Kays Scotland is the only factory that makes curling stones for the Winter Olympics. This year, they crafted 132 stones in their small factory in Mauchline, East Ayrshire, and shipped them to northern Italy. Each stone weighs about 18kg, and 16 stones are needed for one game. The stones are handmade using granite from Ailsa Craig, a tiny volcanic island in Scotland. The body of each stone is made from common green granite, which acts like a spring when stones collide. The running band that touches the ice is made of blue hone granite, a waterproof and rare stone only found on Ailsa Craig. “It takes 60m years and about six hours to make a curling stone,” says Ricky English, operations manager at Kays. The factory uses machines to shape and polish the stones but the process is largely traditional and handcrafted. Kays Scotland was founded in 1851 and has supplied stones for every Winter Olympics since curling became a medal sport in 1998. The stones cost £750 each and each has a unique number that links back to the original granite boulder. The granite is harvested every six or seven years, and with 680 million tonnes left on Ailsa Craig, supply is secure. The factory also makes miniature curling stones and official giftware for the Winter Olympics. English notes that the stones are very durable and can be sent back for refurbishment even after 20 years. Curling is a Scottish sport with roots dating back to 1511. Kays Scotland continues to blend history and craftsmanship in every stone that slides on the Olympic ice.