MEET BEAU WELLING, THE AMERICAN SERVING AS WORLD CURLING FEDERATION PRESIDENT
WCF / Céline Stucki
Beau Welling came into the sport of curling in a rather unconventional way.
Well, maybe not totally unconventional in terms of how the sport has grown globally over the past several years.
South Carolina native, Beau Welling, first saw the sport on television and was immediately drawn in.
“I was fascinated watching the sport on television and was able to learn a lot quickly from one of my colleagues who grew up in Northern Ontario,” recalled Welling. “Curling is a strategic game that fits my brain. I have a degree in physics so that aspect of the sport was interesting to me, as well as the fact that golf and curling are of the same ether.”
Working as a golf course designer in his professional life, the other aspects of Scottish sports such as skill and tradition made curling a sport that Welling couldn’t turn away from and in 2006, he had to see it for himself.
Trading a week on the links for a wintry excursion to Bemidji, Minnesota, Beau Welling met curling in person for the first time at the U.S. National Championships.
“What blew me away was the people and how awesome and welcoming everyone was,” said Welling. “I was able to connect on a really human level and could immediately see both the opportunities and the challenges with trying to grow the sport.”
With no intention of being anything more than a casual participant and enthusiastic fan, Welling surprised himself with the connectivity and passion he felt in Northern Minnesota back in 2006, an experience that proved to be contagious as he was contacted after returning home by Georgia West, President of the USA Curling Board of Directors.
“Georgia West reached out to me to get my thoughts about curling,” said Welling. “She said that the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee was seeking board members for USA Curling who were independent, not having prior curling involvement, to offer new perspectives in the boardroom.”
Since serving on the USA Curling Board, Welling has become engrained and taken a leadership role within the curling community.
“My increasing excitement level remains to this day,” said Welling.
On September 11, 2022, Welling was elected to his role as President of the World Curling Federation at the World Curling Annual General Assembly in Lausanne, Switzerland, following a 12-year term served by Welling’s predecessor, Kate Caithness.
“Kate has been amazing for the sport of curling, and I look forward to taking the baton with a lot of opportunity to go forward,” said Welling. “We’re still a small sport in the grand scheme of things, so I’m excited to drive the focus on strategy in growing the sport.”
As far as future aspirations, Welling plans on taking a dynamic and collaborative approach to helping take the sport to new heights.
WCF / Céline Stucki
“I want to create a team-like environment that doesn’t focus on a personification around the President, but a collaboration of stakeholders and member organizations,” said Welling. “We all share the goal of growing, and to do that, we must work together in promoting broadcast and engagement, mitigating risks, and diversifying revenue.”
As Beau Welling, curling fan turned global curling leader, gets settled into leading the charge of growing and advocating for the sport, his knowledge and leadership within U.S. curling have painted a picture of how the United States can play a part in reaching these goals.
“There is a lot that can be learned from the United States in terms of growth,” said Welling. “Around 90% of new dedicated facilities in the last few years have been in the United States.”
That growth, combined with a premier market will help support Beau Welling in achieving his vision for curling around the world.
Just as curlers welcomed Beau Welling back in 2006, USA Curling extends a warm congratulations and an enthusiastic nod of support to Beau Welling as he begins his term as President of the World Curling Federation.
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People.
