The 2014 Jiffy Lube Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts begins at the multiplex Wednesday, bringing 48 of Alberta’s top female curlers to Sylvan Lake to compete.
The tournament, which runs until Sunday (Jan. 12) will see the top 12 teams in the province battling against one another for the chance to represent Alberta at the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Previous participants in the tournament have gone on to receive national and international accolades in the sport, and have even participated in the Olympics, making the tournament an important stop for some of the country’s most competitive curlers.
Lesley Hill, one of the host committee members, described its level of competition as “world class”.
She’s delighted to see such a high calibre of curling once again returning to Sylvan Lake, not long after the town hosted it in 2009.
“(It went) really well,” she said. “I think that’s the reason we got it back within five years.
“When you think of the number of communities in Alberta, to get it twice in five years is pretty amazing.”
The tournament is held in a different town or city each year.
Teams qualify based on their standings in previous competitions, and through regional playdowns.
Hill estimated that potentially somewhere between 500 and 1,000 people could converge on Sylvan Lake for the five-day tournament.
Many hotels in town are already fully booked, she said.
The 48 participating curlers will be joined by 12 coaches, 200 volunteers - some of whom are local - and a television crew of between 30 and 40 that will broadcast the tournament’s final day.
Spectators from in and around the area and curlers’ families will also add to attendance.
As well as benefitting the town economically, Hill hopes the tournament will increase local interest in the sport.
“We’ve invited the schools to send classes down to some of the daytime draws, and the last time they came, I think they were really impressed,” said Hill. “It’s a pretty impressive sport to watch, and even the kids can appreciate it.”
Hill added that the tournament would be of particular interest to children who are currently learning curling through physical education classes.
Teams will spend Tuesday afternoon practicing, and the first draw will take place 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Wednesday includes a meet-and-greet during which spectators may spend time getting to know players.
“That’s open to the public to come and sit down with them and talk to them and find out that they’re real people,” said Hill. “We want people to come and make the curlers feel welcome - that’s really important.”
A variety of ticketing options are available for people attending the tournament.
Individual draw tickets range from $10 to $25, while event passes are priced between $100 and $200, depending on seating selection.
Hill hopes the tournament will attract a large number of spectators from both in town and around the province.
“We’ve got lots of room and it’s pretty cheap entertainment for what you get,” she said. “It is just outstanding curling.”
Further details, including a schedule and ticketing information, are available on the tournament’s website at www.albertascotties2014.com.