Olympic curling stones are crafted from a rare granite sourced exclusively from Ailsa Craig, a remote uninhabited island off Scotland's coast.

Granite Origin

Ailsa Craig, formed by volcanic activity 60 million years ago, yields two key granite types: Blue Hone (water-resistant) and Common Green (impact- durable in freezing conditions). This "Paddy's Milestone" island provides the dense material essential for stones weighing 38-44 pounds, ensuring consistent performance on ice. Kays Scotland holds exclusive quarrying rights until 2050, extracting sparingly—like a "teaspoon from an ice cream tub"—to sustain supply amid rising demand since curling's Olympic debut in 1998.

Manufacturing Process

Raw granite boulders ship from Ailsa Craig to a stonemason in Newton Stewart, Scotland, for slicing into slabs via diamond wire. Cylindrical "cheeses" are drilled out, then sent to Kays Scotland's factory in Mauchline , where artisans hand-shape, polish, and perfect them for uniformity in weight, size, and running surface. The firm, operating for 175 years, supplies all Olympic and world championship stones.

Fun Production Facts

  • Extractions occur roughly every decade; by 2013, over 2,700 tons of Green and 500 tons of Blue Hone were harvested.
  • Stones undergo meticulous finishing to mimic "cheeses," with handles featuring tech like chips for penalty detection in elite play.
  • While Ailsa Craig dominates Olympics, some stones hail from Trefor Quarry in Wales for non-elite use.

Trending Olympic Buzz

As the 2026 Winter Olympics approach in Cortina (just weeks away from February 2026 coverage), fresh articles highlight this Scottish monopoly, sparking forum chatter on Reddit about the "neat" island lore and DIY pitfalls. Viewpoints vary: enthusiasts marvel at the tradition, while newcomers ponder the cost of tools for replicas. No major supply disruptions reported lately—plenty of stones for the games.

TL;DR: All elite Olympic curling stones hail from Scotland's Ailsa Craig granite, handmade by Kays in Mauchline—timeless craft meets modern hype.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.