Players taking action on eve of Grand Slam
To the eye-rolling chagrin of many observers, the world of curling high-performance is once again embroiled in an equipment schmozzle.
First, there was Broomgate.
Now? Might as well call it Foamgate.
Top players—in a loose group, since there is no current functioning athlete association separate to that of World Curling—have come together on the eve of the next Grand Slam tournament to issue a “Proposal for Fair Play in Curling.”
The online document, which is believed to be directed at the World Curling governing body, opens with brief mention of the 2016 World Curling Sweeping Summit, which “set objectives to ensure fair play by minimizing the directional influence of brooms on stones, prioritizing delivery skills, and standardizing sweeping equipment.”
The latest issue is then defined—recent developments in new foam pad technology, citing products from curling manufacturers BalancePlus and Goldline, which have “sparked controversy.”
The document claims the new foam outer “skin” appears to enhance sweeping performance that may not fully align with the Summit’s goals and prior rulings—this despite compliance with current World Curling specifications.
“This highlights ongoing challenges in equipment regulation, testing inconsistencies, and the need for updated, transparent standards to preserve curling’s integrity,” the document continues.
Thirty different four-player teams—15 men’s, 15 women’s—have all signed their names to the virtual document, along with three corporate entities: Goldine Curling, Hardline Curling and Gravity Management Inc.
Gravity Management is a sports talent agency representing teams Homan and Mouat among others. The principal of the company also manages social media for the Grand Slam of Curling series.
Goldline is one of the equipment manufacturers that are politely accused of engaging in an “arm’s race to maximize broom performance” earlier in the document.
World Curling, formerly the World Curling Federation, announced problems of their own in late June of 2024. Efforts to approve and spot-test foams had fallen apart as they first worked with a facility that, according to the athletes, failed to provide “comprehensive feedback” and later worked with another facility that “ultimately proved to be producing incorrect results.”
New test results proved products from all three manufacturers listed subsequently fell “out of scope.”
As such, the document announces that various competitors are taking steps in advance of the Masters, which takes place in Guelph starting Tuesday, Jan. 14 and ending on Sunday, Jan. 19.
Goldline-sponsored teams (four women’s, four men’s) and the company have agreed to use a foam called the “Evader” and not the newest controversial foam, which matched Hardline’s unnamed competitive foam.
Hardline-supplied teams will not deviate from the use of their usual competitive foam.
BalancePlus—which publicly announced their new and now-controversial foam on Jan. 1, the date of a World Curling deadline for the current Olympic quadrennial—does not appear to have a replacement foam that would be deemed in order by the group of players.
Team John Epping, which uses that product, is asking World Curling for an exemption to use a competitor’s foam with the BalancePlus head for Guelph, and theoretically further into the current 2024-25 season.
The document acknowledges Team Epping’s participation, noting the squad “is being asked to switch their approved equipment days before a Grand Slam event for the betterment of our sport, which deserves to be acknowledged by our collective voice.”
The collective goes on to name further steps for the Guelph Slam that seek to secure stakeholder commitments, draft a unified athlete equipment agreement, propose a new brush testing camp (believed to be in Moose Jaw, Sask.), establish a new athlete association, and “advocate for complete transparency from World Curling on product testing moving forward.”
“The actions proposed in this document represent a critical first step toward creating meaningful change. With the collective leadership of all stakeholders involved, we can send a clear message to World Curling that it is time to modernize equipment standards to protect the integrity of the game,” the document concludes.
“Together, we can safeguard curling for future generations while fostering trust, collaboration, and innovation within the sport.”
Shortly after the player release, BalancePlus issued a statement.
“Since 2015, BalancePlus has continuously stated that brooms are too effective,” the statement began. “They impact outcomes too much and devalue skilled throwers.
“We have been working with World Curling for an extended period to find solutions.”
The statement, which is posted on the company website, goes on to list seven points for consideration.