The great northern sport of curling grew up and remains in the history of Europe and North America. This tundra-thrilling sport was first played in Scotland during late medieval times around the year 1541, and has grown into the Olympic Sport us Canadians thrive for. Here at Riverside, we have lots of students that share a love for the sport, and our team is shaping up to place in the Provincials in January.
“Team involvement is what wins the game, if everyone doesn’t get into it, you can’t win,” said Riverside Curler Joshua Miki. As the team made the provincials last year, their coach and Riverside teacher David Romani has high hopes for the team, and is confident they have the skills to make it.
“Our team has good leadership, experience and are always able to overcome adversity when faced with it,” said Mr. Romani. “Adversities as a team can have big negative impacts, the important keys are to always have a positive attitude, never let the mental part of the game get to you,” said Miki.
Curling clubs are growing to be very popular, with groups and exclusive benefits, curling has some of the coolest sports clubs out there being around since 1716 when the first claimed curling club “Kilsyth Curling Club” in Colzium Kilsyth, Scotland. The sport has been introduced to lots of other countries throughout the 18 and 19 century by the Scots like the United States, Switzerland, and Sweden and right here in Canada. Canada holds the oldest North American curling club in Montreal since 1807 and in the United States, 1830. A lot of recently built clubs throughout the 20 and the 21 century also have features to make the clubs as enjoyable as possible, some new clubs to visit in British Columbia: Royal City Curling Club in New Westminster, Vancouver Curling Club and Cloverdale Curling Rink.
The game of curling has mostly developed strongly in Canada and the Scandinavian countries as well as Great Britain, and lots of Asian and Oceanian countries are excited to join in on the sport in the Olympics. Lots are joining in at South Korea where the next Winter Olympics of 2018 will be held at Pyeongchang. Of course if you’re a local fan, fear not, Canada has established the CCA “Canadian Curling Association” and hosts all of the games between provinces and exhibition teams on TV for all to see!
“When I was seven years old, my stepfather came into my life and embraced me in the sport of curling, he brought me to a curling club, put my foot in a tissue box and told me to slide, and thanks to him, I keep sliding and love to play with him, he’s my personal coach and continues to excel me in the sport,” said Riverside student and curling enthusiast Matthew McCrady.
“My most memorable moment was winning my first provincial in 2014 at Lake Cowichan,” said McCrady.
