Why Olympic Curling Stones Cost So Much
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- čas přidán 17. 05. 2024
- A unique granite found on only one island in the world is turned into curling stones. These are the only ones allowed at the Olympic Games.
The granite from Ailsa Craig island in Scotland is recognised around the world for having unique qualities which make it the ideal material for curling stones. Top-spec winter Olympic curling stones cost £750 each which means a full set of 16 is worth £12,000.
Only one company holds the lease to extract common green and blue hone granite from this Scottish island for the manufacture of curling stones. In this video let's join Kays of Scotland and follow the journey of the Olympic curling stone from island to ice.
Watch the 70-minute uncut version of this video over on my new Patreon page: / ruthaisling
Kays of Scotland Website: www.kaysscotland.com
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If we haven't met before... Hi, I'm Ruth 👋 and I recently bought a campervan to travel my home country of Scotland after living overseas for 12 years. I’ve hardly seen anything or been anywhere in my home country Scotland and now is the time to change that!
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00:00 - Visiting Ailsa Craig
05:40 - Granite Harvesting
15:18 - Granite Slicing & Coring
16:43 - Curling Stone Factory
21:30 - Sport of Curling
There was a lot of footage filmed while visiting Ailsa Craig and creating the video about the curling stones. If you are interested in watching a 70-minute uncut version of this video, it’s available over on my new Patreon page: www.patreon.com/RuthAisling
Over on Patreon I will be sharing bonus videos, live streams and Q&A sessions.
You’ll also gain access to my regularly updated Scotland Google Map which includes 200+ pins of places I’ve personally visited and recommend in Scotland.
Plus, you’ll get sneak peeks into future projects (I usually film videos around 4-6 weeks before they are published on CZcams) and behind-the-scenes photos and video clips!
I hope you enjoy this video today, thanks for watching!
Someone made a fake account of yours.
@@numanuma20 Thank you for letting me know, I've blocked them from commenting now
Thanks for sharing Ruth your a lovely bonnie lassie xx 😘
Who knew curling stones would be such an interesting topic. Thanks for sharing.
It's so interesting to see the whole process!
You could say.....'It Rocks' 👍🏼
Ugh...a pun isnt a pun until its full groan...😅
That’s what I was thinking
Exactly what I thought!
What a brilliant documentary! Way better than many produced by national TV.
Agreed 👍
Thank you, that is so kind of you to say!
That was the best documentary I've seen for years. Easy to understand, informative and a subject that very few people know anything about. Your delightful voice is relaxing, clear and really well paced.
Congratulations you are a top class film maker❤
Thank you so much, I'm really glad you enjoyed it and that means a lot!
Agreed!
I will admit I had the closed captioning on to understand what they were saying some of the time.
As a curler this was SUCH a fun and interesting watch! Can't say I ever thought much about where the granite used for the stones comes from... this is crazy! Thanks Ruth xx
Glad you found it interesting!!
I was in school in Canada when Sandra Schmirler was playing. Curling was already popular, especially in the prairies, but grew substantially by her inspiration. Watching her rink win Gold at the 1998 Nagano olympics, knowing she had cancer, was breathtaking. A well-made rock is such a thing of beauty on the outside; now I see its beauty is much more than skin deep. I never realized how different types of granite vary in their properties. I wonder how the blue hone plug is cemented into the common green, so the bond lasts the 20 to 30-year lifespan of the rock? What a fascinating trail from rock to Rock. Who knew that Ailsa Craig was anything other than a bird colony with a lighthouse! What a friendly, informative group of people in this industry. And what a lot of fun to be allowed along on their granite harvesting excursions. Thanks for another beauty.
❤
Thank you so much Eric, really glad to hear you enjoyed the video. It was a fun process making it!
She is a hero ❤ 🇨🇦
That's fascinating! Curling is huge here in Canada
I grew up within site of Ailsa Craig and always knew of it's connection to curling, but have never been lucky enough to set foot on the island. It's wonderful that you're highlighting these magical places in Scotland. Keep up the good work Ruth 👍.
What a wonderful view to look out to everyday. I spent two summers living in Girvan and it was my favourite view and I'd never made it out there either! Appreciate you watching Tony, thank you!
That was really good, Ruth. I have driven up from Cairnryan and Stranraer for over 45 years from the ferry and had no idea that 'piece of rock' off the coast had such a history. One of the best yet.
