COLD LAKE - The Cold Lake Golf and Winter Club has been inviting residents to join their drop-in curling events, held every Tuesday and Thursday from 12-4, throughout the curling season. The initiative aims to provide an accessible opportunity for both new and experienced curlers to enjoy the sport.
Janese Nielson, Golf and Winter Club Programmer, says the program has been a recent addition due to logistical changes.
This year's program started later last year, in 2023, on Dec 27, “Ultimately, we've been doing this over the last couple of years, but typically it starts way earlier in the season. We usually try and get something kind of going in the November, and December months but unfortunately, there was a changeover in planners," Nielson explained.
The drop-in sessions are designed to welcome newcomers to the sport and give people a chance to experience curling before committing to leagues or clubs. The program offers an opportunity for anyone who is new to curling and wants to get a feel for the ice “and maybe throw out some rocks and see if it's something that they are interested in, if it's something they enjoy," Nielson explained.
"If you have some free time, to just pop on in and give it a go."
In terms of equipment, the club provides everything needed, except clean shoes.
"We provide the brooms, the sliders, obviously the rocks."
This approach makes it convenient for newcomers who do not have curling gear on hand but still want to participate.
Regarding the costs of admission to participate, Nielson explained it ranges from $5 to $10 per drop-in. This pricing structure aims to make the program accessible and affordable.
Junior clinic
Further to the drop-in curling, the club is also introducing a junior curling clinic starting in April.
"We're in the process of offering a junior curling clinic... It's every Friday starting in April and so we have some volunteers from our actual Curling Club that are doing the coaching, the training, the leading of any of our participants," Nielson explained.
The junior curling clinic will run from April 5 to 26 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is open to youth between the ages of 10 to 18.
The cost is $5 per lesson or $20 for the whole month.
