Ask a curler what they’re doing this weekend, and “heading to a bonspiel” is a pretty likely answer. It sounds like it could be the name of a Scandinavian furniture store, but it’s actually one of the best parts of the sport.
The Short Version
A bonspiel is a curling tournament, usually spread across a weekend with multiple games per team. Some are serious, competitive events. A lot of them are just as much about the social side as the curling, with themed weekends, costumes, and plenty of time spent off the ice with the people you just played against.
Where the Word Comes From
Nobody fully agrees on this one, and honestly that makes it more fun. Some trace it back to old Scots terms for a good game or a league match. Others point to Dutch or Flemish roots. Either way, the word has been around since at least the 1600s, so curlers have been bonspiel-ing for a very long time.
Why They’re Worth Going To
A good bonspiel is where curling’s social reputation really earns itself. You’ll play teams you’ve never met, end up sharing a table with your opponents afterward, and probably leave with a new friend or two (and maybe a costume photo you’ll regret in a few years).
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