Brandon’s Learn to Curl program grows game

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This article was published 20/11/2024 (400 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Curling Club has produced some big time names and hall of fame curlers, but recent efforts have been focused on growing the game at the grassroots level.

The Learn to Curl program offered by the club continues to grow, and I’m proof of that.

As someone who dabbled a bit in the game as a teenager, but never really played until recently, I’ve recently found myself eagerly looking forward to my Monday night game after officially being re-introduced to the game.

I’d heard about the Learn to Curl program at the Brandon Curling Club and decided to give it a try.

Here I am two years later as a regular league player and loving every second of it.

This even comes off a drubbing in my men’s league in which we were thrashed in five ends by Cam Toews’ rink.

It was far from our best game but we still had a few laughs and live to play another game despite the humbling. The re-introduction to the game cemented my love of the sport that didn’t really set when I first tried it as a teenager.

The Learn to Curl program is run by experienced curlers who are out there to share the love of the game and perhaps a little knowledge that makes it more enjoyable.

The Brandon Curling Club’s first session of the program is about halfway through, but a second session starts in January for any and all who have been considering it or are simply looking for a new way to get active.

“There’s experienced club members there every week to help people out. The first few weeks are just experiencing the game and things like learning how to deliver a rock, learning the basics of strategy, and then we start decreasing the instruction time and start increasing the game time,” said Sheldon Wettig.

Wettig is the club’s president and a well-known name in the game, having competed at the highest levels since the early 2000s.

While the program has helped bring new life to the game, the Learn to Curl program truly introduces the game to any and all that might be interested.

“Curling is a sport that’s accessible for anyone of any age and any background. We’ve got one lady in her 60s and one in her fifties, and we’ve got people in our youth curling programs as young as eight years old. It’s really about letting people know that you can start this game at any point in your life and it’s one of the most social, engaging, fun sports out there,” said Wettig.

Wettig’s experience in the game is taking new meaning this year as well.

After 11 years with the same team in the club’s Monday night men’s league, Wettig is entering a new chapter in the game this season.

When his son Bryson and his friend Austin Tutkaluk asked if they could curl with their dads in the Brandon Curling Club men’s league, it was a no-brainer.

“It’s that diversity that makes the game fun. You’re going to meet people from all walks of life,” Wettig added. “I’ve curled with people my own age obviously my whole life, but being able to curl with my 13 year-old son for the first time this year is probably one of the coolest curling experiences I’ve had and I’ve been lucky enough to curl at some of the highest levels.”

Tutkaluk’s dad Nolan is certainly no stranger to the game either, having curled with numerous players and teams in his 20 plus years with the club.

The elder Tutkaluk echoed Wettig’s sentiment about having their sons join them in the men’s league, which features players of every level of competition and experience, including some that are still hoping to perform well in the competitive ranks, some even hoping to qualify for provincial championships.

Both are quick to point out that having the younger generation pursue the next step in the sport is the most rewarding part.

“It’s nice that they’re showing interest in wanting to get more involved in the game, play the game, and learn more about the game,” said Nolan Tutkaluk. “Curling is struggling to see young participants wanting to play at higher levels so having programs like the Learn to Curl program get new people into the game is good to see.”

The 13-year-olds are now the youngest in the league, compared to some of those are that a little longer in the tooth.

The fact they’ll be competing alongside their dads against far more experienced players is a bit nerve-racking, but more fun than anything.

“I’ve gotten few tips from some of the other guys … and we’ve got two wins so far and get to play with more competitive curlers,” said the younger Tutkaluk prior to their Monday night league game against one of the most experienced teams in the league in the Murray Warren rink.

“I enjoyed the Friday night league last year, so I was excited for the chance to play with all the guys.”

Some in the league are into their 70s and still competing week-in, week-out, both for the fun of friendly competition but some are also chasing titles and the highest level of competition in the game.

Regardless of where their pursuits lie in the game, everyone is encouraging the younger players so far this season.

“He had his first taste in some recreational based games last year, so this is his first real taste of a bit more competitive atmosphere and it’s been great so far,” Nolan Tutkaluk said. “It’s fun for us and I’m pretty sure everyone else we’re playing against is excited to see them on the ice, and that’s as much of a pleasure as anything else.”

And here in lies the beauty of the game: whether you’re a relative newcomer or returnee to the game or chasing the highest levels of competition, you’ll conveniently find both opportunities here in Brandon and the numerous southwestern Manitoba curling clubs.

If you’re interested in joining the Learn to Curl program in the new year simply get in touch with Brandon Curling Club manager at brandoncurls@wcgwave.ca.

As middle-aged rookie in the game, I keep learning from both teammates and those we curl against. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that it really is about the community within the sport.

So if you have comments, feedback, or just want to chat the game and ideas for this column moving forward feel free to drop me a line.

In the meantime, see you at the rink.