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