Charlie Race encourages his teammate to information the stone down the sheet of ice to the middle of the circle.
“I would equate it, if you’re a golfer, it’s almost like trying to putt and, you know, getting a feel for how hard to throw it,” Race mentioned.
After Race retired 4 years in the past, he was searching for one thing enjoyable to do.
“It’s a great sport to come out, and especially for retirees, we got the rinks during the day, and you can start as an older person and become competitive,” Race mentioned.
He discovered the Detroit Curling Club, which celebrated its one hundred and fortieth Anniversary in 2025.
“The oldest recorded curling in the United States is in the Detroit area, dating back to 1832, and so curling has been around for quite a while here in the Detroit area,” mentioned Mike Grudzinski, vp of Detroit Curling Club.
The clubhouse in Ferndale is embellished with footage of well-known Detroit figures.
“Horace and John Dodge, who started Dodge truck or Dodge Motor, were members, and we have a photo of them playing on the Detroit River in 1916,” Grudzinski mentioned.
Prominent members like Elizabeth Demers compete at the nationwide degree.
“I also just came back from senior nationals, where we took a silver medal with my teammate Anne Swisshelm, who is a two-time Olympian,” Demers mentioned.
She says curling is for everybody.
“I love competing, so I just I love being on the ice with people. I love communication. I love making great shots. And I just like all sports, I love the resilience of it,” Demers mentioned.
The sport has grown in reputation a lot that now the Detroit Curling Club has 400 members.
“You come into this club and an older person, you get to meet three or 400 new friends,” Race mentioned.
And the perfect half is…
“The winners generally got to buy the losers’ drink at the end of it,” Race mentioned.
Everyone’s a winner at the Detroit Curling Club.
The Detroit Curling Club offers clinics to individuals who need to strive the game.