First shootout at Pittsburgh in January

“5-and-Under” curling has been a resounding success in the United States, and it’s about to make its first foray into international competition.

This week, James-Grant Robertson (Chicago Curling Club) and Matt Apesos (Peachtree CC in Georgia) announced the have co-founded a world curling championship—the World Five-and-Under (5&U Worlds). 

The inaugural shootout is set to take place in Pittsburgh, Penn. Jan. 9-12, 2025 with teams from the United States, Canada, Japan, India, Israel and Philippines expected to compete.

USA Curling, Curling Canada, Quebec Curling, the Japan Curling Association and David Gravelle of Hot Shots Curling—trainer of the next generation of adult curlers—have all assisted in providing teams to represent their respective countries.

“Here in the United States, we have seen our annual Five-and-Under National Championship fuel enthusiasm among adult participants who have fully embraced our sport but are relatively new to it,” said Dean Gemmell, CEO of USA Curling.

“We are confident the group behind this effort in Pittsburgh will deliver a terrific championship and we look forward to seeing the action on the ice unfold.”

The teams set to represent USA were semifinalists at last year’s USA Curling Five-and-Under National Championships. The teams from other countries have earned berths either through a playdown process or selection by their nation’s curling association.

“5-and-Under Curling in the United States is extremely popular,” said event co-founder Matt Apesos. “It's exciting to bring this format to the international level. I’m especially grateful to the Pittsburgh Curling Club for hosting this inaugural event.”

In the United States, 5-and-Under is defined as curlers age 21 and older with fewer than five years of on-ice experience. Apesos and Robertson are no strangers to the impact of 5U curling, having competed at the last three national championships.

The growth of the event has created good challenges for America's national governing body (see above) and the upward trajectory is only expected to continue as the organization iterates on the qualification process. Qualification has already begun for the 2025 national championship with four teams having earned berths to the May event in St. Paul, Minn.

Expansion into a world championship begs the question: Will the success in the U.S. inspire similar initiatives in other countries? With another Winter Olympics around the corner, it is as good a time as any for organizations to consider the opportunity to capture and engage an eager audience.

Fans are invited to attend the inaugural 5&U Worlds at Pittsburgh Curling Club, Jan. 9-12 and more information about the event will be posted to the Facebook event page.