A volunteer-run curling facility in Oakland, the only dedicated one in California, invites newcomers to try the sport popularized by the Winter Olympics. The San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club offers introductory classes led by experienced athletes like Adriana Camarena, captain of Mexico's national women's team. With 265 members and growing participation in national events, the club fosters an inclusive community.
Curling, a sport that gains attention during the Winter Olympics, is rarely played outside that context, but the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club aims to change that. Located at 8450 Enterprise Way in Oakland, this world-class facility opened four years ago after volunteers fundraised for over a decade. It provides pebbled ice using distilled, deionized water, distinct from the smooth surfaces for hockey or figure skating, which is essential for smooth stone movement and skill development.
Adriana Camarena, captain of the Mexican national women's team, teaches introductory classes. "We're obsessed," she says. "We love this game." In a recent Friday evening session, participants, including the reporter, wore grippers—rubber shoe covers—and learned to throw 40-plus-pound stones from the hack, spin them to curl, and sweep the ice with brooms to reduce friction. A beginner scrimmage ended 0-0, highlighting the sport's blend of strategy like chess and physics, with elements of shuffleboard and skating.
Across the ice, a league game among members with less than five years' experience demonstrated full play. The skip directs throws toward the button in the house, a target of concentric circles. Each team delivers eight stones, scoring points for those closest to the center compared to opponents. Post-game, players shake hands, say "good curling," and engage in "broomstacking"—sharing a beer.
The club emphasizes sportsmanship and inclusivity. Lana Nelson, who started in September, notes, "You don’t need to have experience. It’s a great sport to try if you always wanted a rec league." Benjamin Schechter, a Berkeley High School student playing for two and a half years, calls it "the most inclusive sport out there" and founded California's only high school curling club. Older adults like former fencer Ed Callan, who switched a year ago, say, "I’m hooked." Cindy Ward, also starting in September, praises its team-oriented, social nature: "It really checks all the boxes for me. The best thing about curling is the people."
Kate Garfinkel, a volunteer who led the facility's development, states, "This is a thing we all made happen." She competes in the Women’s U.S. Nationals in Charlotte at February's end. Six members participate in national events this season, a record, and the club includes athletes from U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, India, and Philippines teams. Trial classes cost $45 for 90 minutes, including instruction, play, a drink credit, and $40 toward more sessions. Camarena adds, "It’s easy to learn; hard to master."
The club operates Mondays and Tuesdays 6-10:30 p.m., Thursdays same, Wednesdays 6-11 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Fridays. Visit bayareacurling.com for details.
