Events

junior women & junior men
EJCT Prague 2026
September 24th—27th, 2026

women
WCT Prague Ladies International 2026
October 15th—18th, 2026

men
WCT Prague Classic 2026 (autumn)
October 15th—18th, 2026

mixed doubles
WCT MD Prague Trophy 2026 (autumn)
November 27th—30th, 2026

men
WCT Prague Classic 2027 (winter)
January 14th—17th, 2027

junior women & junior men
CJCT Prague Circles 2027 as a part of CJCT
January 14th—17th, 2027

How did you start with curling? At what age, why, and where?
I actually started as a return to sport after ending my football career. During my university studies, I tried a lot of different sports, and I still do some of them to this day. But curling captivated me with its versatility, uniqueness, and above all the incredibly interesting people it brings together.

I started relatively late, after the age of twenty. That had its disadvantages, because I didn’t have a childhood foundation, but also advantages – experience and versatility from other sports. And it turned out that if you have energy, joy, motivation, and commitment, you can achieve quite a lot.

What kept you in curling all those years?
Definitely the great group of people and my inner motivation to reach the Olympic Games. Once I started travelling to international tournaments, I made many new friends all over the world.

What I love about curling is its spirit. With only a few exceptions across nations, it’s a sport built on respect. On the ice you want to win and give it your absolute best, but at the same time you can appreciate the skill and difficulty of your opponent’s shots. And after the game, you sit down together for a traditional non-alcoholic drink, where the winners treat the losers.

Curlers know how to communicate with each other. It’s a gentleman’s sport—highly competitive, physically and mentally demanding, yet rooted in respect and a shared love for the game.

Did you fulfill all your dreams and expectations in curling?
I’ve always had dreams, I still do, and I always will. But yes, I’ve achieved an incredible amount.

I had an amazing sporting career with people I consider my extended family. Some of them I would even say are like additional members of my family. And of course, the Olympics—that was a childhood dream. The fact that it came true is something unbelievable.

The only thing missing for me now would be to play a nice tournament with my wife and children. Maybe someday that will happen. For now, I mainly want to support my wife and our young athletes.

What comes next? Will you still play occasionally, or are you drawing a clear line?
After ending my elite curling career, I mainly need to give my family back the time I borrowed. At the same time, my wife and I are taking on another big challenge—professional. We’re working on streamlining business processes, automating things, and expanding our portfolio. It’s essentially another dream and another form of motivation, very similar to elite sport.

There’s a great atmosphere at home now, and I’m glad it’s a project for the whole family. It gives me the opportunity to be at home much more.

As for sport, I’m not stopping physical activity altogether. I’m continuing daily training, but now it’s more focused on conditioning and compensation. I’m even setting up a gym in my office and gradually expanding it.

How do you plan to spend your free time?
Honestly—there isn’t much free time right now. My watch tells me I usually sleep three to five hours a day, sometimes a bit more on weekends, so boredom isn’t really a risk.

For now, it’s mainly family, work, and a bit of sport. When I eventually have more time, I’d like to learn the technique of a new sport. And I’d also like to finally finish Baldur’s Gate 3, which I’ve been playing on and off for over two years.

Will you miss anything about curling?
I want to stay in touch with the guys, and I believe we will. I’ll keep going to watch curling, and I’m still in contact with people from the sport. We’re even already discussing whether and how I might help in the future in a role off the ice.

So I wouldn’t say I’m drawing a clear line. It’s more that my role is changing.

When you arrived in Prague and started working with Czech curling, what was it like? What surprised you?
I entered this role knowing that a lot of people had already done a tremendous amount of work before me and that many good things were already in place in Czech curling. From the very first day, I received a very warm welcome, and I considered it a privilege to work for Czech curling.

I approached the first year mainly as a period of learning and building relationships. My goal wasn’t to change everything from the ground up, but to build on what was already working, offer recommendations in areas that could benefit from modernization, and help fill any gaps in the system. Together with Pavel Myšák [then national team manager], we conducted a comprehensive analysis of how the federation operated during the first season and prepared a report with recommendations.

