Madison Curling Club

For those who aren't familiar, curling is like shuffleboard on ice: you push a "rock" down the length of the ice while your teammates sweep the area in front of it until the rock stops in a targeted area where points are awarded.

Madison has one of the largest curling clubs in the nation in the Madison Curling Club (about 500 members), located in McFarland. The club has its own facility, built just a few years ago, after the old location on East Washington got to be too old. Many teams from around the country and Canada stop in for matches.

I have to note: curling is a social sport. After you play a team, you sit with them in the banquet area and have drinks/dinner with them (how fun!). And that may also be the one negative of joining the club--the immense time commitment. Matches take two hours, and then you socialize for another two. Leagues run from fall to spring.

In case you didn't know, the Madison Curling Club also is host to the top women's team in the world. They competed in 2006 and will compete again in 2010.

Spectators are always welcome. And next October, make sure to visit during the open houses for an introduction to curling.

For more information, check out www.madisoncurlingclub.com.