Those looking for a break from the long COVID limitations can head back to the curling rink, as the club gets ready for 2020 on the ice.
“The plan is we’re going to have a safe season,” said Lance Farwell of the Drumheller Curling Club.
He says they have set up league play for all ages and abilities.
On Monday night, there will be junior curling. This is a development program with lessons and games to learn the sport.
They are planning to have doubles/sturling on Tuesday nights. Also known as stick curling, sturling is a two-person game where the rock can be delivered with either a slide or stick delivery. The game is suitable for new players all the way up to seniors, who might not be as mobile, but want to continue to play the game. It has fewer stones and fewer ends to play, which
tends to make it a more defensive game.
Open men’s league is on Wednesday night, and mixed league is on Thursday night. Farwell adds they could introduce an afternoon league if there is enough interest.
They are reserving weekends for bonspiels as well as hosting Friday fun nights to get more involved.
He says they are cognizant of the protocols in place due to COVID-19, in order to make it a safe season.
“The ultimate goal for Curling Alberta, Curling Canada and at the Drumheller club, is we are practicing social distancing,” said Farwell.
This means they are setting up everything in the lobby and especially the rink, so people can enjoy the game and remain six feet apart all the time.
“We are practicing social distancing, so there is no cohort necessarily, even with your own teammates, you don’t have to be within six feet of each other,” said Farwell. “We put markings on the ice, and there are some modified rules.”
Some of these rules include only allowing one sweeper to play and not sweeping the other team’s rocks.
When you do that, all of a sudden everybody is six feet apart,” he said.
Last season the Drumheller Curling Club was having a great year and were on the tail end of the season in March when COVID-19 became an issue.
“We had at least two bonspiels to go, and the final couple of weeks of playoffs in league, when it shut down,” he said. “It was kind of the biggest two weekends of the year for sure.”
That hasn’t curbed enthusiasm for the game, and in fact, their junior numbers and men’s numbers are very strong. He adds there may be more snowbirds who are not traveling this winter, who might dust off their broom and slider.
“We had good AGM attendance, and I think it was people wanting to know what we were going to do and how we were going to do it. I hope we showed that it is going to be a safe place to get out of the house,” he said.
On November 10, 11, and 12, they are hosting an open house for people to come out to try the game, find out what the club has planned, and register. The following week will start with league play. The first Friday Family fun night is November 13.
For more information, check out the Drumheller Curling Club Facebook page or email drumhellercurlingclub@gmail.com
