As the curling season kicks off in 100 Mile House more people than ever have taken up the sport.
Eugene Gerwing, president of the 100 Mile House Curling Club, said they have around 120 curlers signed up across the various leagues. Because many of them sign up for multiple leagues, Gerwing remarked it's akin to managing 200 people.
"We have probably got a few more curlers than we did last year, some people are coming back. The curlers we do have are participating in more leagues," Gerwing remarked. "We're fairly busy right now sorting out the leagues, teams and schedules."
This influx of interest has meant that in some leagues Gerwing and the other members of the club executive have had to add new ice times, just to accommodate everyone. He noted the club only has three sheets of ice and with 24 teams in some leagues, they are somewhat limited in when they can accommodate players.
As in previous years, Gerwing said they have a doubles league on Monday afternoon, another doubles league in the evening every second Monday, a mixed league on Tuesday, a drop-in league on Wednesday mornings, the men's league on Wednesday evenings and a women's league on Thursday evenings. Gerwing said they also have their youth curling league on Tuesday and learn-to-curl program on Thursday as well, which run throughout the year.
"It's a busy schedule," Gerwing remarked.
While the leagues are mostly full this year, Gerwing said he and the club still welcome anyone interested in curling to reach out to them. He remarked the leagues are always in need of alternate players in the result of sickness or injury and that anyone can come to their drop-out leagues.
"We can usually fit them in as spares and there is always a lot of opportunity for people," Gerwing remarked.
Membership to the club is $10 with spares required to pay an additional $20 to pay the Curl B.C. and Curling Canada insurance fees. Gerwing noted the club will also be running four bonspiels this year including a mixed bonspiel in November, the men's bonspiel in January, the open doubles bonspiel in February and the ladies' bonspiel on the last week of February.
Anyone looking to sign up or find out more is asked to check out the club's website or contact them at 250-395-4442 or 100milecurling@gmail.com.
