South Carolina's Premier Bonspiel

Each July the Charleston Curling Club hosts the Krakenspiel, the only bonspiel currently hosted in South Carolina. This two day event attracts teams from across the nation, even as far away as Alaska.  We typically announce our dates in February, and open reigstration in March. Our 24 team slots fill quickly as we see many returning teams eager to enjoy our fun and at times quirky spiel.  

The Krakenspiel is a great opportunity shake off your off-season rust, see old friends, and make new connections ahead of the start of the fall curling season. Come enjoy our southern hospitality on ice with lunch and BBQ dinner Saturday, more draw snacks than you can shake a broom at, and a comfortable warmroom full of laughter. Our schedule provides teams with several opportunities to sightsee in and around Charlston. That 8am Sunday draw doesnt seem so bad  when you can head out to the beach after broomstacking. 

The A-Event winners get their names on the Kraken Trophy. All A-D finalists receive a commemorative coin noting their acheivement. We host a costume contest based on the weekends theme. As if that was not enough opportunities to win something - we also offer gift basket raffels, and our famous Krakenputt challenge! 

Whether you're a seasoned competitor or a newcomer to the sport, the Krakenspiel promises an unforgettable experience. Join us for a weekend of thrilling games, friendly faces, and the joy of curling in a unique and welcoming setting. We look forward to seeing you on the ice! 

'Kraken-Bracket' Format

Saturday 

• Teams will play a two-game bracket.
• Teams will participate in a modified Draw Shot Challenge after each game Saturday.
  • Each team will throw 1 stone following each game, clearing the stone after each throw is recorded.
  • You may sweep your own team's stone.
  • There is no defensive sweeping by an opposing team.
  • Each stone will be scored as follows based on where it comes to rest:
    • 5 points: touching button
    • 4 points: touching 4 ft circle
    • 3 points: touching 8 ft circle
    • 2 points: touching 12 ft circle
    • 1 point: in play but not in the house
    • 0 points: out of play

Sunday 

• The drawmaster will place teams into one of 4 Groups based on their Saturday Record.
  • Group A - 2-0 Record
  • Group B - 1-1 Record, winning in round 1
  • Group C - 1-1 Record, winning in round 2
  • Group D - 0-2 Record.
• Each Group will then be seeded based on the modified DSC to determine their final opponent on Sunday. (1v2, 3v4, 5v6)
  • Any ties will be awarded to the team with the fewest points against them during their games on Saturday.
  • If this tie is not resolved, the tie will be awarded to the team with the fewest years experience.
  • In the event of an uneven number of teams in a group (ie: a field of 20 results in 5 teams with a 2-0 record), top seeded teams may be promoted to round out the group.
• The Krakenspiel Champion will be the winner of the 1v2 game from Group A

Rules of Play

• Standard World Curling Federation / USA Curling rules apply.
  • Five rock rule is in play.
  • No tick rule is NOT in play
• ALL players must sign waivers before entering the ice.
• Hang the score of the last end as soon as it is decided and LEAVE the score hanging at the end of each game. Only the drawmaster may clear score.
• Teams have 1½ hours to play up to 8 ends in their draw.
  • Teams may start new ends, up to 8 ends, so long as 15 minutes or more remain on the clock.
• Please leave the ice upon the conclusion of your game as to allow as much ice time prep for the next draw as possible.
• Tie games are decided by skips' stones.
  • Each team selects one member to throw one stone, closest to the button wins.
  • The team who was last to score in an end throws first.
  • You may sweep your own team's stone, but not the opponent’s stone.
  • The first team's stone is measured with a laser device. That stone is removed after the measurement and the second team will deliver their stone. The second stone only needs to be measured if in the opinion of the vice’s the winning skips’ stone could not be determined.

Individual Registration

Individual registration will open the same day as full team registration. We will begin team matchmaking with individual registration towards the end of May and early June. You may be subbed into incomplete teams or matched with other individual players. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to play in the requested position, and you are certainly free to change the positions up within your team after matchmaking.

Location

We will be curling at The Carolina Ice Palace in the Royal Rink.

7665 Northwoods Blvd

North Charleston, SC 29406

The Ice Palace is a 10 minute drive from Charleston International Airport (CHS) and is centrally located among numerous options for lodging, dining and entertainment. Less than a mile from I-26, the Ice Palace is also a short drive away from Charleston's Historic Downtown, Beaches, and other area attractions. 

Payment and Cancellation

Payment is collected during the registration process and is required to secure your team's slot. PayPal is our payment processor, and can collect a Credit/Debit payment without needing to have a PayPal account. 

Cancellations received 4 weeks before Krakenspiel-eve (preceding Friday) will be processed, and you will receive a full refund.
Cancellations received between 2-3 weeks before Krakenspiel-eve (preceding Friday)  will be processed; however, you will only receive a full refund if we are able to find a replacement team.
Cancellations received Krakenspiel week will be processed; however, you will not receive any refund.

Spectators

Spectators are welcome to attend the Krakenspiel at no cost.