Olympic spotlight lifts Ohio's niche winter sports
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The Winter Olympics in Milan are halfway across the globe, but Central Ohio enthusiasts expect an uptick in interest in their sports this month as people watch the Games.
Why it matters: The Olympics don't just boost the economy of host cities — they can be a crucial window during which niche and seasonal sports find new lifelong participants.
Case in point: Curling seems to be the sport most anchored to the Winter Olympics.
- While people ski, snowboard, ice skate and play hockey in non-Olympic years, curling always experiences a surge of interest when the Games arrive.
What they're saying: "Every four years, we know there's going to be a big peak in interest in curling, which we love," Columbus Curling Club vice president Morag Boyd tells Axios.
- "Every Olympics, we'll have over 1,000 people come through the club in a two-week period."
To keep up with demand, the club replaces all of its regular leagues and member events with large curling classes to teach people the sport.
- Boyd says the club added about 80 new members in 2022.
- After the 2010 Olympics, Boyd herself was one of those new members, and has stuck with it ever since.
Zoom out: It's not just curling that makes room for those inspired by the Olympics.
- Snow Trails in Mansfield sees an uptick in ski and snowboard lessons around the Games, says marketing manager Nate Wolleson.
- The resort, around an hour outside Columbus, schedules competitions and events like Big Air or Party in the Park to capitalize on the momentum.
Yes, but: More straightforward events, like hockey, aren't as in need of the Olympic push.
- Chiller assistant general manager Jeremy Rogers says the chain's ice rinks can't afford to slow down scheduled programming because hockey in Columbus is "really, really strong," and in the middle of tournament season.
- "We still get a bump" in interest, he says, "but it's not as intense as it used to be."
Central Ohio spots for your Olympic fix
Feeling inspired by the Olympics? Here's where you can try your hand at a new winter sport in Central Ohio:
🥌 Curling
The Columbus Curling Club is the only game in town, with dedicated spaces for the Winter Games' most niche sport.
- The club's calendar is jam-packed with "learn to curl" sessions throughout February, in addition to leagues, corporate events and other options for play.
🎿 Skiing and snowboarding
Mad River Mountain in Zanesfield is the closest fresh powder for most of Central Ohio.
- The mountain offers skiing and snowboarding for a variety of skill levels, family-friendly tubing hills and nighttime events, along with dining, lodging and shopping at the resort.
Snow Trails in Mansfield is slightly smaller than Mad River, with family-friendly spaces and capacity limits to prevent overcrowding.
- Skiing, snowboarding and tubing at various skill levels are available.
⛸️ Ice skating and hockey
Chiller's seven large ice rinks host figure skating, hockey, casual skating times and more.
- Some of the rinks also offer more niche activities, like curling at the Springfield location and speed skating at the Easton location.
The Ohio State Ice Rink, apart from being the home ice of OSU women's hockey team, hosts open skating sessions.
- The rink also sells figure skating and hockey supplies.
The Lou & Gib Reese Ice Arena — also known as the Newark Ice Rink — hosts hockey, figure skating, ice dancing and basic skills lessons as well as public skate times and local teams.