Students from Wheatland Crossing School had the opportunity to learn curling from one of the greats.
On Thursday, February 27, two-time Canadian Women’s Champion Heather Nedohin was at the Standard Curling rink for a special learn-to-curl clinic. Nedohin is a two-time bronze medalist in Women’s World Curling in 1998 and 2012. She also won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in 1998 and 2012.
“The biggest thing for us is to provide kids an opportunity to experience a fun curling experience where it is safe, and they realize they can do it,” Nedohin told the Mail. “As much as we make it look easy on TV, once they get out there and begin to realize they can actually slide and release, and learn this skill set, it is a fun, enjoyable experience.”
In the morning they worked with the junior high students and in the afternoon, high school students took to the ice.
Nedohin is currently not competitively curling, but she and her husband are coaching their 14-year-old daughter.
“The sport of curling was very good to us in the competitive world as athletes, but we are just taking a step back, enjoying the moments with our kids as they grow,” she said. “The beauty of our game is you can play at any age.”
She enjoys sharing the knowledge of her sport.
“I really enjoy the opportunities to get out to rural communities where there are two, three, or four sheeter rinks. Grassroots development to me is exposing youth to what I call our national winter sport… with hockey. I would say curling is up there. To see them enjoy this environment on the ice, and then enjoy the camaraderie off the ice is really important. That is what our community needs to see,” she said.
Rosebud Gas Co-op Ltd. and the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd. teamed up with Heather Nedohin for the day of curling. With an office in Rockyford, the Rosebud Gas Co-op is the amalgamation of the Rosebud, Dalum, and Wintering Hills Gas Co-ops. It has 1,150 members and customers.
