Why Olympic Curling Stones Cost So Much

A unique granite found on only one island in the world is turned into curling stones. These are the only ones allowed at the Olympic Games.

The granite from Ailsa Craig island in Scotland is recognised around the world for having unique qualities which make it the ideal material for curling stones. Top-spec winter Olympic curling stones cost £750 each which means a full set of 16 is worth £12,000.

Only one company holds the lease to extract common green and blue hone granite from this Scottish island for the manufacture of curling stones. In this video let's join Kays of Scotland and follow the journey of the Olympic curling stone from island to ice.

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If we haven't met before... Hi, I'm Ruth 👋 and I recently bought a campervan to travel my home country of Scotland after living overseas for 12 years. I’ve hardly seen anything or been anywhere in Scotland and now is the time to change that!

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00:00 - Visiting Ailsa Craig
05:40 - Granite Harvesting
15:18 - Granite Slicing & Coring
16:43 - Curling Stone Factory
21:30 - Sport of Curling

[ruthaisling]

Over on Patreon I will be sharing bonus videos, live streams and Q&A sessions.

You’ll also gain access to my regularly updated Scotland Google Map which includes 200+ pins of places I’ve personally visited and recommend in Scotland.

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I hope you enjoy this video today, thanks for watching!

[Jim-ntxy]

Who knew curling stones would be such an interesting topic. Thanks for sharing.

[geoffb]

That was the best documentary I've seen for years. Easy to understand, informative and a subject that very few people know anything about. Your delightful voice is relaxing, clear and really well paced.
Congratulations you are a top class film maker❤

[ramonscott]

What a brilliant documentary! Way better than many produced by national TV.

[IzzyOnTheMove]

That's fascinating! Curling is huge here in Canada

[katiepb]

As a curler this was SUCH a fun and interesting watch! Can't say I ever thought much about where the granite used for the stones comes from... this is crazy! Thanks Ruth xx

[ericrabinowitz]

I was in school in Canada when Sandra Schmirler was playing. Curling was already popular, especially in the prairies, but grew substantially by her inspiration. Watching her rink win Gold at the 1998 Nagano olympics, knowing she had cancer, was breathtaking. A well-made rock is such a thing of beauty on the outside; now I see its beauty is much more than skin deep. I never realized how different types of granite vary in their properties. I wonder how the blue hone plug is cemented into the common green, so the bond lasts the 20 to 30-year lifespan of the rock? What a fascinating trail from rock to Rock. Who knew that Ailsa Craig was anything other than a bird colony with a lighthouse! What a friendly, informative group of people in this industry. And what a lot of fun to be allowed along on their granite harvesting excursions. Thanks for another beauty.

[tonywatson]

I grew up within site of Ailsa Craig and always knew of it's connection to curling, but have never been lucky enough to set foot on the island. It's wonderful that you're highlighting these magical places in Scotland. Keep up the good work Ruth 👍.

[jimcummings]

That was really good, Ruth. I have driven up from Cairnryan and Stranraer for over 45 years from the ferry and had no idea that 'piece of rock' off the coast had such a history. One of the best yet.

[jf]

This was fascinating I'm going to share it with our curling team here in three forks Montana...everybody's going to love it

[jasontuck-smith]

I love how this allows people to work with their local resources but in a sustainable and respectful way to the environment.

[allanjohnson]

I found myself smiling at the accent of Ruth. The it dawned on me my mother was a Scottish war bride. I love the accent.

[teaeff]

Very interesting vid, I learned a lot! 😮😃 A quote from Men With Brooms (a curling move)
“It’s not just a rock. It’s 42 lbs of polished granite with a beveled underbelly and a handle a human being can hold, and it may have no practical purpose in and of itself, but it is a repository of human possibility, and if it’s handled just right it will exact a kind of poetry” 😉😁

[harley]

Woo hoo! Ailsa Craig! My ancestors came from Ayrshire (Saltcoats, Stevenston, Kilwinning) and I remember that isle when I was a 10 year old girl who had come to visit cousins, aunties/uncles from Michigan in 1974. My grandparent's emigrated to Michigan in the 1920's and my Grandfather was a miner. I swear my Dad told me my Grandfather as a young man also mined stone there (he was 8th generation coal miner) but I cannot ask anymore. Thank you for this wonderful video!

[trevr]

What a very intensive process to source and make these stones. I just assumed they were mass produced like bowling balls and never imagined what a high level of skill and craftsmanship was needed. A very interesting insight Ruth.

[charlesscaife]

Probably your best video to date. I've always thought of Ailsa Craig (the fairy rock) by its nickname, Paddy's milestone. Supposedly as it is approximately halfway between Belfast and Glasgow. Well done.

[eric]

Fascinating. Ailsa Craig is iconic for everyone who lives near the Ayrshire coast. I knew nothing about it... until now. Thanks.

[lesliewatts]

Does Scotland Tourism know you are the number one tourism expert ? Another great video thank you.

[donsmith]

Curling is broadcast on TV here in Canada, the larger tournaments anyway. Many small towns have an ice rink (hockey) and a curling rink.

[YoutubeUser..]

My father was born and grew up in the nearest port to Ailsa Craig, Girvan in the 1940's.