-Barb Sinclair
Castlegar News Contributor
In a Jan. 10 visit to the rink, ice technician Bob Maloff generously took time out to talk about the goings-on with the Castlegar and District Curling Club. There are five main groups which share ice-time, and they fill in most of a weeks’ schedule. From the Juniors (8-18 yrs.) to Mixed, Ladies, Men’s and Retired, it’s as busy as any town across the nation this time of year.
On Monday, curling was cancelled after a fuse problem tripped the system and all the ice flooded – not a common thing, thank goodness.
All four sheets are typically very busy with increased membership which makes for better competition, easy friendships and more fine-tuning in your play.
This day the Retired group was getting lots of exercise and camaraderie. See photos which may help others in their delivery of those stones which just seem, somehow, to get heavier over the years. Peter Lui has the perfect posture for delivery, and Mary Perehudoff shows how to use the push broom with the holder on top, which lightly slips onto the handle of the curling rock.
If you are not curling because you find it hard to launch off from the hack and get back up again, this is the gadget for you. Falling down on the ice is the last thing you want, and this handy aid could get you back into the game you once enjoyed.
If you missed the start of the season, have no worries – each group will take on as many players as are interested, although you may be on a spare list for a while. Membership amounts vary so just call the office at 250-365-6666 and you can get the details there.
For the Juniors, specifically, there is room for quite a few more players, and at a fee of only $20 per year this is a price that easily rivals any other winter sport. Added to the fun of curling, mentors Peter Lui and Jim Swanson are on site to help new and seasoned juniors to learn and/or hone their curling strategies. It’s a great after-school hobby, and to be encouraged by someone with experience is a valuable asset to joining.
But help in curling isn’t restricted to the Juniors – all groups have help available in this friendly atmosphere.
So what’s coming up in the area of competition?
January 20, 21, and 22 we have a Mixed Bonspiel, and January 26, 27, and 28 there is the 60+ Zones bonspiel – the competition that sends the overall winner to the Provincials.
February 3, 4, and 5 is the Men’s Groundhog Bonspiel, followed by Feb 9, 10, and 11, for the Masters (Seniors) Verzuh/Clay Bonspiel. Again, if you want to watch any of these games, phone the office for further details. 250-365-6666.