UNITY – Seven Unity Composite High School curlers took the opportunity to improve their game with some big names in curling.
The troop travelled to the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre on Jan. 10, to learn new curling techniques at the annual Astec Safety Inc Team Bottcher Junior Clinic.
Members of Brendan Bottcher’s team each took a sheet to focus on individual skills for those who attended the clinic. The young curlers learned more about the sport along with some tips and tricks to further themselves in the game. Mateo Rutley, a Grade 11 student, said the sweeping demonstration and the clinic in general helped him gain a better understanding of the game. For Grade 10 student Jordis Zunti, the gear and drag effects were her take aways from the learning experience.
Junior high students were also on hand to get some one-on-one learning. Hunter Ireland, who is in Grade 8, learned about getting behind the rock from Team Bottcher lead, Ben Herbert.
“Ben said if you fall on your face, you’re doing it right. I almost did a few times, too,” said Ireland.
The students said the experience has paid off already. Most of them learned different ways of working as a team as well as improving their techniques.
“With what we learnt, I feel we have improved on our skills,” said Grade 8 curler Tate Pool.
“This was not your average learn-to-curl type clinic, it was much more elite,” Coach Kyla Snell said.
“… students that attended were there to fine-tune their skills.”
The most exciting moment for the 60 attendees was meeting teams from around the world. Team Retornaz of Italy, Team Gosgens of the Netherlands, Team Libbus from Okotoks, Alta. and Team Parent from Calgary joined in on the fun and teaching experience.
The clinic was held in conjunction with the first-ever Astec Safety Challenge, which brought 24 of the best men’s curling teams from across the world to the Border City to go head-to-head. The teams that helped out at the clinic were joined by 12 other Canadian teams, including Kevin Koe and Brad Gushue along with teams from Sweden, New Zealand, Scotland and Switzerland for the inaugural tournament.
