In anticipation of the upcoming Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy (February 6 to 22, 2026), the Chicago Curling Club is welcoming medal-winning curling Olympians for an Olympic Celebration Tour, funded by Foundation for Global Sports Development in connection with World Curling. Medal-winning Olympian curlers Tyler George, U.S. gold 2018, and Karri Willms, Canadian bronze 1992, will be on the ice and at the club sharing their Olympic expertise, medals and stories and Mount Prospect resident Olympian Joni Cotten will also be stopping in.
The Olympic Celebration Tour is designed to attract interest and promote curling with help from Olympians and will be in Northbrook’s Chicago Curling Club (555 Dundee Road) Friday to Saturday January 30th and 31st. The club will be welcoming several different groups to join in learning about – and trying! – the great sport of curling: the entire Meadowbrook 5th grade class, area Midwest Curling Association curling club members, Chicago Curling Club members with friends and family, North Shore area village trustees, police and fire departments, Junior curlers (ages 10-18), the public and the media. Information and registration for these sessions can be found on the club’s website.
To share this wonderful Olympic sport, the Chicago Curling Club is offering opportunities throughout the Winter Games for the public to get to know and try curling! The club is excited to welcome visitors for:
- Curling Watch Parties – February 10-22. The club will host free watch parties for select Olympic curling games. These events are open to the public, with members on hand to answer questions about the sport, the club, and opportunities to try curling. The viewing schedule and RSVP sign up for non-members can be found on the club’s website. Come enjoy the games together and visit the American Curling History Museum in the club. Drinks will be available for purchase at the bar.
- Learn2Curl with an Olympian – Saturday, January 31st from 1:30 – 3:30pm. 2-hour on-ice instruction and game play experience hosted by medal-winning Olympians – followed by pizza and a free beer, wine or soda. $85 per session (amount is then credited to a new membership account, 21 and over.)
- Learn2Curl Classes – Now through March, seven sessions are available. Each L2C includes 2-hour on-ice instruction, game play experience as well as pizza and a free beer, wine or soda. $85 per session (amount is then credited to a new membership account, 21 and over.)
- CCC Membership – New curlers are encouraged to join the club at reduced “end of season” rates for the February-April session. Members would have the chance to join teams in any of the twice-nightly and weekend leagues, enjoy free lessons, social events and a healthy dose of broom stacking (socializing!) after each game.
- Jump Start Program – A great opportunity for new members to dive into curling with a recurring 3-week training program on Sunday afternoons (1:30-3:30pm) where participants will learn the sport and play real games. New Member Registration required (21 and over.) Ability to play as many additional leagues as desired.
- Junior Curling – Programs designed for youth ages 10-18. Next 6-session Sunday league begins March 1 and runs through April 19 (11am-1pm). CCC members teach participants the fundamentals of curling through skill building and game play with a focus on safety and fun. Equipment (including brooms, stabilizers and sliders) is provided. Registration required.
After 78 years of curling at Chicago Curling Club, one factor has remained constant: the spirit of curling. Games are won and lost, but the friendships last forever. Visit www.chicagocurling.org for more information!
Attending Olympians January 30-31: Tyler George, Karri Willms, Joni Cotten
- Tyler George is an American curler from Duluth, Minnesota. He is a three-time U.S. Champion, 2016 World bronze medalist, and 2018 Olympic gold medalist. Since the 2018 Olympics, he has taken a break from competitive curling, instead spending time as an ambassador and coach for the sport.
- Karri Anne Willms is a Canadian curler and curling coach from Vernon, British Columbia. She is a 1991 World women’s silver medalist and 1991 Canadian women’s champion. She won a bronze medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics when curling was a demonstration sport. She has been the National coach for Latvia and Italy as well as high performance GB teams. She now works with World Curling as the Education Services Officer.
- Joni Cotten is an American curler from Mount Prospect, Illinois. She is a 3-time National Champion, and World Women’s Champion 2003, along with receiving USA Curling Coach of the Year. She was also a member of the 2002 Olympic Team and coached the U.S. Senior Women’s team to a National Championship victory in 2012, as well as a number of women’s teams in the years that followed. In 2025 she was inducted into the USA Curling Hall of Fame.
