Everything you need to know about mixed doubles from grassroots to competitions
The Olympic sport of mixed doubles curling is growing in popularity across the curling world especially with the inclusion of the discipline for the 2018 Winter Games in Korea.
The game can be played at a high level in competition or in the newly forming mixed doubles spiels and club leagues. It is fun to play, only requires two players per team and can be played in an hour!
Officially, a team is composed of two players, one male and one female. However, curling leagues wanting to fill ice time, can make it open to both or either gender. Curling rinks can also organize a stick league for mixed doubles.
At the competitive level, each game is scheduled for eight (8) ends but that can shortened for a club experience of 5-6 ends (which takes less than 1 hour to play). The scoring is the same as in a regular game of curling.
2023 Canadian Mixed Doubles champions Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing – STEPHEN FISHER / WCF
Beyond the obvious difference, a two-person team versus a four-person team, the core elements of the game itself remain intact in the Doubles game. Teams can be mixed, or of the same gender, young or mature curlers. Your club does not require special equipment or ice preparation, although the game is more fun on ice that curls. Curlers of all skill level can play. With only six stones, eight ends and two players, games are fast-paced and have lots of stones in play!