Giddy-up folks, because Powell River Curling Club will be crossing the frontier once again for its annual Summer Bonspiel, held August 9 through 12 at Hap Parker Arena in Powell River Recreation Complex. Rock slingers from up and down the coast will be duelling throughout the weekend to see just who’s the best in the west.
This year’s theme, if it isn’t already rather apparent, is the Wild West, and organizers have planned four days of fun for a record number of local and out-of-town teams.
“It’s always a trick to fill it and get 32 teams but this year we’re really close and our goal is to get 32,” said the event’s media director Mike Cameron. “People are showing more interest this year.
“This year our furthest-travelled team will be Seattle but 14 teams out of 30 are from out of town which is good,” he continued, adding that rinks from Squamish, Nanaimo, Comox, Richmond and Maple Ridge will all be represented.
“A lot of the teams from out of town, they make a holiday out of it,” he said. “They camp at the complex, they spend a week up here, they curl, they have some fun.”
Curling will take place during the day with evenings left free for social activities including a meet and greet on Thursday, August 9, a barbecue chow-down on Friday, August 10 and a banquet dinner and dance the following evening with live entertainment by Jumpin’ Jim Baron and his outlaw band. Semifinals and finals will take place throughout the day on Sunday, August 12.
Cameron encouraged the public to come and watch in the stands throughout the weekend. “There’s 19 draws over the course of the four days,” he said. “That’s quite a bit of curling.” Games begin at noon on the Thursday and continue all day Friday, Saturday and most of Sunday.
The bonspiel, now in its 11th year, has become a popular summer event for local curlers and many who return annually from out of town. Powell River Curling Club is unable to make ice during the summer at its regular home in Cranberry so for many members, it’s the only chance to curl during the warmer months.
“It’s kind of neat to use the complex for it,” said Cameron. “It’s a lot different curling in the complex. It’s arena ice and arena ice is different than curling ice because it is generally faster and straighter and it is not cold out there. You can actually curl in your short sleeves.”
Short sleeves, and perhaps a cowboy hat as well.
