06. November 2019 Fred Randver

Estonian curling milestones

Estonian curling milestones

Last weekend was once again successful for Estonian curling. For the first time, the Estonian women (skip Marie Turmann) won the World Curling Tour event “Tallinn Ladies Challenger 2019”, defeating the Swiss team (skip Wuest) with a 7: 4 in the final and the Czech national team (skip Kubeskova) with a 3: 2 result in the semi-final.

But what have been the most important milestones of Estonian curling? Below I have written down some highlights for Estonian curling. I have added some links to some video links. 

2001

  • At the Jõulumäe Sports Center, curling is played for the first time in Estonia. The game is played on an outdoor rink as a show competition between three teams.


Probably first articles in the Estonian media about curling.

2002

  • The Estonian Curling Association (ECL) is founded.

2003

  • ECL becomes a provisional member of the World Curling Federation (WCF).

 2004

  • The first Estonian Curling Championships take place.
  • ECL becomes a full member of the Estonian Olympic Committee.
  • The first two stationary curling sheets are opened in the Jeti Ice Hall.


The opening speech – on the 22nd of November at 2pm – from by then the President of the Estonian Olympic Committee, Mr Mart Siimann.

  • The Estonian men’s team participates for the first time at the European Curling Championships (ECC) in Bulgaria.


The first-ever Estonian national team at the major event. From left to right: Andres Villomann (alternate), Martin Lill (second), Ingar Mäesalu (fourth/skip), Leo Jakobson (lead) and Agu Lellep (third/vice-skip).

2005

  • For the first time, the Estonian women’s team participates at the ECC and the mixed team at the World Mixed Curling Championships.
  • Estonia held its first international curling tournament, the Tallinn Cup. From 2005 to 2019, 412 teams (including 322 teams from abroad) and players from 26 countries have participated in the Tallinn Cup.

Look for more:

Funny Tallinn Cup add.
Curling Tallinn blog: Tallinn Cup summary 2005 – 2017.

2006

  • Estonian junior men participate for the first time at the world junior qualification event.

2008

  • Three additional curling sheets are opened in the Jeti Ice Hall, bringing the number to five.


This is where it all started.

2009

  • The first curling manual in Estonian is completed.

2010

  • Estonian junior girls take part in the world junior qualification event for the first time.

2012

  • Estonian juniors participate at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Austria.

2013

  • WCF President Kate Caithness visits Estonia for the first time.

2014

  • Completion of Tondiraba Ice Hall. The hall comprises a 5,840-seater main arena, two hockey rinks, and three sheet curling arena. The new era has started for Estonian curling.
  • Estonian women (skip Maile Mölder and coach Erkki Lill) play for the first time at the ECC A division.
Maile Mölder at the Le Gruyère European Curling Championships 2014

Look for more:

World Curling TV: Meet team Estonia.

2015

  • Estonia organizes its first major event: the World Junior Curling Championships. Estonian girls took 8th, and boys 10th place.
World Junior Curling Championships 2015, Tallinn, Estonia
  • Start of wheelchair curling in Estonia and our team participate for the first time at the qualification event for the World Wheelchair Curling Championships.

  • We stopped playing curling in Jeti Ice Hall. It is the end of an era.

Look for more:

World Curling TV: Best five shots of World Juniors 2015

2016

  • Estonian juniors participate at the second Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway.
  • The Estonian mixed doubles team got the sixth place at the world championships. We also earn first Olympic qualification points for 2018.
  • WCF organizes the first international camps in Tallinn: wheelchair camps and Stepping Stones Program
  • First World Curling Tour (WCT) event in Estonia – Tallinn Mixed Doubles International.
  • ECL signs its first contract with foreign coach Brian Gray.
  • The creation of a new curling club CC Tallinn.
  • Rainer Vakra, a member of Parliament, is elected as new President of the ECL.

Look for more:

World Curling TV: Around the House – Curling Tallinn.
Curling Tallinn blog: About Curling Tallinn Team.

 2017

  • ECL signs an agreement with the WCF to host the 2018 ECC. The WCF President Kate Caithness attended the signing.

  • In March, Canadian Olympic gold medalist in curling Kaitlyn Lawes visits Estonia during Olympic Celebration Tour.


Now two time Olympic Champion Kaitlyn Lawes attracted the media.

  • The Estonian mixed doubles team (Marie Turmann and Harri Lill) wins the Audi Quattro Winter Games in New Zealand, outperforming several Olympic teams.


Estonia first, Canada second, Norway third.

  • The Estonian mixed doubles team (Marie Turmann and Harri Lill) wins the WCT event for the first time in the history of Estonian curling. Also for the first time, the Estonian curling team succeeds to beat reigning world champions (Jenni Perret and Martin Rios).
  • In Tallinn, the historic first wheelchair curling tournament, the Tallinn Wheelchair International, takes place with six teams from five countries. The Estonian national team wins the tournament.


From left to right: Mait Mäeots, Viljar Villiste (skip), Lauri Murašov and Signe Falkenberg.

2018

  • Estonian Wheelchair team (skip Viljar Villiste and coach Erkki Lill) wins the World Wheelchair-B Curling Championships and qualifies to world championships for the first time.
  • 16.-24. November 2018: Le Gruyere AOP European Curling Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.
  • The TV history of Estonian curling was also made within the framework of the European Championships. For the first time, the games of the Estonian national team were broadcasted in the Estonian Public Broadcasting with comments in Estonian.
  • Estonian Public Broadcasting named Estonian women’s curling team player of the month.

Look for more:

Curling Tallinn: 2018 ECC, behind the scenes.
World Curling TV: Throwing Stones – Curling in Estonia.

2019

  • Estonian women (skip Marie Turmann and coach Nicole Strausak) participates at the World Qualification event for the first time. Unfortunately Estonian didn’t qualify for the World Championships.
  • Estonian wheelchair team (skip Viljar Villiste and coach Erkki Lill) gets eight places at the world championships and qualifies directly to the 2020 world championships.
  • The Estonian mixed doubles team (Marie Turmann and Harri Lill, coach Nicole Strausak) gets the fifth place at the world championships. Best ever result in Estonian curling history.
  • Estonian women (skip Marie Turmann) wins the World Curling Tour event in Tallinn.

The milestones can be a bit different for people inside the sport depending on their role. These milestones are personal and essential to me. I hope that the story of Estonian curling will continue to grow and develop as vigorously as before. Wind to the wings and high flight!