Curling for Everyone!

While fall proclaims a new school year for parents and children, it also signals the beginning of the new curling season. Canadians have always taken their curling very seriously, and can justifiably look for medals (gold preferably) when it comes to the World Championships and the Olympic Winter Games.

As leading experts of the game, an important element of continuing high levels of participation and global domination is to ensure that the grassroots level is continuously developed.  One of the great benefits to the sport of curling is that it is a highly social sport that can be enjoyed across the lifespan.

Introducing this safe and inexpensive game to children in a way that they would not otherwise have access is key to attraction and retention, building the sport’s foundation. The Capital One Rocks & Rings program is designed to introduce the Olympic sport of curling to elementary school children, by bringing the curling rink to the school gymnasium. The unique floor curling equipment provides a realistic curling experience without the need for ice!  A highly interactive program with an emphasis on fun, the program is now entering its’ fourth year reaching over 160,000 Canadian students coast to coast, a testament to the popularity of the sport. The program also employs 40 instructors across the country this season, creating jobs for youth and providing them with opportunities to develop coaching and leadership skills.

So, while the Canadian Curling Association and clubs around the country gear up for a new curling competitive and recreational season, maybe now is the time to find out if your child will become the world’s next great curler and enjoy a generation of curling fun!

Contact SIRC for more information on curling!

E.J. Harnden

E.J. Harnden est le deuxième joueur de l’équipe olympique canadienne de curling. Il a la chance de partager l’honneur de représenter son pays avec son frère Ryan, qui est le chef d’équipe. Mais les liens familiaux ne s’arrêtent pas là. Lorsqu’il a participé au tournoi Brier en 2008, il faisait partie d’une équipe menée par son père, Eric. Il est également cousin avec Brad Jacobs, chef actuel de l’Équipe Canada. L’équipe actuelle d’E.J. a connu beaucoup de succès depuis sa formation en 2012. Elle a remporté le premier tournoi Brier pour le Nord de l’Ontario depuis 1985, avant de gagner la compétition Roar of the Rings cette année, qui lui donnait le droit de représenter le Canada aux Jeux Olympiques.

Renseignements généraux:

Date de naissance : 14 avril 1983
Lieu de naissance : Sault-Sainte-Marie (Ontario)
Résidence : Sault-Sainte-Marie (Ontario)
Taille/poids : 185 cm/84 kg
Entraîneur : Rick Lang
Twitter : @eharnden83
Site Web : http://www.teambradjacobs.com/
COC : http://olympique.ca/team-canada/ej-harnden/

E.J. Harnden

E.J. Harnden is the second on the Canadian Olympic Curling team. Harnden is lucky to share this amazing accomplishment with his brother Ryan who is the lead on the team. The family ties for curling run even deeper than that, when he attended the Brier in 2008 it was on a team skipped by his father Eric. He and his brother are also cousins to the current skip of Team Canada Brad Jacobs. The current foursome has had great success since starting to play together in 2012. They won the first Brier for Northern Ontario since 1985 before winning the Roar of the Rings this year for the right to represent their country at the Olympics.

General Information:

Date of Birth: April 14, 1983
Birthplace: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Residence: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Height/Weight: 185 cm/ 84 kg
Coach: Rick Lang
Twitter: @eharnden83
Website: http://www.teambradjacobs.com/
COC: http://olympic.ca/team-canada/ej-harnden/

Wheelchair Curling

The 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic Games are set to begin on March 7. Since wheelchair curling made its Paralympic debut in Torino in 2006, Canada has been the only country to stand atop the podium as Paralympic gold medalists. The 2014 Sochi Games represent another opportunity for the Canadian wheelchair curling team to continue its dominance and cement Canada as the world’s greatest curling nation.

 The team comes into these games as the reigning world champions, a feat they accomplished in Sochi a year ago. It will be lead by skip Jim Armstrong who will be joined by Ina Forrest and Sonja Gaudet, who is perhaps the world’s most decorated wheelchair curler. Sonja has 2 gold medals, which she won at the Torino and Vancouver Games. She is also a 3-time wheelchair curling world champion, winning titles in 2009, 2011, and 2013. With all her great accomplishments, Sonja has been awarded the honour of being the Canadian flag-bearer for the 2014 Sochi Paralympics opening ceremonies.  Dennis Thiessen and alternate Mark Ideson will also be joining this experienced group.

Each wheelchair curling team has 4 members in all. The game consists of 8 ends. Teams are comprised of both males and females who have significant lower leg mobility impairments including spinal injuries, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and double leg amputation. Players often use a wheelchair for daily mobility. In the game itself, there is no sweeping and the athlete’s wheelchair has to be stationary during the throw, which is more of a slide. The rock can be thrown by hand or it can be pushed by a cue or pushing stick. At the finish of each end, the team with the rock closest to the center of the house is awarded one point  for each of its own rocks that is closer to the centre than the opponent's closest rock.

Wheelchair Curling Lingo

• House – The area within the concentric circles at each end of the sheet. 
• Skip – captain of the team, the person who calls the shots. 
• Rock or stone - a curling rock is made of rare, dense granite that is quarried on Scotland's Ailsa Craig. Each rock weighs 19.1kg and is polished. 

The Canadian wheelchair curling team is scheduled to begin its quest to defend its gold medal on March 8 at the Ice Cube Curling Center. The 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games will take place from March 7 to 16. For television listing, news updates and additional coverage, follow the CBC Paralympic website page.

References Available from SIRC Collection:

1. Blachford K. Chess on ice: if you're looking for an activity with a little less contact - and chance of broken bones - than basketball or quad rugby, check out wheelchair curling. Sports 'N Spokes Magazine. January 2003;29(1):10-15.

2. Giving Wheelchair Curling a Second Chance. Palaestra. March 2009;24(4):11.

3. In The Game. Sports 'N Spokes Magazine. May 2013;39(3):8-13.

4. Miller R, Washington K. CHAPTER 48: EVENTS FOR ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES. Sports Marketing [serial online]. January 2011;:238-241.

5. Murray E. PARALYMPIC Exuberance. Sports 'N Spokes Magazine [serial online]. May 2010;36(3):46-57.

6. Preparing for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games: coaches perspective. Coaches Plan/Plan Du Coach [serial online]. 2010 2009;16(4):42.