Thanks so much Jim, yes it's such an interesting place!
Woo hoo! Ailsa Craig! My ancestors came from Ayrshire (Saltcoats, Stevenston, Kilwinning) and I remember that isle when I was a 10 year old girl who had come to visit cousins, aunties/uncles from Michigan in 1974. My grandparent's emigrated to Michigan in the 1920's and my Grandfather was a miner. I swear my Dad told me my Grandfather as a young man also mined stone there (he was 8th generation coal miner) but I cannot ask anymore. Thank you for this wonderful video!
That's so interesting to know you have a family connection to there! Thanks so much for watching!
Very interesting vid, I learned a lot! 😮😃 A quote from Men With Brooms (a curling move)
“It’s not just a rock. It’s 42 lbs of polished granite with a beveled underbelly and a handle a human being can hold, and it may have no practical purpose in and of itself, but it is a repository of human possibility, and if it’s handled just right it will exact a kind of poetry” 😉😁
Thanks for sharing that!
Probably your best video to date. I've always thought of Ailsa Craig (the fairy rock) by its nickname, Paddy's milestone. Supposedly as it is approximately halfway between Belfast and Glasgow. Well done.
That means a lot, thanks Charles!
What a very intensive process to source and make these stones. I just assumed they were mass produced like bowling balls and never imagined what a high level of skill and craftsmanship was needed. A very interesting insight Ruth.
It's a very special island with a special story!
This was fascinating I'm going to share it with our curling team here in three forks Montana...everybody's going to love it
Thank you - hope they enjoy it!
Fascinating! You learn something every day! And my coffee turned cold while watching, so thats a good sign! Loved this vid, Ruth!
Haha oh no, I hope you can heat it up again! Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks so much for watching!
Mine too! I was so involved in watching that I totally forgot about my coffee!
With the cost of extraction ,I'm amazed the curling stones are not more expensive.
True..
A truly wonderful video Ruth. I am a curling fan (from the states) and have seen pieces on Kay's before but never with all the access that you were able to get. Simply amazing. On a trip to Scotland I was playing golf at Prestwick and one of the caddies I met was a former member of the Scottish National Team.. I was thrilled. Each week you go above the norm for your videos. So great,,, thanks so much!
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed this one! Prestwick is a good course!
Does Scotland Tourism know you are the number one tourism expert ? Another great video Ruth............... thank you.
Haha I doubt they watch the videos! Thanks so much for watching Leslie!
I think it would be a lot of fun to try curling as a visitor to Scotland. This is a very interesting video. Thank you.
I have always enjoyed watching curling but had no idea how special they are This was an enjoyable video Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much for watching!
Fascinating. Ailsa Craig is iconic for everyone who lives near the Ayrshire coast. I knew nothing about it... until now. Thanks.
It is so iconic, on a clear day it's so nice to look out at it! Thanks for watching!
Fascinating stuff Ruth! You have such a passion for this type of thing! I once told you that you have the perfect voice to narrate these videos, and I'm surprised nobody hasn't snapped you up to have a history show on TV.
Keep up the great work, your friend in Brazil, Professor Geoffrey.💛
Thank you for the kind comments Prof Geoffrey! 🙏
That was so cool!!! I've watched it on the Olympics over the years, but had no idea there was So much behind it !!! Thank you for taking us through the process.
Appreciate you watching, thank you!
Ruth, every time I watch another episode of yours, I am amazed at your versatility in your final product. Production, recording, sound, film, creativity and finding a subject that many people appreciate is proof that you are a special talent. I am speechless about this episode and am surprised that this is not shown in every sports section of any sports channel. And your other adventures are the best travel guides you could wish for. I really follow a lot of other CZcamsrs, but your talent goes above and beyond. Thanks for creating and sharing.
Thank you so much for the kind comments. I really appreciate them!
didnt realize so much went into these stones! Interesting!
Well done Ruth...the best presentation I have ever seen on Curling Stones either on TV or the internet. This video output of your's will educate many, many people for years to come. My mother used to lecture me on her sport of Lawn Bowls but she also had knowledge and keen interest in curling. She would have taken great delight in watching this had she still been alive...so I will take delight on her behalf !
Thank you so much Chris, that means a lot!
