KISSIMMEE, Fla.— It’s a Saturday night in Kissimmee.
Couples like Avi and Robyn Solomon get ready for a unique date night.
A learn-to-curl event hosted by the Orlando Curling Club.
“It will cross here you have to let go of the stone before the hog line. It’s going to keep on traveling then we are going to sweep sweep sweep. It has to fully cross the other hog line for it to be in play,” said Travis Haugh, the Vice President of the Orlando Curling Club, as he teaches the basic rules of curling.
After the classroom session is complete and the ice is fully prepared, it is time to curl.
Which is easier said than done.
“The difference between watching them do it and then making it look effortless. I mean I am just trying to keep myself up,” said Robyn Solomon, a first-time curler.
“A lot of people call it chess on ice because there is a really strong strategy component to it so it does take quite a bit of skill to get all of the different pieces right,” said Haugh.
That’s not stopping Avi from trying.
“I’ve never done this before and I’m so excited to try it. What will be interesting is whether or not I will be able to actually do it without falling on my face and if I do I will just get up and do it again until I get it right,” said Avi Solomon, a first-time curler.
Just like every sport, everyone has to start somewhere.
“The more people that we can have that come the better. We all started as learners at some point and we fell in love with it and we keep coming back. It’s great to see new learners come, be apart of it and have that same spark we had,” said Haugh.
They ignited a spark for curling while keeping the flame alive.
“Best date night ever? Best night, I think that’s like a hashtag, BDNE, best date night ever,” said Avi and Robyn while laughing and recapping their experience.