LTEC co-founder Ray Sidney, left, plays with curlers from Austria, Turkey and Brazil. Photo/Provided

Athletes and curling leaders from 34 countries descended on the South Tahoe Ice Arena for a friendly curling event last weekend.

This was the first time World Curling Federation members have visited a United States curling club as part of their congress meeting.

Eight teams of four curlers competed in a modified bonspiel and skills competition. Five curlers from the host Lake Tahoe Epic Curling club took part in the competition, alongside such big name curlers as two-time Olympic gold medalist Cathrine Lindahl of Sweden, and Bent Ånund Ramsfjell, vice president of the World Curling Federation and a member of Norway’s 2002 gold medal-winning men’s curling team.

The visit was part of a weeklong WCF Congress taking place in Reno.

Curling is the fastest growing Winter Olympic sport in the United States. For more information about curling in Tahoe, go online.