What would normally have been a pretty sleepy day along the Buffalo River, was anything but. RiverWorks was alive with the sights and sounds of curling, as the Buffalo Curling Club took to the ice. And what an “ice” it is. Six professional curling ice surfaces have been painted, giving RiverWorks the distinction of the first urban curling club in Buffalo in generations.
In fact, today was the first time that I had ever witnesses anything that resembled a professional rink in action, with around 25 players on the ice, and room for more. I asked one of the curling club members what she thought of the conditions, and she said that they were excellent. I was surprised to see how large the playing lanes actually were. I was also surprised to see how much equipment the club had. There appeared to be limitless amounts of stones on and off the ice.
A number of people came down to the waterfront to check out the scene. It was certainly a sight to behold, seeing the curling rink in action. Now that the “ice has been broken”, I have a feeling that RiverWorks will attract novice and experienced curlers from miles around, especially once the beer is flowing.
It’s these types of initiatives that will help the change the image of winter in Buffalo. Seeing all of these people enjoying themselves outdoors at this time of year is exhilarating. I can only imagine what this same scene will look like one year from now.
You can learn more about the Buffalo Curling Club by checking out this Facebook page.