Mississauga, February 28, 2025 – Goldline Curling is taking a leadership position in preserving fair play by voluntarily withdrawing the approval of our Pursuer foam, following further on-ice testing that demonstrated performance effects beyond the intended limits of sweeping equipment.

While Pursuer foam met all published World Curling specifications and was originally approved for use in competition, we recognized the need for additional evaluation. After extensive testing conducted by players, teams, and officials, clear evidence showed that black foams like the Pursuer introduce performance advantages that go beyond what sweeping equipment should allow.

In collaboration with World Curling, we have chosen to proactively withdraw approval to ensure the integrity of the sport and maintain a level playing field for all athletes.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to champion transparency, rigorous testing, and fair play,” said Pete Townshend, CEO of Goldline Curling.

“This situation has proven that even strict technical specifications can sometimes fail to capture real-world performance effects. Equipment regulations must continue to evolve, and we look forward to working with World Curling and the global curling community to ensure fair competition.”

This decision takes effect immediately, as of February 28, 2025. All past competitions where Pursuer foam was used remain valid, as the product was fully approved at the time. The results of those events stand, and no retroactive changes will be made.

As events around the world may also be underway, they may complete their championship using the Approved Code List that was valid when the event began. This withdrawal will only take effect for those events that have yet to begin play as of 01 March 2025 00:00 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC).

This process has reinforced a critical reality: even the most well-designed regulations cannot fully anticipate every technological advancement. We now have clear evidence that further steps are needed to align equipment performance with the core principles of fairness and consistency.

“We believe the data is clear: currently approved black foams provide a measurable performance impact that goes beyond what sweeping should do,” said Townshend. “We made the responsible decision to withdraw Pursuer foam, and we urge all other manufacturers to do the same. If equipment regulations are to mean anything, they must be applied consistently across all products.”

“Goldline is committed to being part of the solution,” added Townshend. “As part of our commitment to fair play and transparency, I have put forward my intent to join World Curling’s Equipment Advisory Group in an advisory role, where I will continue advocating for a balanced approach to equipment regulations.”

While this decision affects Pursuer foam, Goldline’s Impact broom remains the highest-performing broom available today. When paired with Evader foam, which continues to meet all specifications and uphold the principles of fair play, the Impact broom delivers the most consistent and trusted performance in elite curling.

We urge all manufacturers to act in the best interest of the sport by joining us in voluntarily withdrawing their black foams and committing to a unified approach that ensures all equipment aligns with the spirit of the game.

Goldline remains committed to championing transparency, fairness, and the future of curling as a sport where skill and precision, not equipment, determine the outcome.

World Curling’s release relating to this withdrawal can be viewed at worldcurling.org.

For further inquiries, contact:
Pete Townshend
CEO, Goldline Curling
pete@goldlinecurling.com