2026 Winter Olympics: Meet the 61-year-old figure skating sensation

Being the center of attention at the Winter Olympics in northern Italy is a long way from the ice rink in Aberfoyle, where Callan had his first experience of curling at Forest Hills, having been fascinated by seeing the sport on television.

That rink no longer exists, but Callan’s memories are still fresh. Mainly from him falling a lot.

However, he kept coming back, and one day his curiosity got the better of him when he noticed someone graveling the ice. “They explained to me what was happening and I wanted to know more…and now here I am.”

So what’s really going on? Why walk on the moon?

Callan explains that he wears a gravity-powered backpack containing 15 liters of water, and his job is to spray the snow with water droplets of different sizes. They are frozen almost instantly and are only removed by furious wiping of the players’ brushes.

The “steep steps” – as he calls them – are intended to keep him balanced on the slippery surface and ensure the water spreads as evenly as possible.

Callan has been at the rink in Italy since mid-January, having arrived at his fourth Olympics to find “a concrete floor and contractors everywhere” in what is usually an ice hockey arena.

The Cortina Curling Court once served as an outdoor arena – it hosted the 1956 Games – and although a roof has since been added as part of renovations, many of the original features remain, such as the wooden bleachers.

All of this makes controlling the ice a special challenge for Callan and his young team, but the reception from players and fans alike has been warm.

“I think the word iconic is used a lot, and with the real mix of old and new, it’s just an extraordinary place,” he says. “And it looks really good on TV, too.”