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In a term usually referred to describe the point on the earth's surface closest to a detonation, or where an explosion takes place, it also describes the base of where the World Trade Centre once stood, another meaning for it has apparently come up as the starting point for something in the sports world.

Over the weekend in Yorkton there was a sort of explosion of a much different type.

It occurred at nighttime, in the west end of town, lasted a few hours and nobody got hurt or killed.

It was a 'first', and according to most of the people involved in it, might actually happen again.

"This first-ever was a great springboard to a successful program," said Quinn Haider, principal of St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School and coach of the St. Alphonsus contingent at the curling rink Friday.

The local curling club was just dubbed a certain 'Ground zero' following the successful debut of curling to a group of local students.

Most of whom probably don't ever pick up a broom at home unless told to by mom or dad.

Added to the list of school sports already on the agenda, the president and vice president of the local sports committee, the Yorkton Elementary School Sports Association (YESSA), have thrown curling on the pile of sports available to local student in eight different elementary schools. It appears that curling is the latest.

"It's Ground zero this year," suggests Mark Schendel, president of the YESSA.

It's probably only going to get better from here, he added.

"I know this is going to grow from here."

Approximately 64 students were involved. Eight different schools. And a whole whack of parent, teachers and other helpers, not the least of which includes the curling club itself.

"They've been fantastic," says Schendel of the club.

To make for an ease of learning for the new sport, the YESSA funspiel involved games of two ends as opposed to games of the normal 8-10 ends, he added.

The reason for that?

"The focus of that was certainly not on winning and losing."

Schendel said it was more an introduction to the game and having fun.

"It's 'doing' a new sport and have loads of fun doing it."

The reason for involving curling into the curriculum?

"It's another avenue for our kids to get active, being played by 12 and 13 year olds," answers Schendel.

To make matters interesting, he says, "I'm impressed by the skill (of these young players)."

The YESSA president added the bonspiel, termed the 'Rock 'n Roll' funspiel likely wouldn't have been possible without the assistance of "our two directors: Mr. Zaba (of the Christ the Teacher Catholic School Board) as well as Mr. Reeve (Good Spirit School Division)".

"Kudos to the eight participating schools," says Schendel.

He said that in preparation for the funspiel, "they had a coaching clinic on Monday".

Offering a new sport within the school system provides some of the teachers with a way to test their own knowledge; Schendel added that there were quite a few teachers/staff members who were in for a new experience.

Says Karen Cottenie, coach of the Ecole St. Michael's group: "Friday's city-wide Gr. 7-8 bonspiel went very well," she said via email.

"Lots of fun and learning and good sportsmanship was displayed by all. We are very proud of our curlers.

St. Michael's ended up asking some Gr. 6s to play so St. Michael's entered four teams and they did very well."

"It was awesome to see so many young students participating and having fun at the YESSA Rock N' Roll bonspiel. (It) was a great opportunity for students to have fun as they learned how to curl. Thank you to all of the organizers for putting this event on," offered Jenna Mortenson, coach of the Yorkdale Central Royals curling team.

Schendel said that YESSA held a coaching seminar the Monday before the tournament.

"We had to teach them a lot," Schendel noted. They included inturns, outturns, up guards, drawing into the house and performing takeouts.

"I was impressed with the skill," Schendel told the newspaper.

Each team in the funspiel took part in four, two-ends games.

"A third of the kids, it's their first time playing," notes MC Knoll coach Benson McDowell. "Most teams have only had one practice."

The curling took place on all eight sheets the club has available.

"It's all about fun (but) it's also about doing it more than once."

McDowell said he'd like to see a league set up.

The funspiel was played in by all Gr. 7-8s.

McDowell noted the interesting point that the lone drawback he observed is that in curling you can't have a full 'roster'.