LEARNING TO CURL
Cape Bretoners get free lessons at the Sydney Curling Club
Sydney Curling Club offering free lessons.
Would-be Cape Breton curlers were given a chance to learn a new sport for free at the Sydney Curling Club on Saturday.
The Taste of Winter: Learn to Curl event featured experienced instructors who shared their passion with a group of interested 19-and-overs. The session included those familiar with the sport as well as people stepping onto a curling sheet for the first time.
The session was part of the Cape Breton regional Municipality’s Taste of Winter schedule and gave novice curlers a chance to try out their skills on the ice.
Stephanie Pettigrew, from Leitches Creek, said she curled once before with her husband and son, but was excited to finally be learning a sport that is challenging to play.
“I feel a little bit more Canadian, learning how to curl,” said Pettigrew.
“It’s all very difficult, the balance is really hard and nothing I learned last year has carried over. You can’t just do it once and feel like you know how to curl at all.”
The beginner training session also included Cape Bretoners who have curled in the past and stopped, but felt a need to get behind the broom again.
“I curled as a junior and my parents curled. I watch it on TV quite a lot and my family is raised now so I’m just looking to get back into it,” said Cynthia Boutilier of Little Pond, who added it was great to be back on the ice.
“I’m excited to be here and it’s definitely something that I want to pursue a little bit more and its amazing getting back into the game.”
The session featured talented curlers who helped the group understand not only the fundamentals of the game, but different techniques.
Ronald Labelle, one of the instructors, took a class himself to teach people how to curl. He said the sport can be complicated but he is happy it is on the rise in Sydney.
“This is great because we have quite a few people at our club who just started in the past two or three years and there’s a momentum where there is an interest in curling now with world championships and everything. This is good because we really need to renew the membership of curling in Canada,” said Labelle.
Sydney Curling Club president Rachel Baker said she was pleased to see Cape Bretoners enjoying themselves by taking part in a sport she loves.
“This is so great. I really enjoy seeing people out on the ice and having a good time. When people try it for the first time and they get that feeling of ‘wow, this is how you do it’ it’s really good to see,” said Baker.