News

Have thoughts or questions about when, what kind, and how long our leagues, learn to curls, and other events should be for the next year? Well, tell us. 

We will host a virtual planning meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28. Sign up online and a Zoom link will be sent out 24 hours before the event. 

This will be your time to share your ideas about what our schedule looks like—or just listen in on the planning process.

 Register now 

Help officiate MCA playdowns for Arena National Championships

The Midwest Curling Association playdowns for next fall's Arena National Championships will be held June 8-9 at Four Seasons Curling Club in Blaine, Minnesota and volunteers are needed for officiating duties.

Any Cedar Rapids Curling member who has taken officiating classes and needs experience is welcome to get some hours in.

If you're interested, contact Lon Peper at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you haven't taken officiating classes and would like to come along and learn and see what officials do during an official competition, let Lon know! 

Save the date for Curl Jam

We are hosting a fundraising event Sept. 27 for the Arc of East Central Iowa. Businesses will make a large donation to the Arc in order to enter teams for a short learn-to-curl followed by a minispiel with three two-end games.

The concept is similar to what we did for United Way before the pandemic and it was a lot of fun--and raised a lot of money.

Taking time off work is a big ask, but we have a sponsor for the ice rental, so 100% of the money raised will go to the Arc. Please save the date even if you are undecided now. 

(Also, maybe your employer wants to enter a team?!)

Deadline to register for Arena National playdowns is May 5

Were you inspired by how our men's team represented Cedar Rapids Curling and the Midwest Curling Association at the National Arena Curling Championships in Eveleth, Minn., last fall?

We encourage ALL CRC members to consider giving Arena Nationals a try. You don't need to be an experienced curler. We've had members who had only been curling a year compete in this competition. It's a wonderful way to meet and learn from fellow arena curlers from across the country!

If you want the chance to respresent the MCA this fall, your team needs to sign up for the MCA playdown to be held June 8-9 at Four Seasons Curling Club in Blaine, Minnesota. The winners -- one women's team and one men's team -- will represent the Midwest Curling Association at the 2024 Arena National Championships in the fall (dates and location TBA).

If you are interested in competing at playdowns but do not have a team or do not have a full team, fill out this form and we will do our best to help create a team. 

Requirements:

• Non-mixed event: men's and women's teams
• Players must be a resident of the U.S. as of deadline
• All team members must be dues-paying, league-playing members of the same Midwest Curling Association club
• All team members must be USAC members (FYI: if you are a CRC member, you are a USAC member)
• $100 USA Curling fee + $25 MCA fee per player

The deadline to register your team for playdowns is May 5.

 Register now

What should the next curling season look like? Tell us!

Have thoughts or questions about when, what kind, and how long our leagues, learn to curls, and other events should be for the next year? Well, tell us. 

We will host a virtual planning meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28. Sign up online and a Zoom link will be sent out 24 hours before the event. 

This will be your time to share your ideas about what our schedule looks like—or just listen in on the planning process.

 Register now 

We have much to celebrate! Our Member Meeting & Picnic is tentatively scheduled for noon Sunday, July 28, at  Hawks Ridge Park in Fairfax (390 W. Prairie Dr., Fairfax, IA, 52228). 

Bring your family and significant others! Cedar Rapids Curling will provide the hamburgers, brats, buns, and utensils. We ask that you bring an appetizer, side, dish, or dessert to share. After eating and catching up, we will have a short member meeting to share club status and plans and announce the new Board of Directors. 

 Register now

Get ready to vote for your Board of Directors

Six two-year positions on the Board of Directors are up for election this summer by the general membership. The Board meets once a month and establishes policies, appoints officers and committee chairs, and sets goals to accomplish Cedar Rapids Curling’s mission.

Sign up now to play or volunteer at CedarSpiel

The 2024 CedarSpiel will be Aug. 9-11, 2024. We hope to see you there. There is a lot of fun in the works and more information will be on its way. Be sure to register below to save your spot! 

Cedar Rapids Curling on the road

Lon joined friends from Aberdeen Curling Club at Aksarben Curling's Irish Open, where they won the A event! We think their coach and future CRC member AJ was their lucky charm!

Cale, Kirby, Beth, and Kari headed east for the Cincinnati Curling Club's Slide into Home Spiel.

Nancy, Lynn, Anne, and Emily drove north for the Green Bay Curling Club's Shamrock Bonspiel.

Two teams traveled to Stevens Point Curling Club for their mixed spiel: Cale, Nancy, Phil, and Lynn; and Ken, Anne, Greg, and Beth.

Kim and Lon joined friends from Cincinnati to play in the Eclipspiel at the Bowling Green Curling Club.

Calling all volunteers

• Thursday, March 21: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Public Learn to Curl
• Tuesday, April 2: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Public Learn to Curl

 Sign up to volunteer

(You must be logged in to see the volunteer sign-ups and to register.) 

Save the date for Curl Jam

We are hosting a fundraising event Sept. 27 for the Arc of East Central Iowa. Businesses will make a large donation to the Arc in order to enter teams for a short learn-to-curl followed by a minispiel with three two-end games.

