A game of stones and brooms. It sounds positively medieval (well, it DID originate in ye olde Scotland), but Vicky Ru, instructor for the I Sweep curling club, tells us that it actually involves a fair bit of strategizing. Think "chess on ice".

What did you think of curling before you started? I had never heard of it before I came to I Sweep Curling Club, but I was attracted by Wang Bingyu [famous female Chinese curler]. With her swallow-like movements, I thought she was so pretty when playing this sport. Then the curling itself gradually began to attract me.

How did you discover curling, and when did you start to learn? People always talked about curling, but I didn’t know it was a kind of sport. Then I started to learn it in 2006.

How big are the stones? The stone weighs about 20kg. And in Canada, there are special smaller curling stones for children.

What do you find exciting about curling? I think curling is a sport which is not only calming, but also exciting. It’s like playing chess, which looks quite easy but there is lot of internal thinking and strategizing. Chess players play on a small chessboard, but curling players have a much bigger board, and all members need to co-operate smoothly and intelligently. I think that’s what attracts me.

Who is your curling idol? Kevin Martin. He is a God-like figure. Who can win against him?

How do you train to be a curler? A serious curling student needs professional training, and spends two hours on the ice every day. For amateurs just looking to enjoy curling, it’s best to keep it as a hobby or light exercise. Curling is really just a game. For strategies on curling, you can read The Art of War, or The Thirty-Six Stratagems.

DETAILS

What: I Sweep Curling Club

Where: 9 Fuqianxijie, Huairou, 怀柔区府前西街9号

Tel: 6965-3025

Web: www.curlingclub.cn

translated by Feer Han