Curling fans converging at Roseville's Skatetown Ice rink

If you're a curling fan, Skatetown Ice Arena in Roseville is the place to be this weekend. Wine Country Curling Club is excited to welcome 32 curling teams from across the country to the 2026 Jerome Larson Memorial Crush Bonspiel, held Sept. 4-6 at Skatetown Ice Arena in Roseville, California. Organizers say the three-day event promises thrilling competition, and great arena to view some advanced curling techniques. This year's bonspiel will feature 32 teams competing in 8 pools named for some of California's favorite wines: Syrah, Cabenet, Pinot Noir, Nero D'Avola, Tempranillo, Malbec, Sangiovese, and Merlot. Teams will battle through round robin pool play before advancing to bracket play in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. Champions will be crowned in the Reserve (A) Bracket, the Meritage (B) Bracket, and the Vintage (C) Bracket. With a 4-game guarantee, participants can expect plenty of on-ice action and camaraderie both on and off the ice. For the first time ever, there will be free on ice viewing. Sit in the "Tasting Room" and watch curling up close and personal, say organizers. This year's Crush also celebrates the 3 Regional Banners that the club earned this past competitive season: 2026 MoPac Mixed Doubles, 2026 MoPac Men's Arenas, and 2026 MoPac Women's Arenas! See those hanging up on the rink walls at Skatetown! The Crush is made possible in part through a partnership with Placer Valley Tourism which helps bring athletes and spectators to the Roseville area for a weekend of sport and community.The Crush Bonspiel is named in honor of Jerome Larson, a pioneer in bringing curling to the West Coast and a founding influence in the Mountain Pacific Curling Association. Known as the "Johnny Appleseed" of curling, Jerome's vision helped grow arena curling throughout the region and establish a national championship for arena-based curlers. The Crush celebrates his legacy of sportsmanship, connection, and love for the game. Curling is an Olympic sport that blends strategy, skill, and teamwork. Often described as chess on ice, it gained national attention during televised Winter Olympic Games, especially following Team USA's gold medal win in 2018. Wine Country Curling Club, founded in 2007, is based at Skatetown Ice Arena in Roseville. The club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting curling in Northern California through leagues, learn-to-curl programs, corporate events, adaptive curling, and tournaments like the Crush and The Barrel (held in March).