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Swiss Engineered · Lab-Proven · Built for Curling

Glice Curling Rink - The Glice Curling Rink. The Olympic sport for any venue.

Officially launched at the Winter Olympics 2026 and lab-proven by Fraunhofer to match real ice glide. No ice plant, no refrigeration-energy load, no technical staff — installed in any venue, indoor or out, all year round.

Played at corporate events, resorts, recreation centers and public venues across 100+ countries.

See Why Curling Is Trending Ask a Curling Specialist
Zero Refrigeration Olympic Appeal Any Venue
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Glice is a Swiss-engineered synthetic ice rink system — solid polymer panels that deliver a real skating experience using regular ice skates, with no refrigeration, no water, and no electricity. Installed in over 3,000 rinks across 100+ countries, with performance independently validated by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute.

Reviewed by Viktor Meier, Co-Founder & CEO, Glice AG · Last reviewed: June 2026

The Olympic Heritage

What Is Curling?

Curling is a precision team sport originating in 16th-century Scotland and an Olympic discipline since 1998. Two teams alternate sliding polished stones toward a circular target called the house, while teammates sweep to control speed and trajectory.

The blend of strategy, teamwork, and precision has earned it the nickname “chess on ice” - and made it one of the fastest-growing indoor sports globally.

With a Glice synthetic ice surface, Curling is no longer limited to dedicated ice arenas. It can be offered anywhere, year-round, at a fraction of the cost.

Historic Curling - players delivering stones on an Alpine ice rink

Why Glice Curling Rinks Are Gaining Momentum

Easy to learn, fun for everyone — curling on a Glice synthetic ice rink

Easy to Learn, Fun for Everyone

Curling is one of the few activities where an eight-year-old and an eighty-year-old can play the same game and both have fun. No skating skill, no fitness threshold - guests are competitive within their first round.

Curling team building on Glice synthetic ice rink

Strategy Meets Teamwork

Every shot involves the thrower, the sweepers, and the skip calling the line. It demands communication, not athleticism - making it a standout team-building format that is strategic, safe, and photogenic.

Glice curling rink driving dwell time and spend at venues

Drive Dwell Time and Spend

Matches run long enough to drive F&B spend, short enough to cycle groups efficiently. Spectators gather naturally around the rink - extending dwell time even for non-players.

Bring Olympic prestige to any venue with a Glice curling rink

Bring Olympic Prestige to Any Venue

One of the most-watched Winter Olympic sports - now available at your venue without an ice arena. Stones gliding toward the house create a premium atmosphere that elevates any space.

Discuss how Curling can activate your venue →

The Equipment

Anatomy of a Curling Stone

Three components. One precision instrument. Every Glice Curling Stone is engineered for controlled delivery, balanced weight, and predictable curl.

Glice Curling Stone with handle, body and running band
Handle The bolt-on grip used by the player to deliver and release the stone with rotation.
Stone Body The main weighted body that provides mass and momentum for the delivery.
Curling stone sliding mechanism engineered for Glice synthetic ice Sliding Mechanism Engineered for Glice synthetic ice.

How to Play

Curling Rules

Setup

  • 1. Mark the house (the target circles) at the far end of the rink.
  • 2. Divide players into two teams of 2–4.
  • 3. Each team receives stones in their team colour.

Gameplay

  • 1. Teams take turns sliding stones toward the house.
  • 2. Each player throws 2 stones per round.
  • 3. Use tactical shots to knock opponents' stones out of scoring position.

Scoring

  • › The team with the closest stone scores 1 point for each of their stones closer to the centre than any of the opponent's stones.
  • › A match is played over 6 (casual) to 10 rounds where the team with the highest total wins.

Curling. Without Ice.

The Glice Curling surface is a system of engineered polymer panels on which specially engineered Curling stones glide - no ice plant, no refrigeration, no water. Panels interlock on any flat surface to create a regulation-ready Curling sheet. Operational anywhere, in any climate.

Synthetic ice Curling rink - no refrigeration.Every Glice synthetic Curling rink is built from polymer synthetic ice panels that perform at any ambient temperature. No rink water, no ice plant, and no refrigeration-energy operating cost. A dry, solid Curling surface that never melts, never degrades, and plays the same in summer and winter.
Fraunhofer-validated Curling surface.Independent Fraunhofer Institute testing confirms the Glice synthetic Curling surface delivers low-friction glide characteristics - producing consistent and predictable stone delivery across the full rink. The only synthetic ice for Curling with published third-party lab data.
Self-lubricating synthetic ice.Sintered panels release fresh lubricant as Curling stones travel across the rink - the more you play, the better the synthetic Curling surface performs. No sprays, no pebbling, no manual conditioning required.
Seamless Curling rink surface.Tongue-and-groove panels interlock like parquet flooring - precision-machined joints create a flush, seamless synthetic Curling rink. Zero seam disruption ensures consistent stone delivery from hack to house.
Portable Curling rink - install anywhere.Glice Curling rinks install on concrete, asphalt, event flooring, or grass with a sub-floor. No anchoring, no drilling, no construction permits. A portable Curling rink you can set up indoors or outdoors in under two hours. Panels last 10+ years per side and are reversible.
Compact storage, rapid setup.The modular synthetic Curling rink sets up in hours and stores flat when not in use - ideal for seasonal Curling activations, corporate events, touring exhibitions, or permanent installations.
Glice Curling Rink - synthetic Curling surface

Identical Glide. Zero Infrastructure.

