Sweeping Off-Ice: How to make and use your own dryland sweeping pad 579 589 Stephanie Thompson

So, you’ve been doing all the right things:
✅ Running
✅ Lifting
✅ Yoga or stretching
✅ Some interval training

First off—congrats! You’ve invested time, energy, and resources into your training for the upcoming season. That’s a solid start.

But let me ask you this…

Have you made your training curling-specific yet?

Aside from mopping your kitchen floor or painting your driveway, how much time have you spent actually sweeping?


“But Steph…”

I hear it all the time:

“I don’t have access to ice in the summer.”
“I don’t know what to use for dryland sweeping.”
“I haven’t found anything that works…”
“Blah blah blah.”

Listen, I get it—it gets hot in the summer, you’re catching up with friends and family, and the last thing you want to do is drag your broom out of the closet. I experience it too.

But if you want to maximize the 4–6 months you’re off the ice, it takes a little creativity and effort.


💡 Build Your Own Dryland Sweeping Station

My go-to setup is a hockey slide board and vinyl booties. But let’s be real—those can get expensive.

The good news? You can easily DIY your own sweeping station using cheap and easy-to-find materials.

Try places like Dollarama, Walmart, or IKEA. Think outside the box.

Here’s how to do it:


🔨 DIY Sweeping Pad – What You’ll Need:

1. A Slippery Surface
Examples:

  • Placemats

  • Plastic picture frames

  • Whiteboards

  • Tin baking sheets

  • A square of linoleum

  • Dryland flooring tiles

  • Hockey slide board

  • Mylar sheets
    ➡️ Pro tip: Glue your surface to a piece of plywood for added stability, put on a yoga mat or add weights to the sides so it doesn’t slide around while you sweep like a pro.

2. Something for Your Broomhead
Examples:

  • Fluffy socks

  • Microfiber towel

  • Vinyl bag

  • Slide board booties

  • An old hair head curling broom works wonders if you can find one!
    ➡️ Attach the slippery surface with string, duct tape, or even learn to sew it in place.

3. Optional: Surface Enhancer
Make it extra slippery with:

  • Furniture polish

  • Car wax (Turtle Wax)

  • A little soap and water
    ➡️ Although I’ve found overall we don’t need to add anything to the board; this is personal preference

4. Work Ethic


5. Grit

And voilà—you’re set up for success!


🎯 Why This Matters

Training off the ice isn’t just about staying in shape. It’s about skill development.
Dryland brushing gives you the opportunity to:

  • Improve technique while your feet are on solid ground

  • Reinforce movement patterns you’ve been training in the gym

  • Build muscle memory and body awareness

  • Strengthen your push and pull

  • Gain confidence and control in sweeping posture and pressure

From personal experience—and from the athletes I train—we’ve seen a direct translation from dryland brushing to better performance on ice.


🧠 Technique Tips & Training Ideas

Not sure what to focus on?

Start with the basics:

Focus Areas:

  • Brush head speed

  • Surface area covered (the running surface is only 5″ across)

  • Pressure vs. speed balance

  • Broom angle

  • Footwork and management of your center of gravity

  • Get comfortable holding your body up over the brush
  • Practice your pull stroke while applying downward pressure

Sample Prescription:

  • 2x/week minimum
    🔹 One technique-focused session
    🔹 One interval session to build endurance

Drills & Variations:

  • Any of the following interval sessions: 3-Brushing Intervals for you & your team

  • Combine sweeping with:

    • Box step or lunging intervals

    • Footwork trainer or skateboard

    • Resistance bands to isolate push or pull motion

  • Use a slide board under one foot to mimic on-ice motion

  • Record yourself to assess:

    • Broom angle

    • Brush stroke size

    • Strokes/second

    • Body position


💥 Ready to Take It to the Next Level?

If you’re serious about improving your brushing strength, technique, and endurance this season, check out the Better Brushing: Strength & Endurance Program. It’s a progressive 3-level system designed specifically for curlers—with dryland sweeping drills, structured workouts, and minimal equipment required. Whether you’re just starting out or chasing high-performance goals, there’s a level for you.

👉 Click here to learn more and get started with Level 1—or save 20% with the full bundle.


📚 Want to Learn More?

Check out these extra resources:

Optimal Brushing Technique – Research Summary
Dryland Training for Brushing Footwork – DIY Skateboard Drill
Curling Fitness Tips – My 4 Favourite Exercises for Powerful Sweeping

 

Providing tools & education to move better & improve performance. Proudly Canadian.

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Sweeping Off-Ice: How to make and use your own dryland sweeping pad