Nothing more than a curiosity for most Southerners while watching the Winter Olympics, the sport of curling is gaining traction in the city.

Yes, curling.

The Rocket City Curling Club, founded in 2018 with its home at the Huntsville Iceplex, offers weekly lessons, leagues for youth and adults, and competes in “bonspiels” across the region and country.

The main event on its upcoming calendar at the Iceplex is “The Space Race,” a bonspiel for 5-and-under curlers in a qualifier April 1-3 for the USA Curling National Championship.

The 5-and-under designation has nothing to do with age. The competition is for curlers who have been in the sport for five years or less.

“This a great opportunity as they’re growing the sport,’’ said Joel Lamp, the new sports convention sales manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). “They don’t want you diving into the deep end and in turn getting your brains beat in by guys who are trying to make the Olympic team.’’

The curling event is just one of several on deck for the city as the new year approaches.

One of the first competitions on the schedule is the cheerleading Big Bid Championships at the Von Braun Center Jan. 8-9. Sponsored by the Elite Cheer Company, the event serves as a pathway to end of the year events.

In January, there’s also the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association Conference Jan. 23-26. The ARPA gathering will be held Jan. 23-25 at the Westin at Bridgestreet.

These events are just part of the economic growth in the area. For instance, the Dec. 4 Garmin RunningLane Championships at John Hunt Park was expected prior to the race to generate more than $2 million.

Last year, even during the pandemic, Brooke Izzo of the Huntsville Sports Commission (HSC) said the city pulled in positive cash.

“Well over $4 million,’’ she said, adding that she’s currently putting together data for the 2021 economic impact that should dwarf last year’s total.

Other key events coming in the first two months of 2022 include the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament at the Von Braun Center (VBC) Feb. 17-19, the 20-team high school soccer tournament Falcon Fest at Merrimack Turf Fields Feb. 18-19, USA Swimming’s Southeastern Short Course Championships at the Aquatic Center Feb. 25-27, and the North Alabama Spikers Association (NASA) Bash JVA Southern Challenge tournament Feb. 26-27.

Meanwhile, threatening weather resulted in the cancellation of last Saturday’s Rocket City Marathon. A half-marathon was added to the schedule for Sunday but it also was called off due to threatening weather and power outages.

Last year’s marathon was canceled due to the COVID outbreak

“We know that this comes as an enormous disappointment, not only to the runners but to the sponsors, spectators, volunteers and running community as a whole,” marathon organizers said in a statement. “The safety for all those involved is and will continue to be our top priority.”

Money spent on the event will not be recovered, though pre-race estimates gauged millions of dollars being spent locally at hotels, shops and restaurants. Izzo said the HSC was disappointed for the participants and event organizers, who lost money regarding in-and-post race costs.

“Unfortunately, we had to cancel the race,’’ Izzo said.

Marathon co-director Dwayne DeBardelaben said the plan for next year was to hold the regular marathon and a half marathon in a two-day event as opposed to the usual one-day race.