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Curling is a sport built on respect—its very foundation includes the “Spirit of Curling,” which symbolizes the mutual regard athletes have for their teammates and opponents. But if you're one of the millions who only tune in every four years, you’ve probably noticed something that contradicts this civil image: the shouting.
If you watch a curling game, you'll hear the skips (or captains) on both teams yelling as the 42-pound stone slides down the ice. This isn’t just random noise; it’s part of the strategy. Curlers also have their own terminology, so while their calls may seem confusing to outsiders, these shouts could determine a team’s fate come the end of the Olympics.
For example, when a skip calls out “Whoa!” they’re signaling to their teammates to stop sweeping. “Hard!” means they need to sweep faster. If that’s still not effective, “Hurry hard!” pushes the team to increase speed and pressure in their sweeping. A “Clean!” yell indicates brushing the ice without applying pressure, allowing the stone to glide more smoothly.
There are no specific rules about the shouting—curler Erika Brown mentions she uses phrases like “Right off!” and “Whoa!” to signal her teammates to stop sweeping. When it's time to resume, you might hear commands like “Yes!”, “Sweep!”, or “Get on it!”. The exact words aren’t as critical as the way the phrases are delivered. Curling is a sport based on instinct, and often it’s the tone and urgency in the skip’s voice (and how red their face gets) that truly matters in their shouts.
If you need any more reasons to make curling your go-to winter sport, once the shouts die down and a winner is crowned, it’s a common tradition for both teams to head out for drinks, with the victors of course picking up the bill. Check out our beginner's guide to learn how you can grab a broom and dive into the basics of curling.
