Shoes & Sliders

The types of shoes and sliders a curler will use is going to change as you gain more experience. For a beginning curler it would usually include a pair of clean shoes with soft rubber soles and a “slider”. This is a piece of flat synthetic material, usually Teflon that is attached to a large elastic band. The synthetic material on the bottom covers the sole of the shoe and allows the curler to slide easier when delivering the rock. The elastic holds the slider in place, on the regular shoe. The slider can be used on either shoe depending on if your right handed or left handed. A right handed curler will have the slider on his left foot. The slider comes in either a half slider, or a full slider, which covers either half, or all of the sole of the shoe. Slider typically run about $15 to $20. Most curling clubs will have sliders available as loaners, as does Lodi Curling Club. However, having your own dedicated slider will enable you to always have your preferred type of slider, and have one with good elastic to ensure placement on your shoe.

As the curler progresses in ability, their needs will change. One way to improve you curling game is with a pair of dedicated curling shoes. Curling shoes look similar to a low-cut basketball or tennis shoe, however most have the slider built into the sole of the shoe. There are different materials for the slider that provide either more or less friction, depending on the prevailing ice conditions. These shoes often come with a rubber slip-on overshoe, known as a "gripper" or "anti-slider" that covers the slider and provides traction on the ice. Prices usually start around $120 per pair and can go up to $320 depending on options. Some options for some curling shoes include the thickness of the slider/teflon, split sole versus full sole slider, lace covers, toe coating. Some shoes also have the sliders as being discs or pods and are detachable and easily changed or replaced. The discs can be replaced easily with a different thickness and/or differnet materials like teflon or steel.

For newer curlers who have found their "clean rubber soled" athletic type shoes to be a little slippery still on the ice, and do not want to purchase dedicated curling shoes. You could try using two "grippers/anti-sliders" one over each shoe, along with your slider. This should allow you to have better traction on the ice, and give you some time if you are still deciding if new curling shoes are for you.