Team Switzerland competes against Italy during a women’s curling round robin session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Credit: APEVERY time a curling stone glides across the Olympic ice, it carries with it millions of years of Scottish geological history.
While the sport has spread to every corner of the globe, the source of its most essential equipment remains tied to a single, rocky outpost in the Firth of Clyde.
Niklas Edin of Sweden competes in the Men’s Curling match Sweden against Italy at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, in Cortina, Italy, 11 February 2026Credit: EPA
originated in 16th-century Scotland, where it was played on frozen lochs and ponds.
Ailsa Craig, a small island off the coast of , is the primary source of granite for these stones.
Every since the sport’s debut in 1924 (except 2002) has used Ailsa Craig stones.
The island is a designated bird sanctuary, making the harvesting process strictly regulated by environmental laws.
Why are all Olympic curling stones from Scotland?
A general view at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium during the Men’s Round Robin Session matchesCredit: PA
The granite from Ailsa Craig has a unique molecular structure that makes it incredibly heat and moisture resistant.
Unlike most granites, it is extremely low in aluminum, which prevents the stone from absorbing water and cracking in freezing temperatures.
Stones made from other materials often “pitting” or wear down quickly, losing their predictable “curl” over time.
The tradition began at the first Winter Olympics in 1924, establishing Ailsa Craig as the gold standard for international competition.
Team Great Britain compete during the Men’s Round Robin match between Team Great Britain and Team Sweden on day six of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic gamesCredit: Getty
Where is Ailsa Craig?
Ailsa Craig is a small, uninhabited island located in the outer Firth of Clyde, about 10 miles west of mainland Scotland.
It is a prominent landmark visible from the Ayrshire coast, particularly from the town of Girvan.
Geographically, it sits almost exactly halfway between the cities of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Glasgow, Scotland.
It is currently owned by the 9th Marquess of Ailsa, though it has been managed as a nature reserve for decades.
Access is restricted to protect wildlife, with granite harvests only occurring once every five to ten years.
Visitors can only reach the island via seasonal boat tours from Girvan, provided the weather and sea conditions are favorable.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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