The ice has been marked, the pots of soup have been prepared and the competitors are meeting in Oturehua today for a national bonspiel, the first since 2010.
New Zealand Curling Association chairman Rob Rutherford said players from 33 clubs spanning "the length and breadth of New Zealand" would be at Idaburn Dam in Oturehua today after the bonspiel call was put out on Friday night.
About 260 curlers will compete in the two-day competition, in teams of four, for the Snuff Box trophy, won in 2010 by the Alpine club.
It was the club's first national win since it was founded in St Bathans in 1895.
Mr Rutherford, an ice master and curling umpire, was at the dam yesterday to help mark out the 35 rinks and he described the 12cm-thick ice as "perfect".
Although the hoar frost and fog lingered around the dam all weekend, and the temperature was -4degC yesterday afternoon, Mr Rutherford was not bothered, and thought the competitors would not be either.
"As long as it's cold, I don't mind how it comes.
"If there's ice there, the curlers will come out and use it."
He said a traditional "beef and greens" dinner would be held for all players after the competition, followed by Curlers Court, a secret ceremony during which new curlers were initiated into the curling fraternity.
"We get quite a few new curlers each time we get a bonspiel ... we make them true and proper curlers."
The competition begins at 8.30am today at the dam, about 45 minutes northwest of Alexandra.
