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Let it slide: A curler practices delivering
the stone at the Lefrak Center in
Prospect Park, during a class hosted by
the Brooklyn Lakeside Curling Club.
Miska Draskoczy
Sweep spot
Take a curling class at Lakeside in Prospect Park
COURIER L 24-7 IFE, FEB. 8-14, 2019 45
By Julianne Cuba This sport is pretty chill.
You can try your hand at the
popular Olympic sport known as
curling at the Lefrak Center in Prospect
Park this winter! Every four years, fans go
crazy over the calm yet compelling game
that sends heavy rocks hurling down the
ice like a chilly game of shuffleboard,
said the president of Brooklyn Lakeside
Curling Club, who leads weekly classes
during February and March.
“People are surprised at the popularity
of curling during the Olympics, and every
time people find themselves compulsively
watching Olympic curling on television,”
said Charles Donefer. “Something about
the way it’s televised that goes back and
forth between extreme excitement and
relaxation.”
The curling club has been around for
five years, and last year received a spike in
sign-ups after the United States men’s curling
team took home gold, said Donefer.
“Last year we received an awful lot of
interest, which continued into this year
perhaps because we had so many classes
sell out,” he said. “And it did not hurt that
the American team won gold for the first
time ever, they are minor celebrities at
this point.”
During his 90-minute introductory
classes, Donefer teaches students everything
they need to know to play the game,
including how to “deliver the stone,” and
the strategy and technique behind sweeping
— using brooms to determine how far
the 42-pound chunk of granite will travel.
But the course is just the beginning, said
the instructor.
“You’ll try out all the basic moves and
understand the pacing and rhythm of a
game, however, this is one of those sports
where the better you get, the more there is
to learn,” he said.
First-timers just need to dress warmly
and wear rubber-soled shoes — the $65
fee provides all the equipment curlers will
need for a game, along with a free beer at
the end for those over 21, said Donefer.
Those who complete the class — or who
already know how to curl — can register
for $25 pick-up games on Sundays and
Wednesdays at the club’s website. Would-be
curling kings must be at least 15 years old to
hop on the ice, but people of all skill levels
are welcome to join, said Donefer.
“We have a wide range of skill sets in our
league. We’re very welcoming to beginners,
and if you’re not of Olympic caliber you’ll fit
in just fine,” he said. “We have all ages, from
right out of college to over 70.”
Take a curling class at LeFrak Center
at Lakeside (171 E. Drive in Prospect Park,
enter on Ocean Avenue between Parkside
Avenue and Lincoln Road, www.brooklyncurling.
org). Sundays at 5:45 pm and 7:15
pm; Wednesdays at 8 pm. $65.
/www.brooklyn-curling.org
/www.brooklyn-curling.org
/www.brooklyn-curling.org
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