There are plenty of ways to embrace winter in Anchorage — skiing, snowshoeing, watching the aurora shimmer overhead — but nothing quite captures the quirky, communal spirit of this city like sliding a 42-pound granite stone down a sheet of perfectly groomed ice while your teammates frantically sweep in front of it. Welcome to the Anchorage Curling Club, one of the most genuinely fun and welcoming athletic communities in the entire state of Alaska.
Tucked inside the Sullivan Arena complex area and operating out of dedicated ice facilities, the Anchorage Curling Club has been bringing locals and curious visitors together since 1960. That’s over six decades of spirited competition, friendly leagues, and the satisfying crack of stone on stone echoing through a chilly rink. Whether you’ve watched curling during the Winter Olympics and thought “I could do that” or you’ve never given it a second thought, this club will convert you. Fast.
What makes the Anchorage Curling Club so special isn’t just the sport itself — it’s the culture surrounding it. Curling has a deep tradition of sportsmanship, and that ethos is alive and well here. After every match, both teams gather for what’s known as the “broomstacking” tradition: opponents share a drink, swap stories, and laugh about the shots that went sideways. It’s refreshingly social in an era when sports can feel overly competitive and exclusive. Here, beginners are genuinely celebrated, not just tolerated.
The club offers “Learn to Curl” sessions that are accessible to just about anyone willing to put on a pair of clean, flat-soled shoes (or borrow a slider). An experienced member walks you through delivery, the art of sweeping, and basic strategy. Within an hour, you’ll be calling line and weight like you’ve been doing it for years — or at least laughing heartily at yourself when you haven’t. Either outcome is a good one.
Beyond the intro sessions, the club runs recreational leagues throughout the fall and winter seasons, so if you’re an Anchorage local looking for a new weekly ritual, this is a spectacular one. The atmosphere during league nights feels like a neighborhood gathering — people of all ages and backgrounds, united by a shared appreciation for precision, teamwork, and a sport that rewards patience over brute force.
Anchorage is a city that takes pride in doing things its own way, and the curling club embodies that independent, adventurous spirit perfectly. This isn’t a tourist trap or a staged experience. It’s real Alaskans doing something they genuinely love, and they’re thrilled to share it with anyone curious enough to lace up and slide onto the ice.
If you’re planning a visit to Anchorage between October and March, carve out an evening for a Learn to Curl session. You’ll leave with sore arms, a huge smile, and at least three new friends. In a city full of extraordinary experiences, that’s saying something.
