The junior instructional program is slated to begin Jan. 16 at the Twin Rivers Curling Club. (Facebook/Twin Rivers Curling Club)

By Martin Martinson

Curling Classes

Local youth curling program to begin this month

Jan 6, 2021 | 3:14 PM

Youth searching for an athletic outlet to kick off the new year will have an opportunity to get out of the house, and onto the ice, for a new curling program at the Twin Rivers Curling Club.

The local club will be hosting a junior instructional program which is slated to begin Jan. 16, and will run Saturday mornings for the better part of the next two months.

As per the current provincial restrictions in place, all registrants for the new program must be 18 years of age or under, and will be split into groups of eight or fewer, with an emphasis on developing their curling skills.

General manager of the club, Doug Flasch, said still more than a week away from getting started, they have already had about 16 youth from the area register, signaling a solid foundation to build upon in the coming weeks, and into the first year of the event.

Flasch said with high school athletics put on hold this season, it remains all the more important to still provide an outlet for youth in the community to get out and active during this time, with curling serving as an excellent opportunity to do just that.

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“I know even as an adult, I’m kind of going a bit buggy not being able to curl and getting way too much couch time,” he said with a laugh. “So I can only imagine what the kids are going through, as many want to get active.”

Flasch said despite the unique and often-times challenging circumstances associated with the pandemic, the work of many of the local schools in years prior has really helped to introduce a number of youth in the community to the sport through after school programs and other associated outings.

Those programs, along with the youth Saturday morning league held last year by the club, have contributed largely to the continued growth of curling amongst the younger age demographic within the Battlefords community. Flasch said they hope to only continue that momentum well into 2021 with their junior instructional course.

“We want to try to keep curling at the forefront of the kids’ minds, so that’s what we’re hoping to do through our Saturday morning [classes],” he said.

Other club activity

In addition to their junior instructional program, the curling club remains hopeful to resume their league play as well, although it remains a waiting game on that front for the time being.

As reported prior to the holiday break, the Twin Rivers Curling Club divided their league play into two separate half-seasons this year, due largely to the uncertainty associated with running a season amid the pandemic.

As it currently stands, the club remains optimistic to be able to return to the rink soon, although they will likely have to wait until at least the week of Jan. 17, when the next provincial address is slated to take place.

Current government restrictions do not allow for players over the age of 18 to take to the ice in a competitive or practice capacity.

To register for the junior instructional program, or to learn more, visit the Twin Rivers Curling Club website or Facebook page.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1