What was new to me was the importance of the club system in Czech curling and its influence across all levels of the sport—from the first contact with the ice all the way to elite curling.

What was your main goal during your time working with the Czech national teams?
When I started, the main expectation was to help Czech curling qualify for the 2026 Olympic Games. At the same time, I wanted to contribute to setting up a system for the national teams that would ensure that investments in athletes would have a long-term impact. It wasn’t just about one-off results, but about creating an environment that would function well into the future.

I also felt that the results of Czech juniors in previous years did not reflect the true potential Czech curling has. That’s why I saw significant room for development.

What were your feelings when the men’s team qualified for the Olympics? And then the mixed doubles team?
When the men’s team secured their spot at the Olympic Games, I was absolutely thrilled and incredibly proud of everyone. At the time, I happened to be driving Craig to the airport in Regina and then spending time with my sister and her family. Shortly afterward, I received a video from Brad Askew showing the team celebrating and dancing right in the arena. Dozens of congratulatory messages followed from friends and colleagues in the curling world.

With the men’s team, I saw my main role as supporting the system and process set up by coach Savill. I tried to help, provide feedback, and strengthen a framework that was already working well.

In the case of mixed doubles in Kelowna, I feel that the qualification journey really began at the previous World Championship in Fredericton. This was followed by intensive work with Julie, Vít, and Čenda during the autumn, which laid the foundation for the eventual success.

At the previous Olympic qualification event, I coached the Korean mixed doubles team, when Australia unexpectedly qualified. This time, the roles were reversed, and we were able to use the experience I gained back then to benefit the Czech team. Honestly, I consider this qualification to be my greatest coaching achievement so far.

What were the Olympic Games themselves like?
Both Czech teams entered the Olympic tournament as the tenth seeds, so we approached it with the mindset that we had nothing to lose. Every win was a success. In the end, both teams recorded three victories and finished in eighth place overall, which is a result they can rightfully be proud of.

Personally, I tried not to take anything for granted. I took care of my health and recovery, but at the same time, I wanted to fully experience those unique moments and create memories for a lifetime. I also tried to enjoy the entire experience as much as possible and spread positive energy. Meeting coaches and colleagues from all over the world was very valuable to me. I also made an effort to be a good representative of Czech curling and of the Czech Republic.

One of the most powerful personal moments for me was meeting one of my former Korean athletes. After the disappointment of an unsuccessful qualification four years ago, we were able to meet again—this time directly at the Olympic Games—and share the joy of finally both being there.

What needs to be done for Czech curling to break into the world’s elite?
That’s a simple question, but a very complex answer.

Reaching the absolute world elite is a beautiful and ambitious vision, but first it’s necessary to focus on smaller, gradual goals. I consider the modernization of long-term athlete development in Czech curling to be crucial. At the same time, I believe that the current model—where national team status is granted to a club team based on the result of the Czech championship—no longer reflects modern trends in high-performance sport.

If the goal is truly to place Czech curling among the world’s best nations, it will be necessary to look for new approaches and systemic solutions. It’s a long journey, but definitely an achievable one.

Do you have a message for Czech curlers?
Above all, I would like to say just one thing: thank you.

It has been a great honor for me to be part of the Czech curling community over the past three years. The passion I encountered among Czech curlers is comparable to that in the biggest curling nations in the world. The greatest reward for me is the new friendships and professional relationships I have built thanks to this experience.

Special thanks go to Marek Vydra and David Šik, who played a key role in giving me this opportunity in the first place.

And even though my time in this role is coming to an end, I believe I will continue to meet and work with many of you. After all, the curling world is much smaller than it might seem at first.

The experienced coach joined the Czech environment roughly a year after the 2022 Olympics, with the task of helping a team (or teams) qualify again for the next Olympic Games. The main focus was on the men’s category and mixed doubles. Together with team coach Craig Savill, they contributed to the qualification of Team Klíma for the Olympics, achieved by earning enough points at the 2025 World Championships. Wade was also there when the duo Zelingrová / Chabičovský (coached by Vladimír Černovský) succeeded at the Olympic qualification event in December and advanced as the second Czech team to Cortina.

