Fixing bad habits
Bluenose Curling Club clinic aims to help experienced curlers perfect their game
Do you have a little bit of curling experience under your belt and are now ready to start perfecting your game? The Bluenose Curling Club in New Glasgow has just the clinic for you.
Anne Blandford, volunteer curling director for the Bluenose Curling Club board of directors, says at the start of the season, the club always offers an eight-week learn to curl session for new curlers. This helps new curlers become comfortable with the ice, learn the basics of curling and teaches them the rules of curling. Usually, these individuals decide at this point they like the game and become members of the club, she says.
“The November clinic is an opportunity for individuals who have curling experience to do a bit of fine-tuning to their game and to get instruction on areas that might be causing them some challenge,” says Blandford.
This is not a beginner’s course, she advises. Topics to be covered in this clinic include set up and delivery, delivery analysis, sweeping, grips, turns and releases, line of delivery and practice drills.
“Some of us who have curled for years have developed some habits that negatively affect our game, and this is an opportunity to work through this,” says Blandford.
Sometimes, she said, curlers need to adapt their game. Curling is a sport that has adjusted itself to the changing physical needs of those interested in participating. There are curlers who may be experiencing some mobility issues but want to continue to curl, she said, and the sport has responded. These individuals can throw their rock with a stick and do not have crouch down in the hack at all, explains Blandford. This allows adults to stay active and enjoy curling into their 90s.
Workshops focusing on these transitions may happen in the future, says Blandford.
The Turning Point Curling School adult intermediate clinic will be held on Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bluenose Curling Club, 234 Park St., New Glasgow at a cost of $60 plus tax. Blandford says if anyone from the other clubs in the area are interested in attending the clinic, they are more than welcome. To register for the clinic, leave a voicemail message at 902-755-2875.
“The November clinic is an opportunity for individuals who have curling experience to do a bit of fine-tuning to their game and to get instruction on areas that might be causing them some challenge.” Anne Blandford, volunteer curling director, Bluenose Curling Club board of directors