Tips for First-Time Spielers

So many bonspiels have been cancelled the past year (and coming months). When it’s safe to attend bonspiels again, I’m sure they’ll be more popular than ever. And for those new curlers who haven’t attended a bonspiel before, I highly recommend doing it.

You don’t have to travel far — normally there are plenty right here in the Northeast. (We list many on our Bonspiels page — of course, there’s nothing there now because of COVID, but one day there will be!) If you’re new to bonspiels, Matt Sussman (a curler from Ohio who writes for The Curling News) has written an article in his newsletter for pointers for first-time spielers:

So you’re going to your first bonspiel

They’re not “tournaments.” Tournaments are competitive slogs where only the fittest survive. Bonspiels are goddamn parties.

The advice is good, but it really boils down to: just go and have fun!