WINNIPEG — Do you have the stones to be in a curling calendar?
Some big names in curling have stepped up to pose in the first Men of Curling calendar, which raises funds for 10 different charities and causes. It was released Tuesday.
The calendar features twelve elite curlers, including Olympic and world champions from Canada, Sweden, Scotland and Norway.
The scantily clad photos show the champions’ strength, their personality, or in some case “their artistic side.”
Winnipeg’s Jon Mead is Mr. June as well as a two-time Canadian champion and the 2011 World Champion.
Mead said it was a great opportunity for the guys to show fans a different side.
“Curling is truly a job to us and it’s serious business,” Mead said. “We all have a lot of fun and there are some good characters in the calendar.”
The profile of the sport has never been higher and the calendar only makes it better, he said.
“I am now looking in a career in modelling … just kidding,” he said. “I think it just shows how much interest there is in the game and that youth and fitness are a big part of it.”
Another Manitoban is the cover boy — Mike McEwen, skip of Team Manitoba, wears form-fitting briefs while balancing on concrete blocks on the front of the calendar.
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Most of the models are from Canada: Ben Hebert of Calgary, Carter Rycroft of Grande Prairie, Alta., John Morris of Chestermere, Alta., Craig Savill of Ottawa, Brad Jacobs and E.J. Harnden of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Paul Flemming of Halifax.
Niklas Edin of Sweden, Thomas Ulsrud of Norway and David Murdoch of Scotland (in a kilt) give the calendar a little international flavour.
“It’s for a great cause and I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” said Hebert. “We thought it would just be fun to do. We don’t get asked a whole bunch to be models in our sport by any stretch of the imagination.”
Hebert admitted it was a bit awkward to strike the cheesecake pose.
“I haven’t taken a whole bunch of shots with not a lot of clothing on,” he said. “I think the stereotype of curlers drinking beer (is) slowing going away with a lot of athletes in the game. I think that’s what the calendar represents.”
The calendars will be available at curling clubs, events and online.
— With files from the Canadian Press
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