LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Curling wasn’t always on Andrew Mackay’s radar. But once it was, it was hard to get him off the ice.
What You Need To Know
- Derby City Curling Club was founded in 2018
- The club offers curling lessons for beginners
- Andrew Mackay has been curling since he was 14 years old
“When I was 14, I stopped playing soccer and my mother said you have to do something so I found the least competitive sport I could find and that was curling,” said Andrew Mackay, secretary of the Derby City Curling Club.
“I guess it’s sort of like golf. When you make that perfect shot, it’s very rewarding and let’s face it, curling can be very forgiving, particularly when you’ve got people who are nice,” Mackay said. “Nobody takes it too seriously and I find it very relaxing.”
Mackay has been a part of the Derby City Curling Club since its inception in 2018 and played against some of the best in the world when living in his home country of Canada.
“I have won and lost, but it’s very entertaining to play against very good curlers. You learn a lot,” Mackay said.
Like Canadian curler Brad Gushue, who won the gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
“We played against Gushue and lost,” Mackay said. “Gushue won gold at the Olympics if you don’t know who Gushue is but we played against him, best game I think we ever played and it won’t mean much to you but at the time we threw five perfect come arounds, to curlers that means something.”
For those who don’t have years of experience like Mackay, there’s plenty of room on the ice to learn from the best.
“There’s a lot of people that have never got the chance to throw a stone before, they’ve seen it on the Olympics or on TV and they’re just curious,” Kendra Felix, president of the Derby City Curling Club said.
The club welcomes curlers of all speeds, and that’s what keeps them coming back.
“It’s called the gentleman’s sport, but it’s very friendly among other teammates and that’s what keeps me coming back is the people that are involved,” Felix said.
The Derby City Curling Club is home to nearly 30 members and offers “Learn to Curl” on Saturday’s at Alpine Ice Arena for those looking to learn more about the sport.