Independent Fraunhofer testing confirms a friction coefficient matching freshly resurfaced real ice at lower speeds.

Source: Fraunhofer IWM, Zwischenbericht V1184-2025

Friction comparison chart: Glice vs refrigerated ice - Fraunhofer validated

Not All Synthetic Ice Is Equal.

Fraunhofer lab tests confirm Glice leads every performance metric in the category.

52%
Lower friction than the next best competitor
6%
Less abrasion - lowest shavings output in the industry

Source: Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM, Freiburg. Zwischenbericht V1184-2025.

Quality Your Players Can Feel.

Compared to conventional synthetic ice, the difference is immediate.
Every detail reflects the standard your venue demands.

Smooth, Realistic Glide

52% lower friction than the next-best synthetic ice (Fraunhofer-validated). Stones glide naturally and predictably - just like on arena ice. Players feel the difference from the very first delivery.

Clean professional Glice curling surface

Clean Surface

6% less abrasion than the next-best competitor. Minimal shavings keep the Curling sheet pristine and maintenance low - the professional finish your venue demands.

Glice is engineered to deliver an authentic Curling experience - from the first end to the thousandth.

Elevate your venue's Curling experience →
Glice curling rinks at the Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Official Olympic Showcase

Glice Official Curling Rink Demo at the Olympic Games, Cortina 2026.

A quarter of a million people played and watched Curling on the Glice synthetic ice rink during the Winter Olympics - proving that the Olympic experience can be delivered without a single drop of refrigerant.

Philipp Ittig
The Curling Rink in Cortina has become one of the central and most popular features of the House of Switzerland
★★★★★
Philipp Ittig, Head of Project
Talk to a rink specialist → Get The Complete Rink Planner
Glice premium dasher board system

Premium Swiss Engineering

Design That Elevates Any Venue

Every detail is Swiss-engineered for precision, durability, and a look that belongs in a five-star setting. Glice Curling rinks are built to impress guests before the first stone is thrown.

  • ✓ Premium materials & finish that match high-end venues
  • ✓ Performs flawlessly in any climate, indoors or out
  • ✓ Modular system — sets up in hours, stores flat
Curling stone and Eisstock side by side — both playable on the same Glice synthetic ice surface

Two Games, One Rink

Curling & Eisstock on the Same Surface.

Every Glice Curling rink doubles as an Eisstock lane. Offer both disciplines on a single surface - expanding your activity programme without expanding your footprint.

Glice also supplies traditional Eisstock equipment engineered for synthetic ice - the classic Alpine sliding game that complements Curling perfectly. Two sports, one surface, one investment.

  • ✓ Two disciplines, one rink - maximum variety for your guests
  • ✓ Curling Stones designed for synthetic ice
  • ✓ From Olympic precision to Alpine tradition - on one surface

Curling Reference.

A customer quote showing how synthetic ice can support low-maintenance Curling and Eisstock formats.

Discuss a curling track ->

Free Planning Guide

Get The Complete Rink Planner.

Everything you need to evaluate, plan, and launch a synthetic ice rink - in one document.

  • Site requirements and Planning Checklist
  • Six financing paths, including grants and sponsorship
  • How to test, compare, and choose any provider

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Planning Guide

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Costs, layouts, revenue projections & everything you need to launch your synthetic ice rink.

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A Rink Your Team Can Run.

No ice plant. No refrigeration engineers. No complexity.

Running a Curling rink should not require ice technicians. Glice is designed so your existing team can install, operate, and maintain the surface with minimal training.

Installs on any flat surface in under 2h

Concrete, asphalt, event flooring, grass with sub-floor. No permits required.

No ice plant, no resurfacing water

No refrigeration infrastructure. No water consumption.

Minimal maintenance

Periodic cleaning only. No technical staff required.

Stackable storage

Full rink packs flat in Glice FlatPacks™ for off-season.

Curious how easy it is to run? Ask our team → Get The Complete Rink Planner

Our Rink Systems

Curling rinks for every venue. Eisstock rinks in any dimension.
Combine with a skating rink if space & budget allow.
Every system is Swiss-engineered and built to last.

Not sure which solution fits? We'll help you choose → Get The Complete Rink Planner
Trees for the Future

Sustainability Your Guests Can See

A Rink That Plants a Forest

170,000+

Trees Planted and Counting

For every panel we produce, a tree gets planted. Through Skate for the Planet, Glice's reforestation program, 170,000+ trees have been contributed to date - currently in partnership with Trees for the Future, a UN World Restoration Flagship. A verified ESG story your organisation can leverage from day one.