Great video Ruth! I spent the first 17 years of my life growing up in Girvan but never set foot on Ailsa Craig. I went round it once on the Waverley but that's the closest I got to it! Really interesting to see it through your lens and also follow the production from source to finished stone. All the best.
Thanks Stephen, I grew up near here too and had never been! I've heard a few stories of people going on the boat but never making it due to the weather changing. Thanks for watching the video!
My Ex girlfriends mum lived in Girvan, she moved to Scunthorpe in the 50s
Lovely little place though
I´ve always known that curling stones came from Ailsa Craig. Spent a lot of time on that coast when I was a child. Very interesting to see the whole story. Thank you !
Glad it could share more details with you! It's a lovely coastline!
As a 3 year old on holiday in Scotland, I fell in love with Ailsa...
I'm 65 now and a visit is on my bucket list. ❤❤❤
Wonderful..You need to do it!
Marvellous, informative video Ruth !
With beautiful accompanying shots !
Truely enjoyable to see the process and the undoubted pride of all involved.
Thanks Andy, glad you enjoyed the video!
Stumbled across your YT channel for the first time this evening and what a fabulous introduction to your collection of episodes. Fascinating to learn the history of curling stones. Thank you for making the video. Look forward to watching other episodes.
Welcome to the channel..I hope you enjoy all the videos!
Special thanks to you also, very very interesting video.
On a side note immigrants came to Canada and many times named their new home after their old home. There's an Ailsa Craig, Glencoe and Cairngorm in Ontario and they're as flat as land can be 😊
Wow, that's so interesting. Thanks for sharing that information!
Hi Ruth I seen a program on the TV last week about this granite very interesting and very expensive thanks for sharing carry on travelling and enjoying your life 😊 Scotland is a special place 😊 lol from me in Birmingham xx
Thanks Paul, haha yes I think the BBC are faster at editing since they have a big team! 😂
Brilliant video & well worth the wait! We live in Galloway & knew about Ailsa Craig granite & the curling stones, but now we really appreciate how unique and special it is. Fascinating documentary - should be on TV. Thankyou & well done. Looking forward to the next one!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 😁
Really enjoyed watching this Ruth, very interesting subject! Keep 'em coming!
Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for watching 🙏
Loved watching your video, found it very informative and interesting. Thank you for taking us with you to the Ailsa Craig an island that I’ve admired from the Ayrshire shores for years
now.
Thanks Scotty, I'd spent years admiring it too and never thought I'd get out there!
Beautiful place. Thanks for sharing this Ruth. Great video, as always.
Thanks Dan!
This is a very good comprehensive and professional standard video. The amount of effort Ruth has put into this, and all her other work, is really praiseworthy. Thanks
Wow, thank you very much 🙏
Absolutely brilliant! What an informative Vlog. Well done Ruth, thank you for educating and sharing this with us!!
Thanks Dave! ❤
that green stone is gorgeous.
Absolutely fantastic documentary Ruth. I love Curling and my heart skips a beat every time I see Ailsa. Great work. Many thanks.
I know what you mean, mine does too! Such a beautiful island!
Amazing work you put in on this Ruth.
You should be incredibly proud of this video.
I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Thanks for the free entertainment.
Amazing.
Thank you so much, that means a lot! ❤
This is such a great Vlog. The content and the quality is exceptional Ruth. So very interesting. Your presentation is first class. You really explain everything so well, the history, environmentally, production and the sport of curling. The skill of the stonemasons is just amazing. Thank You so much for another wonderful vlog.
Really appreciate all your kind words, thank you!
Fascinating video Ruth, and amazing that you got first hand access to the process. Amazing stuff and thanks for sharing. Had no idea just what was involved
It was really nice of Kays to let me join them!
That was so interesting! I didn’t know so much work went into making those curling stones! Thank you for showing us the entire process! The cost is understandable with all that goes into it! Great video Ruth! 👍
Thanks for watching Mary! ❤
Very well made documentary Ruth, that was really interesting and something you don’t think about when you see the sport being played but it makes sense that the stones have to be very precisely made and of just the right material. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thank you for watching! Yes there so much that goes into it!
Absolutely brilliant documentary Ruth. It should be on TV. Your videos are great and I’m just waiting for some decent weather and I’ll be heading north over the border to explore all the places you’ve shown us.
@user-pf8ns7jm5r not sure what you mean?
