麻豆社区

Nineteen Yukon curlers spent the weekend perfecting their deliveries at the Whitehorse Curling Club.

National coach Bill Tschirhart was back on the ice hosting a three-day development clinic for curlers hoping to gain a competitive edge.

Tschirhart, who has been hosting clinics in Whitehorse for years, focussed this time on understanding the curling delivery. He also spent time discussing mental balance and strategy tactics.

Following the official clinic, the 68-year-old from Lake Cowichan, B.C., spent some one-on-one time with Team Koltun, who represented the territory at the Scotties last season.

The women鈥檚 rink 鈥� made up of Sarah Koltun, Chelsea Duncan, Patty Wallingham and Jenna Duncan 鈥� will head to Saskatoon this weekend to compete in the Colonial Square Ladies Classic.

Tschirhart said the team continues to be exemplary role models for younger curlers in the Yukon.

鈥淭o have the youngest team in Scotties history come from the Yukon ... I鈥坔ope that other young women鈥檚 teams can say 鈥楬ey. You can be in the Yukon and be on the big stage,鈥欌�� Tschirhart said.

He pointed at the young rink skipped by Alyssa Meger as a prime example of a team who could one day follow in Koltun鈥檚 footsteps.

Meger and her teammates 鈥� Bayly Scoffin, Peyton L鈥橦enaff, and Karen Smallwood 鈥� were one of the teams on hand for the weekend clinic.

Tschirhart鈥檚 annual clinics benefit local curlers who are hoping to gain a competitive edge, said Yukon Curling Association (YCA) executive director Laura Eby.

Eby said the YCA has applied for government funding in hopes of launching learn-to-curl clinics in communities across the territory this year.

鈥淚t goes hand in hand with (the clinics),鈥� she said.

鈥淎fter they learn to curl, they curl for a couple years, and the development clinic is the perfect thing to help them improve on their skills.鈥