Curling is finally back in Sylvan Lake after a long hiatus due to the construction of the NexSource Centre. To mark the grand opening of the new Curling Club at the NexSource Centre, the Club will be hosting their first bonspiel of the year, the Sylvan Lake Spring Fling Curling Bonspiel, during the grand opening of the NexSource Centre, May 12-14.
“We are excited to be back and it is a rare opportunity to offer some curling in the middle of May,” Bonspiel Organizer Dave Brand said. “We hope that the weather is good, that way people can curl and then go golfing or down to the lake.”
The Club is currently hosting a Spring League at the NexSource Centre, and to Brand’s surprise, curling is on the rise in Sylvan Lake.
“The new curler league on Tuesday nights is full,” Brand said. “We have 20 teams, so two full draw times with over 80 curlers. A lot of the teams have more than four curlers, so they rotate through. That’s almost 100 people new to curling in Sylvan Lake and that is exciting to see. That is what will grow the sport.”
The rise in interest coincides perfectly with the five new sheets opening up in town.
“The Club has been waiting for three years and everyone is excited to be back in,” Brand said. “One of the comments we heard coming in was that we had to do a Spring League coming back - it’s your first chance to be back in the new building.”
The Spring League eventually led to the push for a spring bonspiel.
“The Sylvan Spring Fling Bonspiel will be taking place during the NexSource Centre’s grand opening weekend, which is May 12-14th,” Brand said. “The Bonspiel has three divisions - mens, womens and open - which we call ‘anything goes’. Any level of curler can join in that. You are guaranteed three games and a dinner on Saturday night, with entertainment with that. There are cash prizes for each win, which is nice because that is what you take home at the end of the day.”
To help the day run smoothly, the Club is currently looking for volunteers.
“The Club is looking for volunteers - particularly for the 50/50 draw, which will be running throughout the weekend,” Brand said. “People can contact the Club at sylvanlakecurling@gmail.com and let us know they want to volunteer. That would be wonderful.”
Curlers will be able to enjoy all the new amenities of the NexSource Centre.
“The Viewpoint Lounge is amazing,” Brand said. “It has good views out onto the ice surfaces. With the grand opening, there will be a lot of buzz in the building. Being able to enjoy refreshments and beverages up there will be really exciting. The lounge people are super excited because they have their kegs coming in from Troubled Monk Brewery. They are excited to serve local craft brews right on tap, and that will be really neat.”
Brand added “we are excited to have the facility back and the curlers have given great feedback.”
To register for the bonspiel, you can email sylvanlakecurling@gmail.com or on log onto the website at sylvanspringfling.eventbrite.ca.
todd.vaughan@sylvanlakenews.com