I hope you have a great trip to Scotland! Someone else stole my profile photo and was commenting pretending to be me. Sorry about that!
Another fantastic and insightful video. Thank you, Ruth.
Thank you 🙏
Having watched the curling in the Olympics, it was great to see how the stones were made, from start to finish. Thanks, Ruth, for this insight into the sport. As usual, a fantastic video and well worth the wait
Glad you found it interesting, thank you!
Best thing I've watched in ages, Ruth. Fantastic video, super interesting, thanks for sharing 😁
Wow, thank you!
Absolutely brilliant video. This was really well put together and I quite honestly thought this was as good as anything you would see on TV.
That means a lot, thank you very much!
Brilliant, loved the story,keep it up, the best I have seen for ages, easy to follow and informative.
Glad you enjoyed it! And thank you for watching 🙏
I've sailed past Ailsa Craig numerous times, knew about the curling stones, but your great video has filled in the knowledge gaps really well! Excellent work! BZ!
Glad you enjoyed it! 🥌
Thank you, Ruth. We really enjoyed your video. I have a hole new knowledge of curling and am now really looking forward to watching Olympic curling. You are very clever and good at what you do. Well done.
Thank you!!
Fascinating stuff Ruth! Really interesting, thanks! Phil
Thanks for watching Phil!
This is a really important and comprehensive record of this traditional industry. Great job documenting it. One of your best produced videos yet 👍 I'll be sharing this on to colleagues in the heritage sector @heritagebuff
Thank you so much, very kind of you!
Very interesting video. I enjoy your historical explanation of each area. Thank you for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Superb video. Great topic choice and along with in depth questions. Love this type of topic change from the normal van life vids. Love that your mixing it up.
Glad you enjoyed it!
An absolutely fantastic documentary Ruth. Very professional, well paced and informative. I think you have really found your calling. Greetings from Niagara, Canada.
Thank you so much! I appreciate the kind comments. 🙏
Fantastic, informative and so well filmed and narrated.
Thanks Graham!
Thanks for another fascinating video. You are a first-class documentarian. You could do a documentary on anything and make it interesting. The videography is outstanding and the editing is very professional. The aerial videos of the travel to and from the island are truly impressive.
Thank you so much. Taking off and landing the drone from the moving boat was a hairy moment haha, but the drone shot was so worth it! ❤
Well, that was excellent and very informative...i enjoyed it much more than i thought i would 😊! Thank you Ruth 😊.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
So much fun to see the process of the creation of the stones I play with every week! Thank you for creating the video. I was already a subscriber of your channel, however, this was a nice suprise.
Wow, that's amazing you use Ailsa Craig curling stones!
Really interesting Ruth. You have learnt me something l will never forget. Very informative x
Glad it was helpful!
Very interesting Ruth. What an unusual and insightful topic. Brilliant , thank you 😊
Thank you Allison! ❤
A truly excellent videos and a beautifully told story. Thank you.
Thank you so much Nigel, appreciate you watching!
Well done Ruth. This was an interesting, educational and informative video. Watching a curling stone be manufactured from the raw material to its finely crafted finish was a joy! ❤
Glad it was helpful! I enjoyed making it 🥌
Great job Ruth. A “proper” doco. We look forward to seeing more in due course. Great job!
Thanks so much!
Ruth this was extremely amazing reporting - thank you for providing such a detailed video! We thoroughly enjoyed and hope to visit Scotland in 2024
Glad you enjoyed it and I hope you have a great time when you visit Scotland!
What fascinating documentary, very well presented as always. Many thanks for sharing.
Thank you, appreciate you watching!
Driving along the coastroad near sunset the rock can be a magical view.
Fascinating. Thank you very much for this.
Glad you enjoyed it! 👍
I knew about the stones and the exclusive Ailsa Craig source - Canada does OK in curling now and then ;) , but I can't remember the last time anyone did a long form video on it. Nicely done, Ruth. Lots to see here. :)
Thank you!
Excellent video Ruth, fascinating to see how the stones are selected and made and waht a gorgeous Island.
I've always been amazed at how almost balletic curling is so thank you so much for this documentary.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you 🙏
Thank you so much, it is such a lovely island.
Absolutely wonderful production. Everything was spot on. I Could hardly I wasn't watching a TV Documentary. Thank you Ruth.👍
That means a lot, thank you so much!