As Seen In

The New York Times BBC Forbes Entrepreneur Bloomberg CNN FOX NEWS

From Idea to Rink. Fully Guided.

A clear, structured process from first concept to successful community launch.

1

Consultation

Define goals, evaluate your space, outline size and configuration.

2

Planning & Funding

Budget support, sponsorship guidance, council presentation.

3

Production

Manufactured to specification. 4–12 weeks.

4

Installation

Easy do-it-yourself assembly or guided by a Glice Supervisor.

5

Training & Launch

Staff Training & Certification. Ongoing support.

Let us help you plan your project → Get The Complete Rink Planner

Frequently Asked Questions

Curling is a precision team sport played on an ice surface, where players slide polished granite stones towards a circular target (the house). Teammates use brooms to sweep the ice ahead of the stone, influencing its speed and direction. With a Glice synthetic Curling rink, the sport can be played year-round at any venue - no refrigeration or ice plant required.
A standard Curling setup requires Curling stones, a playing surface with house markings, and brooms for sweeping (optional on synthetic surfaces). Glice supplies specially engineered Curling stones designed for synthetic ice - with calibrated weight, balanced grip, and a running band tuned for polymer panels. No special footwear required on Glice surfaces.
In Curling, two teams of 2-4 players alternate sliding stones toward the house (target). Each team delivers 6 or 8 stones per end. The team with the stone closest to the centre of the house scores points for every stone closer than the opponent's nearest. A standard game consists of 8 or 10 ends. Sweeping the ice ahead of the stone lets teammates control speed and curl. Rules are easy to grasp in minutes.
A regulation Curling sheet measures approximately 45 m long and 5 m wide. For venues, events, and indoor spaces, Glice builds custom Curling rinks from as compact as 10 m x 2 m up to full competition dimensions. Every Glice Curling rink is configured to your available space and intended use.
No. A Glice synthetic Curling rink replicates authentic stone-sliding performance on engineered polymer panels - no ice plant, no refrigeration, and no rink-water or refrigeration-energy operating cost. The surface performs consistently at any temperature, indoors or outdoors, making synthetic Curling rinks a year-round, climate-independent alternative.
Yes. Glice Curling rinks install on any flat surface - concrete, asphalt, event flooring, or grass with a sub-floor. The synthetic ice surface is unaffected by temperature or weather, making it suitable for indoor Curling at corporate venues and event halls, and outdoor Curling at terraces, festivals, and public spaces.
Curling rink pricing depends on rink dimensions, configuration, and included equipment. A Glice Curling rink avoids refrigeration-energy and rink-water operating costs at the skating surface - making the total cost of ownership significantly lower than a traditional ice Curling facility. Panels last 10+ years per side and are reversible. Contact Glice for a custom Curling rink quote.
Both are played on ice surfaces, but Curling uses heavier granite stones (approx. 20 kg) and includes sweeping to guide the stone. Eisstock uses lighter stocks (4-6 kg) with no sweeping. Curling follows more formalised rules with ends and houses. Both can be played on the same Glice synthetic surface, giving venues the option to offer both from a single rink.
Yes. Every Glice Curling rink is modular and portable - delivered on pallets of interlocking panels that assemble in under 2 hours. Ideal for corporate team events, Olympic-themed activations, Christmas markets, and touring exhibitions. The rink packs flat for transport and storage.
Glice supplies complete Curling rink packages globally - including the Swiss-engineered synthetic ice surface, specially designed Curling stones, house markings, and optional boards and branding. Manufactured in the EU and independently tested by Fraunhofer Institute. Request a custom quote for your venue.
Yes. Glice synthetic ice curling rinks are available for rent as complete turnkey packages — including the synthetic ice panels, perimeter frames, and curling stones. They rent exclusively in combination with a Glice skating rink rental.

The standard rental fleet consists of previous-generation Glice panels, refurbished and quality-checked between seasons. Brand-new rinks built on our latest panel generation — independently benchmarked by the Fraunhofer Institute — are available on request.

Demand peaks between September and January for winter and holiday installations, and rinks are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Early booking is strongly recommended.

Book your rental curling rink →
Glice synthetic ice curling tracks can be configured for curling schools and clubs, summer camps, family entertainment centers, bowling centers, theme parks, and conventional curling rinks that want a summer option. Hotel Glockenhof Zurich director Matthias Sutter reported that the Glice ice curling track was accepted and used by the public with great success.
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Working with Glice was different from any supplier relationship we had. They guided us through every step and made a complex project feel completely manageable.
★★★★★
Senior Venue Manager, International Hospitality Group

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Key facts

  • Swiss-engineered panel system manufactured in Germany under exclusivity
  • Operating in 100+ countries with 3,000+ installations
  • Fraunhofer IWM validated Glice glide performance matching freshly resurfaced real ice at lower speed
  • EU-manufactured dasher boards and rink accessories support complete turnkey rink packages

Last updated: June 2026