Lauren Rich, an Oregon woman who started curling seven years ago, has been selected to help create the competition ice for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games. As the only American on the World Curling Federation's ice crew, she will spend about a month in Italy ensuring the ice meets elite standards. Rich, a full-time employee with Team USA Curling, shared her surprise and excitement in an interview at the Evergreen Curling Club outside Portland.
Lauren Rich's journey into curling began in 2018, inspired by the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. A former research engineer, she signed up for a 'Learn to Curl' session and quickly became immersed in the sport. Now a full-time employee with Team USA Curling, Rich maintains competition-ready ice through specialized techniques.
Her role involves 'pebbling,' where purified water is sprayed in tiny droplets that freeze into bumps called pebbles, allowing curling stones to glide smoothly. Most pebble heads use a size 64 nozzle, and consistency is vital. 'One thing that we’re always watching is how the snow is building up on the blade,' Rich said. 'If it’s even all the way across, that means we have really good pebble. All of these things need to be flat and even throughout the course of the event.'
After pebbling, the ice is scraped or 'nipped' to ensure uniform pebble height. Uneven surfaces can lead to 'waves' that degrade the ice during play, forcing the crew to restart. Rich was stunned when the head ice technician from the World Curling Federation called her. 'My phone rang one day… and he was like, “Hey, we have this thing called the Olympics. Do you want to go?”' she recounted.
As the sole American on the international team, Rich will join the crew in Italy for roughly a month to prepare the Olympic curling sheets. She views the opportunity as unforgettable. 'I think it’s just really incredible to be a part of that and to watch that build up and watch that grow,' she said, reflecting on contributing to elite-level ice for the world's top curlers.
