Just when you thought you understood curling, along comes something new: mixed doubles.
Forget about the team of four: lead, second, vice and skip. Mixed doubles teams have only two players, one male and one female.
Each game begins with a pre-placed stone. And instead of eight rocks a side, there are only five - with one curler playing the first and fifth rocks, and the other, rocks No. 2, 3 and 4.
It’s fast-paced, strategic, and brand new.
Mixed doubles debuted at the 2018 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea – and Canada won gold.
On Feb. 23, the Bradford Curling Club will be hosting a Mixed Doubles Bonspiel – not only to introduce the sport to Bradford West Gwillimbury, but to celebrate National Curling Day in Canada.
National Curling Day is designed to showcase “the game, the incredible people and our curling rinks that are key parts of the community,” according to Curling Canada. It is a sport that is open to anyone, “regardless of age or ability.”
Bradford Curling Club President Brian Febel invites the community to come out and see for themselves on Feb. 23. The bonspiel starts at 9:30 a.m., continues all day, with two full draws featuring every level of expertise on the ice.
The club is located at 125 Simcoe Rd., beside the Bradford and District Memorial Community Centre. Everyone is invited to come out, watch the curlers, and learn more about the sport and its history.
For more information see bradfordcurlingclub.ca.
