Make curling your next group event

Keep in mind that ice is cold and curling often involves lots of bending and stretching. We recommend wearing warm, loose-fitting clothes (sweats, yoga pants, track pants) and sneakers with warm socks. Jeans, shorts, skirts, and kilts are strongly discouraged (trust us). 

A cozy hat and gloves are highly recommended, too. We encourage you to bring a helmet for head protection, though it is not required for adults or children over 12 years of age. If you are bringing a child under 12 years of age, they will be required to wear a helmet on the ice. You can bring a bicycle or similar helmet with you (we do not currently provide helmets).

You may bring children, at your discretion. Please note that children under 12 must wear a helmet on the ice. You can bring a bicycle or similar helmet with you as we do not currently provide helmets.

Younger children may best enjoy our Try Curling events. Beginner Lessons may be enjoyed by children or teens ready to participate in a 2-3 hour class including off-ice instruction, discussion of strategy, and physical exercises. Keep in mind that curling stones weigh around 42lbs (we may have 20 lb “little rocks” for littler curlers available). 

We also offer programming dedicated to new curlers from grades 1-12. Our Junior Curling Program supports youth curlers from elementary through high school with recreational options and competitive coaching and training. Learn more about our Junior Curling Program — the first in California!

Yes, we would love you to bring your friend, especially if they want to register for the event and give curling a try! Or if they simply want to watch from our warm room, they are welcome to do that as well. But if they want to join you on the ice, have them register so we can reserve a spot for them!

SFBACC highly recommends that individuals remain up to date with recommended vaccinations. You are welcome to wear a mask if you like.  

If you have any respiratory illness (e.g. COVID, flu, cold) symptoms or other illnesses that may spread to others, please stay home (and feel better!). Please see our Health and Safety policy about communicable diseases.

Contact us if you develop symptoms and need to change your registration.

You’ll be in good company—most of our members got their start at an introductory event. 

We offer a special introductory Beginner Lesson Series as well as a range of league and programmatic options for curlers at all levels, which is the best place to start. Then, from leagues for beginners to practice and clinics, there are lots of ways to level up and have a good time on the ice. You can play in social leagues or aim for national competition, travel for tournaments or play in welcoming bonspiels here in Oakland — it's all up to you!

Curling can be enjoyed by people of all physical and mental abilities. Our new center is fully ADA accessible (the ice too) and our instructors can adapt curling techniques for a wide range of abilities, including delivering curling stones with a stick device from a standing position or from a wheelchair. If you have any questions, or specific accommodation requests, please contact us.

Our facility is currently the only center dedicated to curling in the state of California. Unlike arena ice, our dedicated ice (ice that only sees curling) offers two primary advantages:

Better curling experience. Arena ice, treated by a zamboni before being prepared for curling, has slight slopes, ridges, and other imperfections that interfere with the curl of the rocks. Our dedicated ice is prepared and maintained specifically for curling — giving you the best curling experience possible.

More curling opportunity. Since they have to share ice with figure skating, hockey, and open skating, arena clubs are usually only open to curlers for a few hours per day, a couple of days a week, often late at night. Since we don’t have to share our ice with other sports, we have curling every day of the week, and all day on Saturday and Sunday, allowing members plenty of time for game play, clinics, and practice time.