The Skillet Curling Championship recently concluded in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This charity event combines a unique take on traditional curling with fundraising efforts for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. The tournament featured 32 teams competing over three days.
Gameplay and Rules
Skillet curling involves throwing a grill press, referred to as "bacon," onto the ice as a target. Teams then take turns launching iron skillets, aiming to get them closest to the bacon or to block opposing skillets. Scoring mirrors traditional curling, with points awarded for skillets closer to the target than those of the opposing team. A team that scores the maximum four points in a round achieves a "stovetop."
Alvaro Victoria characterized it as a "Mardi Gras sport" due to its social and flamboyant nature.
Techniques and Equipment
While less formal than Olympic curling, the sport incorporates various techniques. Players typically stoop to throw the skillet, with some opting to crouch or get on their hands and knees. Skillets can be deployed right-side up or upside down, the latter known as a "turtle," often used to clear other skillets from the target area.
Lodge Cast Iron, a local cookware company, sponsors the event and supplies factory-second skillets. Approximately 8 to 12 skillets can break during a four-hour session, particularly in cold conditions. Unlike traditional curling, brooms used in skillet curling are primarily for aesthetic purposes, not to influence the skillet's trajectory.
Charitable Impact and Growth
The tournament, which began in 2019 with eight teams on an outdoor rink, has expanded significantly to 32 teams competing under a covered pavilion.
The event is free to attend and raises funds through team fundraising, beer, and concession sales. Organizers reported raising $90,000 towards a $100,000 goal for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, which serves 20 counties.
Competition Outcome
The 2024 championship culminated in a final match between perennial contenders, the Heavy Stones and the Kraken's Kilts. The Heavy Stones secured their fifth victory in the Chattanooga tournament.
Post-competition events include a taco bar dinner, a concert, and an awards ceremony recognizing top performers, fundraisers, and best costumes.