CALGARY – For years, curling sheets across the city have been filled with kids eager to learn the sport. Learn to curl programs like Lite Rocks at the Calgary Curling Club have been at or near capacity for more than a decade.
“It’s exciting to watch, they have so much energy, and they’re so keen,” said Daniel Bubola, head instructor at the Calgary Curling Club. “Even if they’re not getting everything quite right, they’re still having a good time.”
But now, more and more kids are taking it to the next step, going from beginner to competitive curler, all at an early age.
The Calgary Youth Curling Association (CYCA) has reached new heights with its Sunday League, registering 36 teams with ages ranging from eight to 17.
“The goal was to get kids and give kids the opportunity to actually curl at the competitive level, against their peers,” explained Cheri Helston, the Sunday league coordinator at the Calgary Curling Association.
“They go through the season, and their first play-down, and they get the fire in their belly and they want to do it again, and it grows,” said Helston.
Carter Lautner, former Alberta Junior Provincial Champion and 2014 Canadian Junior Bronze medalist, is one of a growing number of program graduates. He says the dynamic has changed from when he first started curling.
“People are starting to want to play as opposed to let’s go out and throw rocks for a little bit,” said Lautner. It’s more of a, ‘Hey, let’s go win the Brier.’”
For information on the Sunday Youth Curling league, click here.
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