Equipment
Where to buy mitts for curling – part deux
Another shopping trip for curling mitts – this time to O. W. Sports, located at 32 King St. in Uptown Waterloo across from Waterloo Town Square. The staff here were very helpful and their selection of mitts and gloves is quite extensive. Many of the mitts they have are more suited to downhill skiing or snowboarding, however, and in my view are too bulky (i.e. too much insulation) for use in curling. Nonetheless, O. W. Sports does offer a selection of mitts suitable for curling in childrens’ sizes. These include: Manufacturer Brand Name Colours Kombi Flatspin junior mitt Black Swany Tazer mitt (juniors) Black Kombi Gracie Mitt S (a larger size) Black
Where to buy mitts for curling
Several parents have asked what mitts are suitable for curling and where they can be bought – so here’s an answer. First, some personal experience: I find mitts work much better than gloves, especially for those kids with smaller hands. You can also get away with thinner insulation with mitts than you can with gloves to achieve the same level of warmth. Fleece or wool mitts/gloves are not good for curling, as they don’t allow a good grip on the curling brush while sweeping. Leather (if you can find them) or soft vinyl palms work best – the more pliable, the better. A recent visit to the Adventure Guide store in Waterloo (382 King Street North, Waterloo, ON, N2J 2Z3) yielded the following selection of children’s mitts that are suitable for curling: Manufacturer Brand Name Colours Giordini Aquabloc VII Black, Brown, Pink Giordini Stomp Red, Black Swix Trail Black Columbia Bohemian Y+L Blue Jason and Amanda at Adventure Guide tell
What kids should wear when curling
Even though curling is played indoors, those unfamiliar with the game may not realize that it can be chilly inside the rink. Cold affects children more than adults so it’s a good idea, at a minimum, for children to wear a fleece sweater and mitts when on the ice. Inevitably, there are at least a few kids who try the sport for the first time in just a shirt and nothing on their hands, and after 20 minutes their attention span drops as they concentrate on just trying to stay warm.