Warming up for cold reality

The importance of conditioning has also seen China's elite curlers push for extra miles in endurance training, striving for consistent mental focus in long competitions on the ice.

Ba Dexin, a veteran member of China's silver-winning men's team at the Curling World Cup final in Beijing in May, said the physical toll a curling match takes is in stark contrast to the sport's leisurely play.

"We run the distance in the summer so we can be physically fresh enough to fully concentrate on each release on the ice," said Ba, a two-time Winter Olympian competing in the mixed doubles with Wang Rui (2014, 2018).

"I don't think people quite understand the physical demand for a curler to prevail at critical moments, but this is what makes the difference between the good and the great."