Tobias van den Hurk: “I’m pretty much always curling or studying”
What began as a spontaneous introduction to curling turned into a top-level sporting career for Tobias van den Hurk. “I ended up at an open day at the curling club in Zoetermeer. After that, I started taking youth training sessions. It all happened step by step, and now I play at the highest level.”
From youth training to the national team
Tobias started off training once a week with the youth group. “One day, the national coach came to watch. Not long after, I was invited to join the national junior team.” The Netherlands only has one junior team, where Tobias played until he was 21. After that, he moved up to the men’s team. “That’s a higher level, and that’s where I play now. It all happened quite naturally. The curling world is small – everyone knows each other. At some point, the coach asked if I wanted to join as a reserve for a tournament. Then someone left the team, and I got a permanent spot.”
Elite sport and a technical degree
Alongside curling, Tobias is studying for a master’s in computer science. “I’m in the final phase of my degree. Combining it with curling means it’s taking me a bit longer to finish.” Even during tournaments abroad, he tries to study as much as possible. “Not full-time, but quite a lot. I’m basically always either curling or studying.”
In the beginning, it was a tough combination. “When I was studying full-time, it was sometimes just too much – especially when exams clashed with major tournaments. Fortunately, the elite sports coordinator helped me to sort a lot of things out. That really made a difference.”
On the road to the Olympic Games
The big goal? The 2026 Winter Olympics. In December, Tobias and his team will play in the Olympic Qualification Tournament (OQT) in Kelowna, Canada. It’s their last chance to secure a spot for Italy. What he’ll do after his degree isn’t set in stone. “I might take six months to fully focus on curling. But I also enjoy programming. So I don’t know yet whether I’ll curl full-time.”
More locations, more talent
Tobias sees that the sport needs more visibility and reach. “Right now, everyone who plays at a high level comes from a city where there’s curling. People won’t drive half an hour just to try something new – they’ll go for football or hockey instead. More curling venues in the Netherlands would really help.”
Support from Vebego makes a difference here. “They’re not only investing in our team, but also in the grassroots of the sport. That creates more awareness around curling – and that’s exactly what we need.”
