What Is a Skins Game in Curling?

Although curling's history dates back to 1540 in Scotland, the sport's first set of rules were not established until the 19th century by the Grand Caledonian Curling Club, which was later renamed the Royal Caledonian Curling Club.

Traditional Rules

• A game of curling typically features eight or ten ends. The object of the game is to score points by placing the curling stones closer to the center of the "house" than your opponent does. The winner is determined by the team with the most number of points after the scheduled number of ends, or once a team is mathematically eliminated.

Skins Rules

• In the skins format, the object is to win the end. Ends are assigned a points or monetary value, which usually increases as the game progresses. In order to win an end, the team with the hammer -- the final stone -- must score at least two points, while the opposition needs just one. If neither team wins the end, the point or money on offer is carried over to the next end. Depending on the competition, the winner is the team with the most points or prize money at the conclusion of the scheduled number of ends.

Competitions

• The Continental Cup -- a competition between Team World and Team North America -- inaugurated in 2002 features the skins format. The event consists of team, doubles and singles games, but the skins contests, men's, women's and mixed, are the core of the event. Another skins competition is the Casino Rama Skins Game -- a relaunch of the TSN Skins Game -- which has been an annual event since event 2007.