We thank Wade for his work and dedication over the past years, for his travels to the Brno arena and abroad, as well as for his professional training sessions, and we wish him much success in the years to come.

Czech Curling has already been led by three foreign experts, all from Canada: Daniel Rafael, Brad Askew, and Wade Scoffin.

You returned from the World Championship a few weeks ago – does that mark the end of your season?
The World Championship was our final tournament of the season as a team; some of the players then went on to compete in the Czech Mixed Championship. Now we are moving into post‑season meetings and preparations for the next season and the entire Olympic cycle.

How do you evaluate your result at the World Championship, and how did you feel about your performance?
Our minimum required goal was to qualify for the next World Championship, which we managed to achieve. Our next objective was to reach the playoffs, which we did not accomplish, and we are therefore not satisfied with our final 11th place. Overall, we played well at the tournament, but there were several games we lost narrowly—often in an extra end or in the final end.

What are your plans for the summer? Will you focus on physical preparation, and what will be your main priorities?
Now we have a short period of rest to recover and regain energy for the next season. Over the summer, we will focus on off‑ice physical preparation, including cardio training and strength building in the gym. We will also hold tactical classroom sessions, reviewing our matches and discussing strategy, and we will continue working with our sports psychologist.

Why curling?
“Curling is a sport where the energy invested in every detail matters—precise timing, focus, and team cooperation. Just as in the energy sector, it is essential to think ahead, work with performance, and seek efficient solutions. These principles have long been close to the Group CEZ, which is why we decided to support the development of curling in the Czech Republic,” says Milan Záhorka, Sponsorship Manager of the Group CEZ.

Statement from the Czech Curling Association
“We greatly appreciate the support of the Group CEZ and the trust it is placing in Czech curling. We see this partnership as an important step in the further development of our sport—whether in supporting the national teams, working with youth, or raising awareness of curling among the wider public. We believe that this cooperation will be beneficial for both sides,” says Karolína Frederiksen, President of the Czech Curling Association.

This partnership did not come about by chance. “Our support for curling is not accidental—it is based on a long‑standing relationship and personal connection. At the same time, curling embodies precision, discipline, and teamwork, values that are also close to us at NaturalProtein,” the company stated.

The emphasis on accuracy, coordination, and long‑term dedication is what makes curling a unique sport. It is therefore especially gratifying that its further development will now be supported by a partner who naturally shares these values.

We look forward to our cooperation and would like to thank NaturalProtein for its trust and support of Czech curling.

Curling in Brno has been growing steadily for many years. Today, the Curling Brno club has approximately 150 active members, and the existing venue welcomes around 10,000 visitors from the general public every year, including roughly 2,000 children. Families, groups of friends, companies, and schools of all levels—from primary schools to universities—regularly come to the curling hall. However, the current facility with three sheets has reached its limits, both in capacity and in quality.

With the increasing interest in curling, it is no longer possible to provide sufficient space for the public or adequate conditions for systematic training, especially for young players.
“Our goal is to expand the opportunities we currently offer to curlers and the public. Expanding from three to five sheets will significantly increase capacity for schools, which have taken a great liking to our sport, and will also broaden opportunities for children and young people, whom we are always happy to welcome at Curling Brno,” says Lukáš Merta, Chairman of Curling Brno.

A New Hall to Support Growth and Youth Development

The solution is the construction of a new curling hall with five sheets in Brno‑Černovice. The facility will serve both the general public and performance‑ and elite‑level athletes. Strong emphasis will be placed on youth development. Thanks to modern facilities, the hall will be capable of hosting top‑level international competitions and help bring Czech curling closer to the world elite. The specialized venue will also make it possible to extend the season by several months, which is crucial for systematic training and preparation.

