Curling in Beijing: Skipping Ahead (4)

But Yang is well aware of the challenges that curling faces here. Though many people have seen it now, very few believe it is something they can actually try.

"It's not like soccer where every kid will start playing when they're six or seven years old," Zhu says.

Complicating matters, curling facilities here are few and far between. The I Sweep Curling Club is the only professional curling center in China, while Canada has more than 1,000, says Justin Wei, owner of the club.

In addition, the costs of curling are prohibitive for many. Ice access and equipment rental for one hour cost 460 yuan (US$75) per person. Wei admits that the club caters "to rich people." Coach Yang understands that such a business is expensive to run, but worries that the high costs may slow curling's development as a sport.

For today at least, the people who are trying it seem unanimous about finding it a blast to play.

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