Category: Uncategorized

Message from the President

Kent Bird

September 2022

Well, fellow curlers, summer was a long time coming and is now officially coming to an end September 22nd.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish to welcome you back to the 2022-2023 curling season, one that plans to be a “return to normal – as much as possible.” COVID 19 is still hanging around, which seems to be part of the new normal. I suspect that a very large majority of our curlers have been fully vaccinated and boosted, and that an ongoing barrier to COVID and its variants will involve continued booster shots, perhaps annually with the flu shot.

The plans for this season are exciting! First of all, the board and league representatives have been contacting those that curled last year as well as curlers that chose not to curl over the last two or three years, inviting everyone to return this year. In addition to our regular leagues, we will have some new leagues: 2-person stick leagues on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons (if there are enough registrants), an open fun league on Friday afternoon, and an open/family league on Sunday evening. There are Try Curling weekends planned as well as 5-week Learn to Curl sessions and novice/open leagues on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Our Membership Committee has already been contacting some local schools to organize a Rocks and Rings program. In addition they have contacted the Abbotsford Teachers Association to offer hosting a Pro-D event in October and, perhaps, again later in the year.

In addition to a return of all regular bonspiels, our club is hosting Academy of Curling Clinics and Banquet with instructors Russ Howard, Mary-Anne Arsenault and Grant Odishaw on September 16th to 18th. On October 14th to 16th, we are hosting the Abbotsford Curling Classic Cashspiel with teams registered including Korea, Japan, China and India. Curl BC Club Championships will be hosted by our club March 28th to April 2nd.

Online registration is now open for all leagues. Registration at the club, as well as practice ice, will take place during the week of September 19th to 23rd. League play begins September 26th. Invite friends, family, co-workers, etc. to participate. All ages and skill levels are welcome!

Looking forward to seeing you on the ice!

David Primrose,

President

Club Update Feb. 14, 2022

T. White

Happy Monday to All,

The club survey is still open and we would love to hear from as many curlers as possible, if you could take 5 minutes and complete the online survey would be very much appreciated. The link is below: https://abbotsfordcurling.com/2021-survey/

If anyone or team is looking to improve there curling skills be it your stick delivery, slide delivery and release or sweeping technique we have room and time on Wednesday nights from 6 to 7pm with certified coaches. Just email the office to book your lesson, the cost is only $10 per 1 hour session which also includes 1 complimentary beverage from the lounge.

Cheers,

Kent Bird

Letter to Team Canada

T. White

Team Canada

It is with great pride and humility that I write this letter to you.  Our club was very surprised and most pleased to be chosen as the training site for the Canadian Men’s Curling Team as they prepared to represent Canada at the winter Olympics in Beijing in February 2022.  There are many fine curling facilities in Western Canada so to be chosen was both a privilege and an honour.  We truly appreciate the recognition.

In light of the rapidly spreading covid pandemic and in keeping with your wishes, we have tried to keep our interaction with the team to a bare minimum.  However, we have appreciated the opportunities where our curling community has been able to watch some practices from the upstairs lounge.  The limited interactions with the players, from afar, has formed a bond that will be remembered long after the Olympics.  Our icemakers, Kent and Nic, have enjoyed their late evening/early morning interactions with the team, especially Nic’s birthday which will be a memorable one for him.  While it has been a largely unheralded event in our community in general, it has been a much-needed positive experience for our curling community in particular. 

I trust that Abbotsford has been able to provide a positive training experience for the team.  I hope that the community has made you feel welcome and at home.  I assume that our little curling club has made you feel comfortable and has been able to meet your needs.  We have always been very proud of the quality of our ice. I hope you had a great surface on which to practice your craft and hone your skills.

Like all Canadians we will be following Olympic curling with great interest during the month of February.  This year there will be a little extra tug of the heart strings when we see Team Canada take to the ice. 

Please accept these club pins as a token of our appreciation. On behalf of the members of the Abbotsford Curling Club and the Board of Directors, I wish you the Best of Luck. 

Go Canada Go!!

Gord Wallington.

President, Abbotsford Curling Club.  

Cc: Kent Bird, Manager, Abbotsford Curling Club.

T. White

Attention Curlers!

The BC health orders end February 16th. Our Ladies Bonspiel at the Abbotsford Curling Club is scheduled for February 18-20. The bonspiel fee will be collected only when it proceeds, and you walk in the building on Friday of the event. No risk to you! So if you want to curl show your love and sign up for a good time of curling and tea!

5-Week Daytime Learn to Curl

T. White

We are hosting a 5-week Learn to Curl program Feb. 23 – Mar. 30, on Wednesday afternoons from 2:00 – 4:00pm.

We welcome and encourage you to come join us for five weeks of fun on the ice. We will provide the equipment needed to curl: brooms, grippers and sticks for those interested. As well, each session will begin with a 30 minute curling lesson or review for those of you who haven’t curled for a while. Following the lesson you will be broken into teams with some experienced curlers and play a game.

If you are concerned about getting into the hack, many senior curlers today have chosen to curl with a push stick. This is a safe, effective way to throw a rock and has allowed many senior curlers to continue to enjoy the game that they love.

After curling, come upstairs to socialize with fellow curlers and enjoy a beverage of your choice.

Contact Tina Hinds (604) 853-8644 or tinahinds7@gmail.com for details or to register.

Learn to Curl Daytime Feb-Mar 2022Download