Curling is thriving in Simcoe – try it!

Strategizing ‘in the house’ at the Simcoe Curling Club. 

Chris Abbott

Editor

Simcoe Curling Club has been slowly building up its membership again after the pandemic.

“We’ve seen a lot come back and we’ve had some new members,” said Jayden Russell, SCC board member.

For those new to the sport, the club offers a seven-week ‘Learn to Curl’ program starting in November. New curlers are given equipment for weekly sessions as they learn the sport.

In January, new curlers transition into a 5U instructional league.

“It’s new this year,” said Russell. “It’s a five-years-and-under experience. So those new ‘Learn to Curl’ curlers get paired up in a league with curlers who have curled less than five years. It has coaches available on the ice to help, so it’s not ‘trial by fire’ for new curlers. They’re not thrown into a competitive league, it’s a laid-back instructional league.

“We noticed the 5U term in curling became big in the US. It’s huge down there, and that term is catching on in Canada. It helps less experienced curlers, sometimes younger curlers, learn a recreational sport – a lifelong sport.”

Many ‘Active-for-Life’ curlers continue in the sport with the use of the “stick,” an assistive device. You don’t crouch down in the hack and slide out to release the rock. You walk forward and push the stick (similar to a shuffleboard cue-stick) to push the stone.

“That’s helping a lot,” said Russell. “A lot of them have taken that up.”

The Simcoe club is quite active and there are a number of leagues for members. Contact the club or check out their website (simcoecurlingclub.ca). The club can be reached at 519-428-4640. 

They include:

Senior Men - Adult men, all skill levels. 8:30 a.m. games Monday-Friday.

Monday Day Ladies – Adult women, fun league, all skill levels. Monday games, 10:45 a.m.

Monday Evening Open – Adults, fun, open choose-your-own-team ladder league. All skill levels. Monday evening games.

Tuesday Open – Fun, competitive choose-your-own team league for adult men and/or women. Tuesday games.

Tuesday Evening Ladies – Fun league, adult women, all experience levels. Tuesday evening games.

Wednesday Afternoon Mixed Drop-in – All curlers, all skill levels. Couples and individuals welcome. Wednesdays 1 p.m.

Wednesday Evening Mixed – Men and women, all skill levels. Flight league. Wednesday evening games.

Thursday Day Ladies – Fun, adult women, all experience levels. Thursday 10:45 a.m. games.

Thursday Evening Men – Social men’s league, all experience levels. Thursday evening games.

Friday Social Mixed – Less experienced players play on teams with experienced players. Non-competitive social setting. Couples and singles welcome. Friday evening games.

Sunday Juniors – U12, U15/21. Instruction and fun play.

Sunday 5U Instructional League – Play games with optional coaching assistance. Priority given to Adult Learn to Curl or new members with no experience. Sunday 9:30 a.m. games. Expect it to start Jan. 4 (first Sunday in January).

Sunday Mixed/Open Doubles – Adult men and women. Doubles format. Sunday games.

“The only day of the week we don’t have scheduled leagues is Saturday,” Russell noted. “We have a lot of daytime and evening draws. We have high schools using the ice in the afternoons during the week.

“Sunday is probably our busiest full day – the 5U instructional in the morning, our youth program in the afternoon, and then right after that we go into doubles – we offer mixed doubles and open double formats into Sunday evening.”

Many of the leagues, except for the more competitive choose-your-own-team leagues, reset after 6-8 week draws – so there is an opportunity to join mid-season.

“Check out our website for details if you want to see what’s available.

“We do have options for people coming back in January. One of the events will be a Try Curling, called Curl & Chill (Jan. 31, 2 p.m.). It’s basically ‘come out for an afternoon, have some instruction, play a short game, have some food & beverages, sit down and socialize.’”

It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, he said.

“Curling is very social, it’s not just ‘on the ice.’ It brings people together and it’s like a little mini-community, and it’s open to the public, open to everyone. We try to be welcoming that way.”

Olympics are coming up, he said, and more events are in the works.

“We have a kitchen, and we have catered meals every two weeks. You can bring your families, and you don’t have to be curlers. Friends and family, that’s what makes it great. You can watch some curling, socialize after eating. It’s a fun time. A family friendly event.”

DOUBLES

“Doubles is an up-and-coming thing. It’s faster paced, you throw less rocks. It’s a different experience.

“You throw five rocks total, but one player throws the first and last rocks, and the other person throws three. There are also rocks pre-positioned at the start of each end. There’s a rock in the house, behind the button on the four-foot, and a guard before you start. And you can’t hit rocks – take any rocks out of play - until the fourth delivery.”

Curling Canada first introduced the doubles format in 2001. The first World Mixed Doubles took place in 2008 and it made its Olympic debut in 2018 – Canada won gold that year, but finished 5th in 2022.

Doubles has been available in Simcoe for about five years, said Russell.

“It was mixed doubles before, but now we have open, too. And that has caught on a lot. I enjoy playing it. It’s quicker in play because there are less rocks. You can hold the (aiming) broom for your teammate if you want, you can sweep your own rock if you want. It’s a very different game. It’s a lot of finesse.”

“We do host Curling Ontario events if it fits for them and us,” said Russell during the Curling Ontario provincial men’s qualifier on Dec. 14.

They have the facility to do it – four sheets of quality ice, retrofitted LED lights, a large viewing area with a lounge & bar, and the newly introduced kitchen facility.