Kansas City Curling Club History

Kansas City Curling Club

History

Crown Center Club Members It probably will surprise many here in the Kansas City Area that the Kansas City Curling Club has a nearly 10 year run of actual curling in the Metropolitan Area. Started in 1987 by our current President, Dennis Cavinaw and many others, the Kansas City Curling Club acquired 4 set of rocks (64 total) from the Stone Bank run by the United States Curling Association. They curled at what is now called the Ice Chateau in Overland Park, but this was short lived. Changes in management resulted in the loss of available ice time at a price members could afford and the club move to Crown Center. There, the ice sheet was smaller in size but in curling outdoors, it gave members a sense of what curling was proably like some 400 years ago. They we able to curl many years as the Ice Terrace at Crown Center, building interest in the club but now limited to 2 sheets (half that at the Ice Chatteau). Over the years and again a change in policy, the club's ice time was moved to later in the evening (10:00pm) and Early Saturday Morning (7:00am). This plus the inconsistent weather made curling unreliable and difficult to build membership as fast as normal turnover. By 1995, The Core Club Members decided to it would look for other alternatives. At that time there were no financial options available and the club simply stop and release the stones to other clubs starting up.

Open House Then in 2003, a few members seeing the success of new clubs in Texas and Florida, decided to reconstitute the club. First they arrange for good Ice Time at a new facility not available in 1995 in Southern Overland Park, (Pepsi Ice Midwest). The manager is the same manager who started the club at the Ice Chateau. Since there were no more loaner stones available in the Stone bank, the club needed to procure 4 sheet of rocks (64 stones). Through generous donations within the club and available funds in the club account, they were able to purchase 3 sheets worth of equipment and borrowed one set from a neighboring curling club in Omaha, Nebraska. Pepsi Ice Midwest has proven to be a superior facility. A modern building with dehumidification to reduce any frost buildup, the Club is able to get good keen ice that has eluded the club in all it years of existence.

Club Photos The key ingredient for any successful club though is membership. In our first three year returning to the Ice, we have managed succesful seasons of 20 weeks and have maintain a modest bonspiel (competition between clubs) . Despite the setback at the start of the season with the early ice time of 11:00a Sunday, We manage to double our membership mainly through the Olympic Interest.

Club Photos

So as we continue to make history, Please spread the word about this well kept secret, so others may take advantage of the Club we have created..

Open House For those New to curling as well a experienced curlers who have finally found our club, feel free to peruse this site and if it truly inspires you ,email us, add you name to our database or phone us at 913-599-9965 so we may contact you when we have time available. Join the many members who find curling a great way to socialize and compete with friends.

Created:8/12/04 I Last Edited: 9/1/06Suggestions/Comments