How Does Wheelchair Curling Work?

Curling involves sliding granite stones (~19.5 kg / 44 lb each) across a sheet of ice toward a circular target called the house. The house consists of concentric rings with a small circle called the button at its center. Teams alternate throwing stones, trying to place theirs closer to the button than the opponent's.

After all stones are thrown in an end (similar to an inning), the team with the stone nearest to the button scores one point for each of their stones that is closer than the nearest opponent stone. If the closest stone belongs to Team A, they score for every stone of theirs that is closer to the button than Team B's nearest stone.

For a detailed explanation of standard curling scoring, see our How Curling Scoring Works guide.

Three fundamental differences separate wheelchair curling from the regular game, and each one has cascading effects on strategy:

1. NO SWEEPING — This is the single biggest difference. In regular curling, two teammates sweep the ice ahead of the stone to control its speed and curl. In wheelchair curling, sweeping is completely prohibited. Once the stone leaves the delivery stick, its path is entirely determined by the initial release. This means every throw must be precise from the moment of delivery — there is no second chance to correct errors.

2. DELIVERY STICK — Instead of sliding from a hack (the foothold), players remain seated in their wheelchairs and push the stone using a delivery stick — an extendable pole that attaches to the stone's handle. The player positions the stone, aligns the delivery stick, and pushes it forward with a controlled arm motion. This requires a different set of skills than the traditional sliding delivery.

3. STATIONARY WHEELCHAIR — The wheelchair must remain stationary during delivery. A teammate typically holds the back of the wheelchair to prevent it from sliding on the ice. The player cannot use any momentum from their body or chair — all force comes from the arm push through the delivery stick.

Scoring in wheelchair curling is identical to regular curling:

1. After all stones in an end are thrown, determine which team has the stone closest to the button (the exact center of the house).
2. That team scores one point for each of their stones that is closer to the button than the closest opponent stone.
3. Only one team can score per end. If no stones are in the house, the end is blanked (zero-zero) and the team with hammer (last stone advantage) retains it.

Example: After an end, Team A has stones at positions 1st, 3rd, and 5th closest to the button. Team B has stones at positions 2nd and 4th closest. Team A scores 1 point (only their closest stone counts, since Team B's 2nd-closest stone blocks further counting).

Another example: Team A has the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd closest stones. Team B's closest stone is 4th. Team A scores 3 points — a significant swing.

The team that scores does NOT get the hammer (last stone) in the next end — it goes to the non-scoring team. This creates a strategic dilemma: sometimes a team will intentionally blank an end (score zero) to retain the hammer for a potential multi-point end.

Mixed doubles wheelchair curling makes its Paralympic debut at Milano-Cortina 2026, adding a second medal event to the wheelchair curling program.

Team composition: One man and one woman per team (2 players total, versus 4 in the team event).

Stones: 5 stones per team per end (versus 6 in the team event). Each player delivers 2 stones plus one additional alternating stone.

Pre-positioned stones: Unlike the team event, each end begins with one stone from each team already placed in strategic positions. This guarantees action from the very first throw and speeds up gameplay.

Power play: Once per game, each team can invoke a power play that repositions the pre-placed stones to one side of the house, opening up different strategic angles. Timing the power play is a critical tactical decision.

Ends: 8 ends (same as team event).

Why it matters: The mixed doubles format brings faster-paced action, makes every stone more impactful (fewer total stones mean each one carries more weight), and increases the importance of individual shot-making since there are only two players sharing the workload.

The absence of sweeping fundamentally transforms curling strategy into a more chess-like game:

Guards become critical — In regular curling, guards (stones placed in front of the house as shields) can be swept past if they're not perfectly placed. In wheelchair curling, guards must be placed with absolute precision because there's no way to adjust them. This makes guard placement arguably the most important skill in the game.

Draw weight must be exact — A "draw" (a throw intended to land at a specific spot) requires perfect weight estimation. In regular curling, sweepers can add 2–4 feet of distance to a light stone. In wheelchair curling, a light stone stays light — it stops short, period. This demands extraordinary consistency in delivery force.

Hit-and-roll replaces draw-and-sweep — Teams use more takeout shots (hitting opponent stones out) and hit-and-roll strategies (removing an opponent stone while your stone rolls to a strategic position) because these shots are less sensitive to weight than precision draws.

Reading the ice — Without sweepers to influence curl, teams must read the ice conditions perfectly. Temperature changes, frost patterns, and previous stone paths all affect how stones behave. The skip (team captain) must be an exceptional ice reader.

Wheelchair curling has the simplest classification in all of Paralympic winter sport: one class. The only requirement is a significant impairment in lower limb/trunk function that necessitates use of a wheelchair for daily mobility.

This contrasts sharply with sports like para alpine skiing (20+ classes) or para snowboard (3 classes). The reasoning is that curling doesn't require lower body movement during play — all action comes from the upper body pushing the delivery stick. Therefore, variations in lower body impairment don't significantly affect competitive performance, and a single class is sufficient for fair competition.

Teams must be mixed gender — at least one man and one woman on the 4-person roster. For the full explanation of Paralympic classification across all sports, see our classification master guide.

Delivery Sticks — The most critical piece of equipment. Delivery sticks are telescoping poles (typically 1.5–2 meters long) with a bracket on one end that clips onto the stone's handle. Players push the stone forward by extending their arm while the stick is attached. Different stick designs offer varying levels of control — some have hinged joints for angle adjustment, others are rigid for maximum power transfer.

Wheelchair Stabilization — During delivery, the wheelchair must remain completely stationary. A teammate positions behind the chair and holds it steady by pressing down on the handles or wheel locks. Any chair movement during delivery results in a burned stone (removed from play).

Ice Surface — The same curling sheet is used as in regular competition. However, wheelchair curling athletes sit lower to the ice, which affects their visual perspective when aiming. The delivery angle is different from a standing/sliding position, requiring adapted aiming techniques.

Stones — Standard granite curling stones (identical to regular curling) weighing approximately 19.5 kg (44 lb) with a maximum circumference of 91.44 cm.