Bonspiel anyone?

Bonspiel anyone?

Close-up of a curling stone on the ice. Curling has been a popular game in Scotland originating back to the 16th century is one of the world’s oldest sports formally played on frozen lochs and ponds. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)Curling has been a popular game in Scotland dating back to the 16th century when it was played on frozen lochs making it one of the world’s oldest team sports. It was officially made a Winter Olympic sport at Nagano 1998. Greenacres Curling Club is the home of Rhona Martin M.B.E, part of the all-Scot team that won gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Stones manufactured at Kays Curling in Ayrshire are sent to Greenacres for testing before being sent to the Winter Olympics. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Bonspiel  /bahn speel/  noun  ~-a curling tournament.

The term bonspiel comes from the Dutch words “bond” meaning league, and “spel” meaning game. So combined a league game or tournament.

Interest in Curling and the availability of the sport has increased through the years here in Montana. The big reason for that? Junior hockey.

Here in Butte, the Community Ice Center, the Glacier Ice Rink in Missoula, the Helena Ice Arena, the Gallatin Ice Center in Bozeman, amongst others, are all arenas that house hockey teams, figure skating clubs, and also curling clubs. You can find out more about each of these individual clubs by clicking on the links provided.

This weekend’s bonspiel will be a competitive event at the Winninghoff Park Rink, with matches starting at 6 pm or Friday, running throughout the day on Saturday, and wrapping up with the Finals on Sunday at 10 am.

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There is also a great opportunity to learn how to curl on Saturday. After the first two matches of the day, there will be two different ‘learn to curl’ sessions. The first at noon and the second at 1:15. If you have ever been curious about the sport now is a great time to head over to the Burg and learn how to curl, and then take in some of the bonspiel itself.  You can find the full schedule of matches below.

The 2023 outdoor spiel schedule
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Plan to take a day (or the weekend) and head over to Philipsburg, and take in Montana’s only outdoor bonspiel running Friday through Sunday, and of course, while you are in P-Burg, grab a burger or pizza, maybe some ice cream, and a beverage or 4.

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