“The new hall is not just about modern changing rooms or better spectator facilities. It is about closing the gap between us and the European elite. If we want to develop national‑team athletes in Brno who can truly compete internationally, we must offer conditions that meet 21st‑century standards. This project is a clear signal that we take elite sport seriously and that Brno has the ambition to become a place where future champions are born,” says Jakub Bareš, former coach of the Czech Olympic team and current coach of the Polish national team.

Higher Quality Conditions and Increased Capacity

The new hall will bring a fundamental improvement in conditions for both athletes and the public. A fully controlled indoor environment will ensure stable, high‑quality ice, which is essential for player training and for a positive visitor experience.

“The three sheets we currently operate at the Nová Zbrojovka site have been a great starting point, but in the long term they are very demanding and uneconomical to operate. In addition, our time in the space is limited. Construction of a new curling hall is therefore a necessary step to preserve curling in Brno,” says Sebastian Ženatý, manager of Curling Brno.

Five sheets will also significantly increase capacity. The hall will be able to accommodate more groups at the same time and, for example, host two corporate events in parallel. Brno would thus become the city with the largest curling hall in the Czech Republic. Curling is an Olympic sport that continues to grow in popularity among both the public and athletes, and the new hall will make it possible to harness and further develop this trend.

Financing and Timeline

The estimated cost of constructing the hall is approximately CZK 150 million. The project is based on multi‑source financing. The club’s chairman will provide an interest‑free loan of CZK 25 million. Additional funding is expected from the National Sports Agency, the City of Brno, the South Moravian Region, the Czech Curling Association, as well as from the public and the players themselves. A fundraising campaign is currently underway at www.novahala.cz.

At present, negotiations are ongoing regarding the finalization of the planning agreement and the subsequent purchase agreement. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2027, with completion of the hall planned for August 2028.

You are one of the very few Czech curlers who have gone through all categories from juniors to seniors. At what age did you start curling?
I started quite late, around the age of 19. All the more reason why I’m happy I’ve been able to experience the sport across all categories.

How long have you been playing curling?
With a few breaks, I’ve been playing curling for about 33 years now, so it’s actually a big part of my life.

How old were you when you started, and what keeps you in the sport to this day?
I started around 19, and from the very beginning I was fascinated by the spirit of curling—it’s not just a sport, but also a strong community and a social experience. That combination is what keeps me in it even today.

How do you see the development of the sport? I assume you began at Hasa Arena [which is not used for curling since the opening of the dedicated Roztyly Arena]. Did you help get the Zbraslav hall running as well?
Yes, I started at Hasa in Prague-Vršovice. We trained once a week in the evening, usually after 9 p.m., right after the figure skaters. From today’s perspective, the conditions were almost comically modest—we prepared the ice ourselves, drilled and poured the hacks by hand, carried the stones onto the ice before every practice, and stored them afterward. It was a bit of a “guerrilla operation”, but maybe that’s exactly what made me develop such a strong bond with curling.

The real leap forward came with the opening of the Roztyly hall, which created much better conditions, especially for young players.

As for Zbraslav, I was involved from the very beginning—from the preparations and construction to the first seasons when official competitions started being held there.

You play mixed teams, mixed doubles, and traditional teams—what do you enjoy the most, or does each format have its own charm?
I’ve tried all these disciplines, and each has something special. But I still feel closest to classic team curling—there, the sport is the most complex, in my opinion. I haven’t had the chance to try the new triples format yet, but it definitely appeals to me.

This creates a unique blend of stories all meeting on the same tournament stage. Juniors, elite female athletes, and men over fifty — each with different experiences, different beginnings, and different motivations, yet all sharing the same sheets of ice. In this sense, curling feels different from most other sports. But the same rule applies: if you want to succeed, you must devote a substantial part of your life to it.

Why curling?
“Curling is a sport built on strategy, concentration, and precision — qualities closely connected to artistic creation. As a gallery, this parallel naturally resonated with us, and that is why we decided to financially support the development of curling in the Czech Republic.”

We thank them for their support and look forward to working together!