| Shoes | | | | turning, especially toward the end of |
| Curling shoes: The slider shoe (center), | | | | its delivery. The degree of curl depends |
| with its thin Teflon surface, is worn | | | | on several factors, including the |
| during delivery to slide on the ice; a | | | | preparation of the ice and the |
| slip-on gripper (left) is worn over the | | | | flattening of common paths to the house |
| slider at other times; the other shoe | | | | during the game. Ice on which the rocks |
| (right) has a rough surface to give | | | | curl well is said to be swingy. |
| traction on the ice.When curling, | | | | The Scots in particular believe that the |
| players need to wear specially designed | | | | best quality curling stones are made |
| shoes. The sole of one shoe has a thin | | | | from a specific type of granite called |
| strip of Teflon or another type of | | | | "Ailsite", found on the Ailsa Craig, an |
| smooth surface, called a slider. | | | | island off the Ayrshire coast. According |
| Inexpensive sliders can be purchased and | | | | to the Scottish Curling Stone Company, |
| attached to any shoes by means of an | | | | Ailsite has very low water absorption |
| elastic strap. This enables curlers to | | | | which prevents the action of freezing |
| slide out of the hack when delivering a | | | | and melting water from eroding the |
| rock. Left-handed curlers wear this shoe | | | | stone. [4] In the past, most curling |
| on their right foot, while right-handed | | | | stones were made from this granite. |
| curlers wear it on their left. The other | | | | However, the island is now a wildlife |
| shoe has a thin layer of rubber to | | | | reserve, and is no longer used for |
| maximize traction on the ice. Another | | | | quarrying. Because of the particular |
| piece of footwear is the gripper, which | | | | rarity of Ailsite, costs for curling |
| can slide on and off the shoe with the | | | | stones can reach as much as $1500 (USD) |
| slippery surface. This is also usually | | | | for Olympic grade stones. Many curling |
| made of rubber. This piece of equipment | | | | clubs use a lower grade stone that can |
| is needed when a player is sweeping, and | | | | be upwards of $500. There are also |
| needs traction with both feet. | | | | stones which use a disc of ailsite |
| The curling broom is used to sweep the | | | | attached to another type of granite to |
| ice surface in front of the rock. | | | | provide the running surface. Very |
| Brooms (or brushes) | | | | informal neighbourhood curling clubs |
| The curling broom is used to sweep the | | | | with limited resources may make |
| ice surface in front of the rock. | | | | cylindrical "curling stones" out of |
| Aggressive sweeping momentarily melts | | | | concrete-filled cans. |
| the ice, which lessens friction, thereby | | | | The curling stones used at the 2006 |
| lessening the deceleration of the rock, | | | | Winter Olympics in Torino were provided |
| while straightening the trajectory of | | | | by the Garn For granite quarry at the Yr |
| the rock. The broom can also be used to | | | | Eifl mountain on the Llyn Peninsula in |
| clean debris off the ice, although this | | | | North-West Wales. |
| is often done in vain. The skip will | | | | Specialized equipment |
| also hold a broom at the opposite end of | | | | A special handle for stones, called "Eye |
| the rink from the delivering player to | | | | On The Hog", has recently been |
| show the deliverer where to aim the | | | | developed, which integrates electronics |
| rock. | | | | to ensure the stone is released before |
| In earlier days, brooms were made of | | | | it crosses the hog line. The handle is |
| corn strands and were similar to | | | | coated in metallic paint; the circuitry |
| household brooms. Brushes were used | | | | detects the relative charge of the |
| primarily by elderly curlers as a | | | | thrower's hand contact to determine if |
| substitute for corn brooms. Today, | | | | they are still in contact, and a linear |
| brushes have replaced traditional corn | | | | field is established at the hog line to |
| brooms at every level of curling, but | | | | indicate its location to the internal |
| are universally referred to as brooms. | | | | sensor. Lights at the base of the handle |
| Brooms are also used by some curlers as | | | | indicate whether contact was sustained |
| a balancing aid during delivery of the | | | | past the line or not. Not only does this |
| stone. | | | | remove the chance for human error |
| Curling stone (or rock) | | | | (eliminating the game's most frequent |
| The curling stone or rock is made out of | | | | cause of controversy), but it means |
| granite.The curling stone, or rock, | | | | there is no need for hogline officials |
| weighs a maximum of 44 lbs. (19.96 kg) | | | | as well. The downside for the technology |
| and is fitted with a handle on top | | | | is that the equipment currently costs |
| allowing it to be rotated as it is | | | | around $650 a piece which multiplies |
| released. If the handle is rotated | | | | quickly with the amount of rocks and |
| across the body (clockwise for a | | | | sheets of ice in a tournament. Therefore |
| right-handed thrower, counter-clockwise | | | | its use is found mostly in high-level |
| for a leftie), the shot is said to be an | | | | national and international competitions |
| in-turn, and if rotated away from the | | | | such as the Winter Olympics. |
| body (counter-clockwise for a | | | | Although the rock is designed to be |
| right-handed thrower, clockwise for a | | | | delivered by players grasping the handle |
| leftie), it is an out-turn. The handles | | | | as they slide down the ice, a special |
| are colour-coded to differentiate one | | | | "delivery stick" may be used by players |
| team's rocks from the other's (usually, | | | | incapable of delivering the rock in this |
| one team's rocks are red and the other's | | | | fashion. Such a stick is designed to |
| are yellow). The handle may also contain | | | | attach to the handle so that it can be |
| circuitry for detecting hog line | | | | released without requiring the player to |
| violations. | | | | place a hand on the handle in a crouched |
| The bottom of the rock is not flat, | | | | position. This allows the game to be |
| however, but concave with the actual | | | | played by players with disabilities, as |
| surface in contact with the ice | | | | well as those unable to crouch |
| ("running surface") being only 1 to 1 | | | | comfortably. According to the Canadian |
| inch (6 to 12 mm) wide along the rim of | | | | Curling Association Rules of Curling, |
| the concave bottom. This narrow running | | | | "The use of a curling aid commonly |
| surface allows the pebble applied to the | | | | referred to as a 'delivery stick' which |
| ice to have an effect on the action of | | | | enables the player to deliver a stone |
| the rock. On properly prepared ice, the | | | | without placing a hand on the handle is |
| rock's path will bend (curl) in the | | | | considered acceptable." |
| direction the front edge of the rock is | | | | |