Curling club excited to return to the ice soon

While most of the local sports scene continue to work towards a return to action in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Swift Current Curling Club appears poised for a return to the ice in the near future.

“First off, we have full access to our facility a full month sooner, so we get access October 1 and league play will begin on October 13,” explained SCCC General Manager Chris Haichert.

“We are going to try and run the season as close to normal as possible. The Swift Current Curling Club’s absolute number one priority is the health and safety of all of our curlers. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that our members are safe and comfortable while they’re out there,” added Haichert.

Curlers at the Innovation Credit Union iplex should expect some changes this season.

“As for some major changes that we might see this year, the obvious ones of sanitation protocols, we’re drastically going to increase our sanitization with in between every draw, every day, and every use. That includes up in our lounge and out on the ice surface and throughout the entire facility.”

Things will be a bit different on the ice as well.

“No longer are we shaking hands. Whether they want to elbow bump, or just a nod, or just wishing someone a good game, that’s going to be a big difference. We are not recommending the shaking of hands.”

Another recommendation is that teams use only one sweeper on the ice.

“But Curlsask does outline that if teams are of the same bubble and whatnot and want to agree to curl with two sweepers that the teams can go ahead and curl like that. It’s just our recommendation that they use one person.”

Other changes will be more noticeable during the game.

“The skips are no longer allowed to come out and sweep a rock or sweep a rock T-line back. The skip, when they’re not shooting, has to stand back on the backboard, out of the way, until everything is all finished,” explained Haichert.

“We’re going to show the people some traffic flows of how we want them going up and down the sheet so that they can stay socially distanced away from opponents on the other team,” said Haichert, who added that directions of where to stand on the ice will also be visible to maintain social distance.

“Although there are going to be changes, the sport of curling is great. There is over 2,000 square feet of playing surface on each sheet of ice. With only eight people maximum out on the ice, that gives plenty of opportunity to socially distance and stay clear. If you wanted to I’m certain you could go through the entire game and not come anywhere near anybody else, we have that much room out there. That’s an advantage curling has returning to play in these unique times that we’re in.”

Haichert noted that some clubs in Canada are mandating masks on the ice.

“As of right now the Canadian Curling Association and our provincial association, Curlsask, they’ve just said that’s a recommendation, but they’re leaving that all up to the individual curling clubs how they want to operate. Our curling club, this is just a recommendation that you can wear a mask out on the ice, but it’s by no means mandatory and not something we’re enforcing. We’re just trying to recommend the safe social distancing practices while we’re out there.”

Haichert noted that club members will not face any increased cost due to covid-19.

“Our prices have not changed at all from last year or the year before, so we’re not increasing it at all. Keep in mind that there’s going to be three extra full weeks of curling this year due to the fact that we’re getting our club a month earlier. So we’re going to give you three weeks longer of curling and the cost of all our leagues have not changed.”

With many other sporting and social activities on hold, curling could be a viable option for people in Swift Current to fill their time this season.

“We have plenty of room out on the ice and we have plenty of the room in all our leagues for anybody looking for some physical fitness or activity this fall and winter. Individuals or teams we can find spots in leagues or find you teams to curl with,” said Haichert.

“We strongly recommend that anybody that wants to get into curling contact us down at the curling club, whether it’s by email or phone. We’re quite certain we have programs and leagues that will suite anybody interested in getting involved.”

The online registration system opened up on September 18.

The SCCC will also be holding its Annual General Meeting on September 29 at 7 p.m. upstairs at the iplex.