What Is 2011 Continental Cup of Curling

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2011 Continental Cup of Curling was the 7th edition of the event, held from January 6–9, 2011, at the Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nevada, where Team North America defeated Team World 31–23.

Key Facts

The 2011 Continental Cup took place from January 6–9, 2011, in Paradise, Nevada.
It was the 7th edition of the Continental Cup of Curling.
The event was held at the Orleans Arena, a 9,500-seat venue.
Team North America won with 31 points, defeating Team World’s 23.
This marked Team North America’s fifth victory in the Cup’s seven editions.

Overview

The 2011 Continental Cup of Curling was the seventh edition of this international curling competition, designed to pit top curlers from North America against the best from the rest of the world. Held from January 6 to 9, 2011, the event took place at the Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nevada, marking the second time the Cup was hosted in the United States.

Organized by Curling Canada and World Curling, the tournament featured a mix of team and individual events, including traditional team games, doubles matches, and shootout competitions. The format emphasized both individual skill and team cohesion, drawing elite curlers from Canada, the United States, Europe, and beyond.

January 6–9, 2011: The competition spanned four days, featuring a total of 60 points available across multiple match types.
Orleans Arena: Located in Paradise, Nevada, this 9,500-seat venue hosted the event, providing a unique non-traditional curling market setting.
Team North America: Comprised of top Canadian and American curlers, including skip Kevin Martin and women’s champion Cheryl Bernard.
Team World: Included European powerhouses like Thomas Ulsrud of Norway and David Murdoch of Scotland, representing non-North American nations.
Final score: Team North America secured victory with 31 points to Team World’s 23, marking their fifth win in seven editions.

How It Works

The Continental Cup uses a Ryder Cup-style format, combining various curling disciplines to determine an overall winner through accumulated points. Each match type contributes a specific number of points to the final tally, encouraging depth and versatility across teams.

Format: The event includes team games, mixed doubles, singles, and a shootout round, each awarding up to two points per match.
Scoring system: A total of 60 points are available, with the first team to reach 30.5 declared the winner.
Team composition: Each side fields 12 players—six men and six women—allowing for mixed participation across events.
Match types: Features 16 team games, 8 mixed doubles games, and a 6-round singles shootout to diversify competition.
Player rotation: Skips and team members rotate frequently, ensuring all participants contribute across multiple formats.
Host selection: The venue alternates between North America and international locations, though five of the first seven were held in North America.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2011 Continental Cup results and format against previous editions:

Year	Location	Winner	Score	Host Continent
2002	Regina, Canada	North America	24–21	North America
2003	Rock Springs, USA	North America	32–13	North America
2005	London, Canada	World	25–20	North America
2007	Las Vegas, USA	North America	30–15	North America
2011	Paradise, USA	North America	31–23	North America

The 2011 event continued the trend of North American dominance, with five wins in seven tournaments. While Team World showed improvement compared to 2007, they still struggled to match North America’s depth in mixed and team formats. The U.S. venue choice aimed to grow curling’s profile in non-traditional markets, though all events to date had been held in North America by 2011.

Why It Matters

The 2011 Continental Cup highlighted the competitive balance and global reach of modern curling, while also emphasizing regional strengths and promotional strategies. Its format encourages innovation and broad participation, making it a key event in the curling calendar.

North American dominance: Winning five of seven Cups, North America demonstrated consistent superiority in team depth and strategy.
Promotional value: Hosting in Nevada helped expand curling’s visibility in the U.S. Sun Belt, targeting new audiences.
Player development: The event allowed emerging stars to compete alongside legends like Kevin Martin and Russ Howard.
Format innovation: The mix of game types influenced future World Curling events, including the World Mixed Doubles Championship.
Global engagement: Despite losses, Team World’s presence strengthened international collaboration and rivalry.
Legacy: The 2011 Cup contributed to the growth of the sport ahead of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Ultimately, the 2011 Continental Cup served as both a competitive showcase and a strategic platform for growing curling’s footprint beyond its traditional strongholds.