The Athabasca Curling Club Association and its numerous leagues have had member teams throwing rocks and sliding down the ice since October and still have a few months left in the season after Christmas.
“Chess on ice, I guess you could call it: trying to position your rocks. It’s a good social sport,” said Athabasca curler Wayne Schinkinger, who has played the sport for more than 30 years.
There are 17 ladies teams, 16 mens teams, nine mixed teams and six fun league teams this year.
“Some teams are (competitive), but some teams are just out for something to do,” said Schinkinger, who is a member of the men’s league and also plays in the mixed league.
The fun league is non-competitive and plays on Wednesday nights.
“The social part is upstairs afterwards in the lounge,” remarked Schinkinger.
The season will wrap up at the end of March, following a number of bonspiels at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
The mixed league bonspiel will be the second weekend in January, the ladies league bonspiel will be the second weekend in March, and the men’s league bonspiel is the fourth weekend of March.
All three bonspiels will start Friday night and span through Sunday. They may begin on Thursday if there are enough teams, according to Schinkinger.
