In the growing world of international junior curling, tournaments are more than just competitions. They are environments where young athletes learn, grow, and experience the sport at a higher level. The EJCT Baden Tournament, held each September in Baden, Switzerland, has quickly developed a reputation as one of the most distinctive events on the junior curling calendar.
Part of the European Junior Curling Tour, the tournament brings together some of the most promising young curlers from across Europe and beyond. Yet what truly sets the EJCT Baden apart is not only the level of competition. It is the environment created around the athletes, the thoughtful organisation of the event, and the unique atmosphere that combines high performance with enjoyment, respect, and community.
From athlete-focused planning to the compact venue setup and the strong emphasis on fair play, the EJCT Baden has built an experience that goes far beyond simply playing games on the ice.
Curling is often described as one of the most respectful and fair sports in the world. At its heart lies a tradition that sets it apart from many other competitive sports: the Spirit of Curling. During the EJCT Baden Tournament, this tradition will once again be celebrated through the Fairness Award, a special honour that recognises outstanding sportsmanship on and off the ice.
Unlike many awards that are decided by judges or officials, the Fairness Award at EJCT Baden has a particularly meaningful feature: the players themselves choose the winners.
There are career moves in sport that look sudden only from a distance. A name appears on an elite team sheet, a young player is announced alongside world champions, and the story is presented as a breakthrough. But in curling, as in every precision sport, breakthroughs are rarely accidental. They are built end by end, weekend by weekend, across cold rinks, early-season tests, long bus journeys, hard losses, and the kind of international tournaments where young athletes learn not only how to win, but how to belong.
Renée Frigo’s rise from junior competition to the newly rebuilt elite team of Alina Pätz is one of those stories.
Every September, the city of Baden becomes a meeting place for some of the most talented young curlers in the world. From 3 to 6 September, the EJCT Baden Tournament brings top international junior teams to Switzerland for four days of exciting competition, sportsmanship, and unforgettable moments on the ice.
But a trip to the EJCT Baden offers much more than world-class junior curling. For spectators and fans, it is also the perfect opportunity to discover one of Switzerland’s most charming and historic cities.