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Hurry Hard: the Fort St. James Curling Club awaits you

The 2015/2016 curling season is fast approaching and we are ready to go.

Helen Frederick

Submitted

The 2015/2016 curling season for the Fort St. James Curling Club is fast approaching. We, the dedicated curlers, are ready to go and can’t wait for that ice to go in but as with many small town organizations, it is an ongoing struggle to keep things moving.

There are many reasons for this: changing demographics, local economy and employment changes, the ever present challenge to keep people physically active and of course the general lack of knowledge about the sport for those who have never tried it.

For those of us who are passionate about the sport, it is often hard to understand why more people aren’t showing up at the beginning of the year and why more people are not interested in learning a new sport.

The blame probably lies largely on us who take it for granted because we have experienced the benefits and just assume that others would want to do the same. We understand that curling is a sport that can be experienced by people of any age and physical ability and that you don’t have to be an athletic person to be good at it. This doesn’t mean that it does not provide a significant level of healthy physical activity. It simply means you don’t have to be a super athlete to enjoy the game and still get some exercise.

The social aspect of the game is probably one of the main reasons that people return to it each year. The camaraderie experienced when you put a team together is invaluable; be it four friends in the ladies or men’s league or up to ten members for a mixed team or even if just dropping in for casual curling on Thursday mornings. And it is especially so when coupled with a little friendly competitiveness when playing against your friends on opposing teams or on a weekend bonspiel.

Having a reason to give yourself that push to get out of the house once or twice a week during those long winter months is another great incentive to take up this social sport. The statement, “I didn’t want to have to leave the house tonight but it sure feels good once you get here,” is heard frequently.

The long standing members of the FSJ Curling Club are committed to keeping our club alive. We would like to welcome new curlers and welcome back curlers who have taken a break from the game.

Whether you are a high school student looking for a new way to hang out with your friends, someone new to town and looking for a way to socialize and meet people, someone whose always thought they should try curling or maybe even a seasoned curler looking to get back in the game, the club members are more than willing to help you get started.

Check out this web site for some excellent information and videos about the sport of curling and call someone in the club for more information on how to get involved in a great Canadian sport. http://www.curling.ca/about-the-sport-of-curling/

Don Martin: 250-996-7010

Gladys Hart: 250-996-7709

Helen Frederick: 250-996-0119

Terri-Lee MacDougall: 250-996-2294