Curling in Oslo

Curling is still something of a mystery to many people. Most Norwegians have a rough picture of it – precision, strategy, eye-catching trousers and ice. But there is a lot more to discover, and with street curling, anyone can have a go!

Curling: a sport with a long history

Curling's roots stretch back to the frozen lochs of 16th-century Scotland. Since then the winter sport has grown into an Olympic discipline, becoming an official Olympic event in 1998. In Norway, the sport really caught the public's attention when the national team, led by skip Thomas Ulsrud, took silver at the 2010 Olympics in their now-iconic trousers – before going on to become world champions in 2014.

Curling lingo

• Skip: The team captain, who calls the tactics and throws the last two, decisive stones
• Guard: A stone played to block the opponent or protect your own stones
• Take-out: Knocking another stone out of play
• Hammer: Having the last stone of the end – a big strategic advantage
• Draw: Placing a stone without touching any others
• Button: The very centre of the house
• House: The rings on the curling sheet
• "HURRY HARD": Shouted when the stone needs some serious sweeping
• "WOAH": The signal to stop sweeping

Street curling: a modern twist

Street curling is a simplified, modern take on curling – minus the chill of an ice rink. It is easy to pick up and great fun for everyone, however much (or little) you know about curling beforehand.

You score points by getting your stones closest to the centre of the house. The team with the stones nearest the centre wins the points for that end. Each player delivers two stones per end (8 per team per end), and professional matches are played over 6–10 ends.

The skip stands at the house, calls the tactics and directs the sweepers. When it is the skip's turn to throw, the vice-skip takes over the role. The sweepers control the speed and direction of the stone once it has been released. The "curl" comes from rotating the stone as you let go – clockwise makes it bend to the right, anticlockwise to the left. That is what gives the sport its name.

Curling is a social sport

Curling calls for technique, teamwork, communication and strategy. It is social by nature and only gets better the more of you there are. Street curling is ideal if you enjoy a challenge and appreciate working as a team – perfect for team building, Christmas parties, celebrations or a fun night out with a group of friends.

Why try street curling?

Street curling is the perfect activity for groups of friends, families and companies. You don't need any experience or your own equipment. At Fjellstua we play on synthetic ice, and the stones are easier to handle than in traditional curling. It combines the classic winter sport with a cosy bar area in a mountain-lodge setting – right in central Oslo. Before or after your game, you can also try out our other activities.

Try indoor curling at Fjellstua!

Fjellstua and Megazone offer packages for corporate events, birthdays, celebrations and other groups. Drop-in groups are welcome when there is space available. Find out more and book here.