Dear Fellow Curlers of America:

USA Curling is trying to sell the soul of our sport. They are ceding control of our governing body to the President’s whims. 

The decision to cave to the President’s executive order banning trans women from women’s competition should be disgusting to us even in a vacuum, but the reality is far worse.  This isn’t, really, about trans people. This is about who makes the decisions in our sport. Does USA Curling represent us or do they represent the White House?

USA Curling will tell you they have to do it. They will say that this is the only way to save our sport. Behind closed doors they will say that this really isn’t that big a deal. 

Do not believe them.

When the President signs an executive order, it is not a law. When the President withholds funds appropriated by Congress, that is unconstitutional. When we give in to illegal, unconstitutional demands without a fight, we say, clearly, that we will give in again.

What will be the next demand?

Will it be removing non-citizens or naturalized citizens from competition? Will it be giving membership lists to ICE? Will it be the banning of all LGBTQ+ curlers from the sport? Will it be removing accommodations for those with disabilities? Will it be abandoning SafeSport? Will it be requiring a high enough DOGE “social score” to play? 

This is not some slippery slope argument. This administration has shown its willingness to do any or all of the above. If now isn’t the time to fight, when is?

If USA Curling were to stand up, they might lose federal funding. How much of that funding does your club see? We have been on the boards of our clubs. Help from USA Curling is next to nothing. If USA Curling were to assert their independence, the USOPC might create a new governing body under their control. If, however, our current governing body accedes to USOPC demands, that is a distinction without a difference. We, the curlers, lose control of the body either way, and either way, the governing body is illegitimate. 

We cannot let them do this.

The board of directors and executives of USA Curling need to be reminded that this is our game. We play it. We fund it. We built it. They work for us. There is not a single sheet of curling ice in this country that wasn’t created solely from the hard work of our members. More than any other sport, it is only our passion for the game that allows curling in this country to exist at all. 

USA Curling tried to force us to accept Jeff Plush only a couple years ago. We stood up then. We must stand up now. 

If we are not that important to them, we should stop paying dues to USA Curling. Let them get by solely on that precious federal funding. 

We should also show up to the annual general meeting and vote the board out at our earliest opportunity. We need to elect board members who have their priorities in order. Their job is to govern and protect the game and those who play it. The Olympics are 2 weeks out of every 4 years. If that is our top priority, we should just melt our ice and close up shop. And let’s be honest, there is no way the USOPC doesn’t send curling teams to the Olympics. If they won’t let USA Curling decide that, best of luck cobbling together a new governing body to do it. They still need our ice.

This decision is just about money, and who gets it. It’s not about competition. It’s not about fairness. It’s definitely not about the Spirit of Curling, and it’s damn well not about the actual curlers.

USA Curling is trying to sell the soul of our sport, but they can only do so if we let them.

Sincerely,

Sarah Maywalt

Curler