The concept is similar to what we did for United Way before the pandemic and it was a lot of fun--and raised a lot of money.

Taking time off work is a big ask, but we have a sponsor for the ice rental, so 100% of the money raised will go to the Arc. Please save the date even if you are undecided now. 

(Also, maybe your employer wants to enter a team?!)

Coming to the aid of a fellow MCA curling club

If you haven't heard, a fire broke out last week in a store in the strip mall above Windy City Curling. They sustained significant smoke and water damage that will take months to repair.

Windy City Curling and its members have been good friends to Cedar Rapids Curling over the years. To help them get repairs under way quickly, Cedar Rapids Curling has donated to their GoFund me account.

If you would like to chip in personally, click here.

Have thoughts or questions about when, what kind, and how long our leagues, learn to curls, and other events should be for the next year? Well, tell us. 

We will host a virtual planning meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28. Sign up online and a Zoom link will be sent out 24 hours before the event. 

This will be your time to share your ideas about what our schedule looks like—or just listen in on the planning process.

 Register now

The United States Women’s Curling Association develops, nurtures, and promotes curling to females and all youth. We need a representative to make sure we take full advantage of these opportunities. More information is at https://www.uswca.org/area-representative-liaisons.

This is a great opportunity to meet curlers from accross the country and help the sport and our club grow. You don't need to be an experienced curler or have been part of Cedar Rapids Curling for long! There are only a few meetings a year so it's not a giant time committment. 

You also don't have to be a woman! Men reps welcome!

If you have any interest or questions, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cedar Rapids Curling on the road

Kirby headed to Arizona a couple weeks ago for spring training. The Spring Training Bonspiel at Coyotes Curling Club that is! His team went 3-1, only losing in the quarterfinals. Great curling, Kirby!

Drew and Ben teamed up with new friends from Milwaukee Curling Club to participate in Windy City Curling's Drag Effect Bonspiel for LGBTQ and allied curlers.

Bryan teamed up with new friends to curl in the Evergreen Mixed Bonspiel at the Mayfield Curling Club in Ohio.

Cale, Lynn, Anne, and Phil joined forces to curl in the Mixed Spielbowski at Kettle Moraine Curling Club.

Congratulations to Kirby on competing at Senior Nationals

Kirby Baumgard joined friends last week from Aberdeen Curling Club to play in the USA Curling Senior National Championships at Heather Curling Club in Mapleton, MN. The group went up against curlers who have played (and won) National and World Championships in the past. It was tough competition and we're proud of them!

The "Brother Blues" team also played last month in the Big Spiel in the Twin Cities, and three of the four won the Jackhammer Spiel in Brookings, South Dakota. Great job, guys!

The United States Women’s Curling Association develops, nurtures, and promotes curling to females and all youth. We need a representative to make sure we take full advantage of these opportunities. More information is at https://www.uswca.org/area-representative-liaisons.

This is a great opportunity to meet curlers from accross the country and help the sport and our club grow. You don't need to be an experienced curler or have been part of Cedar Rapids Curling for long! There are only a few meetings a year so it's not a giant time committment. 

You also don't have to be a woman! Men reps welcome!

If you have any interest or questions, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How you can help make our ice better

As you all are aware, our ice is not perfect, with the outside sheets being especially...difficult. We know from last year's Arena National Playdowns and CedarSpiel that doing a weekly flood makes a big difference. But we need people to volunteer to make this happen. Imon Ice allows us to do these floods, so let's take advantage.

Two people are needed to do a flood and it takes 60 to 90 minutes to do. We usually do this later in the evenings or on the weekend. You don't need experience--we'll teach you!

The more people who volunteer, the fewer times each person needs to help. So, let's get flooding!

Email Lon Peper if you would like to be put on the list to help: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Looking to buy your own curling equipment?

If you have been curling for a little while and are hooked, it may be time to consider buying some of your own equipment--especially shoes and a broom. While we are proud of our club equipment, we admit it's not always the newest or the best. Buying your own equipment can make a huge improvement in your game and help you feel more comfortable on the ice.

If you don't know where to start, we've put together a page on the Cedar Rapids Curling website explaining what equipment you may want to consider and why, as well as providing links to curling equipment retailers. 

And of course, your fellow curlers are always willing to give their recommendations and reviews of products!

 Check it out

• February
  • Saturday, February 17th: 12:15 p.m to 4:00 p.m: Private Group then Public Learn to Curl
• March
  • Wednesday, March 6: 8:30 a.m. to noon: Clear Creek Amana physics class
  • Thursday, March 21: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Public Learn to Curl
• April
  • Tuesday, April 2: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Public Learn to Curl

 Sign up to volunteer

(You must be logged in to see the volunteer sign-ups and to register.) 

Cedar Rapids Curling on the road

Greg, Cale, Emily, and Beth played in the Milwaukee Curling Club's Kiltie Mixed Bonspiel. 

Three teams traveled north for St. Paul Curling Club's Winter Carnival Mixed Bonspiel: the Cale, Emily, Andy, and Beth; Steve, Kelly, Kari, and Ken; and Jim, Anne, Phil, and Lynn, who won the fourth event!