Ruth! i enjoy all of your videos, but this was fascinating! As a good Canadian, I knew about Ailsa Craig, but you have brought the process to life! Well done!
Glad you enjoyed it! 🥌 and thanks for watching in Canada!
Lovely informative video Ruth wonderful to see how the curling stones are made👍 , I have been around the Ailsa Craig on one of the Waverly trips , one thinks of the life people who once lived and worked on that Island.
The Waverly trips look good! It must have been nice to see all sides of the island! The life there must have been quite tough!
This was a wonderful piece, congrats Ruth for doing a fine job of telling the story! :):)
Thanks Mike!
GREAT STORY AND VIDEO !!!! THANKS ~~~~~~~
The island of Ailsa Craig has always fascinated me and when I was still living and working in Scotland and had business trips in and around Glasgow and Prestwick, I would drive down the coast looking out to the west and try to spot the island. Very curious place and its origin being the top of an ancient volcano and then the best place to gather up granite for curling stones makes Ailsa Craig and valuable place. Thank yo for the wonderful video Ruth.
It really is a curious place! Thanks so much for watching!
Once again, excellent work, Ruth!
Thank you!
Excellent documentary. I've long been fascinated by curling and wondered about the production. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏thank you
Hi Ruth: Amazing video! Worth the wait. I have for many years wondered how the stones take such punishment. Such a professional documentary and with your style very entertaining. Thank you.
Thank you so much, yes it did take a lot of time to film and put together so I'm glad to hear it was worth the wait!
Great documentary - well filmed, edited and produced. Awesome.
That means a lot, thank you so much!
I used to work with a Kay some years back. He went on vacation to Scotland and I toured the Kay headquarters, took some photos. Pretty cool!
Interesting! 🙏
Lovely and informative. Excellent work.
Thanks Jenny!
Your videos are such unique gems (or should I say granite curling stones😊). Your channel is second to none, so different. ❤❤❤
Thank you so much, that means a lot! ❤
Hiya, just wanted to say i have only seen 2 of your videos, starting with the euro tunnel video. You do a great job of presenting the videos, as good as any documentary. :)
Awesome, thank you for your kind comments!
I didn't know I needed to know about curling stones, but this was informative and excellent!
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it!
Wonderful video Ruth, I learnt so much.
Great! 👍
Hey Ruth 😊 I didn't know all the details of how the stones were made, so thanks for this excellent video. ❤
Glad it was helpful! 🥌
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks!
Just so interesting Ruth, I am sure I can say many thanks from all who watch the video. Regards. Andrew.
Many thanks Andrew!
Wow, a brilliant documentary and on a professional level! Well done; loved it. I'd never have thought these curling stones came from a tiny island in Scotland; we live and learn...
Glad you enjoyed it! Appreciate you watching, thank you!
OMG Ruth! What an incredible docu, you are so good at this stuff, this was better than anything I'd see on TV (I don't have one tho lol), I so enjoyed it. I wonder has anyone ever made a film about this subject before? I'm so impressed that Kays use rejects & offcuts for items to sell! Brilliant! This is top class programme making, I wish it was on mainstream TV for everyone to see as it certainly deserves to be. Also I loved that magical music you used at the end for the credits. Well done this was AWESOME. If any TV company has any sense they will grab you!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Some people have made videos about certain parts, but I think this might be the first video from island to ice... but maybe there are others I just haven't seen them!
Fantastic and well put together ♥
Thanks!
That was so interesting! Thank you. I’ve curled several times over the decades. Had no idea of the stone’s origin.
Glad it was helpful! 🥌
Pretty cool! Never knew this. Plus its very relaxing!
Brilliant documentary, thank you very much!
Thanks for watching!
Super video Ruth and what a privilege to be able to get out onto Ailsa Craig to see that!
It was so nice to see it and also visit the island
Fascinating Ruth.
Many thanks for this.
Not surprised about the volcanic origins of this Island.
Thanks for watching Sean!
Wow that was soooo interesting Ruth!!! A proper BBC style of documentary. The people you interviewed got over just how they produced and used the stones. You put together a totally interesting programme. You asked all the questions that Im sure we all wanted to here. well done. Big plus - you wernt bitten by any dogs!!!
Thank you so much, that is so lovely of you to say! I'm so glad you enjoyed watching it!