Family craftsmanship from Austria for over 40 years

The history of holzeisstock.at

Handcrafted wooden ice cream sticks from the Innviertel region

My name is

Gerhard Wimmer

I am a master woodturner and the second generation to run our family business in the Innviertel region of Upper Austria. What began with my father's first handmade curling sticks is now one of Austria's leading manufacturers of wooden curling sticks. To this day, we continue to craft each curling stick with the same care, passion and attention to detail as we did over 40 years ago.

From a small family business

to the established manufacturer

Our family-run woodturning workshop in St. Roman has been producing wooden curling sticks using traditional handcrafting methods since the 1960s. What began on a small scale decades ago has developed into one of the leading manufacturers of wooden curling sticks in Austria and Europe. Today, we are one of the largest producers of handmade wooden walking sticks and stand for quality, experience and reliability. Read here how a small idea developed into a successful woodturning workshop for high-quality wooden walking sticks:

The history of our wooden curling sticks began over 40 years ago in the Innviertel region of Upper Austria. My father, a trained wheelwright, made the first curling sticks on a small scale – originally as Christmas presents for my brothers. Soon, more pieces followed for work colleagues, friends and acquaintances. When my parents realised that this passion could be turned into a source of income alongside their main jobs, production was gradually expanded. In 1980, my father finally officially registered the woodturning business. In addition to classic contract woodturning work for local carpenters, the manufacture of wooden curling sticks remained a central part of our business. In the 1980s, however, the traditional wooden curling stick seemed to be increasingly replaced by the modern tournament curling stick, which was becoming more affordable for amateur athletes. At the time, many believed that the wooden curling stick would disappear from the market.

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But the opposite happened: the wooden curling stick experienced a real renaissance. Especially on natural ice, it impresses with its incomparable feel and ensures authentic curling. After passing my master craftsman's examination in woodturning, I took over the family business from my father in 1996. Since then, production has been continuously expanded and adapted to the rapidly growing demand. Today, we are one of the largest manufacturers of handmade wooden curling sticks in Austria. A special feature of our company is that we produce almost all components ourselves. From the raw material to the finished curling stick, every step of the process is carried out in-house. The pear wood we use comes exclusively from the region around our company. The pear trees are carefully selected, cut up at our premises and then air-dried for around three years.

The wooden curling stock

Traditional winter sport from the Alpine region

The wooden ice stock is the central piece of equipment used in ice stock shooting – a traditional custom and classic winter sport from the Alpine region. Ice stock shooting is often compared to curling, but differs significantly from the English variant in both the way it is played and the equipment used. Especially on natural ice, the wooden ice stock provides an incomparable playing experience and authentic sporting enjoyment.

The origins of curling date back to 13th century Scandinavia. Even back then, the sport was a popular leisure activity that drew entire villages to frozen lakes during harsh winters. Dutch painters travelling in the Alpine region documented these winter scenes as early as the 16th century, giving rise to the myth that curling originated in Holland. Today, this assumption has been disproved, but the historical significance of the sport remains undisputed. Since its inception, wooden curling stones have been made from durable wood, preferably pear or maple. Even though modern curling stones are now available in metal or plastic, the classic wooden curling stone remains unbeatable in terms of quality, durability and feel

Curling has now established itself as a competitive sport: beginning with the founding of the first clubs around 1900, its professionalisation culminated in the European Championships in 1951 and its application to become an Olympic discipline at the 1963/1964 Winter Games. Even though it did not officially become an Olympic sport, the sport enjoys great popularity worldwide – from Europe to Australia, the USA, Canada, Africa and South America. The Ice Stock World Championships, held every two years, also captivate athletes and fans alike, with Austrian successes at the highest level. Away from competition, ice stock shooting is a popular leisure activity in the Alpine region. Young and old enjoy this sociable activity on natural ice – and one thing quickly becomes clear: only a real wooden ice stock ensures authentic fun.