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Bobby’s Blog #01 – Monday September 23rd, 2019
While most are clenching to the remnants of summer, the Granite Club is embracing the turning of seasons as such can only mean that Curling is not far away.
An Open House and Registration Night is planned for this Wednesday September 25th between 7pm – 9pm. All participants past, present and future are invited to attend for the purpose of gathering information, speaking to staff and volunteers about how to get started, and registering on the spot. Light snacks and beverages will be served complimentary of the house.
There are leagues available for all ages and abilities of athletes; during the day or in the evening; beginning in October, December, or February; and where you can bring a full team, partial team, or but yourself to be added to a roster.
New playing opportunities this season include an Under-14 and Under-10 league on Sundays from 3:30pm – 5pm, an Under-18 (high school) league on Mondays from 3:30pm – 5pm, a doubles (2-on-2) league Mondays from 8:30pm – 10pm, and a teaches’ league on the second Friday of each month from 4pm – 5:30pm.
Several new learning opportunities have also found their way to the schedule this season as result of hiring North Bay’s first-ever Regional Curling Professional.
Laura Johnston, a former Ontario Winter Games winning Skip and Vice-Skip of the reigning Northern Ontario Mixed Curling champions, is taking on the responsibility of training youth and adult curlers, as well as to operate the club’s Pro Shop and nurture the growth of the sport through the greater North Bay area.
Brand new curlers are encouraged to enroll in a 7-week “Learn to Curl” program of which there is a session for kids under the age of ten offered on Tuesdays from 4pm – 5pm; a session for kids under the age of eighteen Thursdays from 4pm – 5pm; and options for adults (age sixteen and above) Sundays at 7pm, Tuesdays at 9am, and Wednesdays at 6pm.
A weekly themed clinic for adults will also be organized Mondays at 8:30pm and Tuesdays at 11am, with the first session on October 28th and 29th being “Curling 101: Back to Basics”. There isn’t anyone that can’t use a refresher on such matters as balance, hack set-up, body positioning, and other essential details while getting back into the swing of things.
At last, it’s time to register for the season-opening Community Bonspiel on Saturday October 19th where a division for full-on rookie teams as well as a pro/am with a maximum of two members will be offered. This event is designed with the public in mind at a low cost of $30/person for three 4-end Curling games, lunch, snacks, trivia, dinner, and live music all happening between noon and midnight. Complimentary instruction will be available the night before.
For more information on everything Curling in the gateway city visit northbaycurling.com.
Bobby Ray General Manager North Bay Granite Club