Curling Hats

USA Curling counts about 20,000 members, and its fastest-growing group is ages 21-40, at 38 percent. That is a younger crowd than the sport's reputation, and it arrived after the Winter Olympics: curling drew the largest viewership of any sport in NBC's coverage, and clubs reported 300-600 people at learn-to-curl events and open houses, with several adding 100 or more beginners. This collection is for them, and for the veterans who were there first. The humour lives in the housework. You sweep, you throw rocks at a house, and the captain, called the skip, mostly yells. Team names have always run on puns, and LEGION OF BROOM comes straight from the funny curling team name lists. HURRY HARD is the phrase every Olympics viewer knows, even though some pros say it is more of an outsider catchphrase than real lingo. CURLING IS CHESS ON ICE is the comparison every newcomer makes by their second night. Tradition does the rest. After a game, the winning team buys the losing team a beverage of their choice, and the custom of broomstacking grew out of curlers stacking brooms by the fire after a pond game and drinking with the opponent. Every design is custom embroidered on an unstructured dad hat. Wear one to your club's league night, or give one to the friend who finished learn-to-curl and bought a broom.