Leagues Begin (spots still available in the 3pm league)
- 3/17/24: 5 Week Spring Leagues Begin (including a Learn to Curl league)
- Semi-Private & Private Events available (e-mail to schedule)
To learn more or get involved, you can visit their website at www.northstarcurling.com to sign up for upcoming Curling opportunities, make a donation towards a dedicated Curling facility, and/or become a sponsor. You can also email northstarcurling@gmail.com if you have questions about how to get involved. “We plan to start participating in more community events - please reach out to us if you can help us spread the word about Curling in the area!”
#StCloudShines
