While retaining the same name used by CurlSask events in the past, the new SCT is a ‘by athletes, for athletes’ venture featuring members of some of the top rinks in the province working together to build and retain top-level competition in the province.
Previously, each of the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles competitions were run by separate volunteer organizations. Now, all three are under one umbrella, and will be looking to deliver “conditions to prepare Saskatchewan athletes to compete at national and international levels, but in a local setting”, the SCT stated.
“The majority of Saskatchewan’s curlers are amateur athletes who balance their passion for curling with their professional, educational and family priorities,” said Christie Gamble, SCT president and a member of Penny Barker’s Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre foursome. “The SCT seeks to deliver high-performance competition while minimizing some of the financial and time constraints typically associated with out-of-province events, enabling greater inclusivity and accessibility to our athletes.”
One of the SCT’s early priorities is to further the development of mixed doubles, which has often ran into difficulties with scheduling alongside four-person men’s and women’s events.
“The formation of the Sask Curling Tour is positive news for our province’s curling athletes,” asid Steve Laycock, a 10-time Tim Horton’s Brier competitor and SCT committee member who won three of his seven provincial titles curling alongside Moose Jaw’s Pat Simmons in the late 2000s. “In addition to continuing the strong tradition of men’s and women’s competition in Saskatchewan, we’re especially excited by the opportunity this tour provides to grow mixed doubles curling in the province.”
The province’s governing body for the sport also gave the new group their blessing.
“CurlSask is delighted by the formation of the Sask Curling Tour,” said executive director Ashley Howard. “We applaud the efforts of these athlete volunteers to deliver more competitions that help grow our sport and provide revenue-generating opportunities to locally-operated curling clubs, many of which have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.”
Registration is now open for Men’s Tour, with the first event of the season taking place Sept. 3-6 at the Saskatoon Sutherland. Moose Jaw will host the seventh stop of the season Nov. 19-20.
The Women’s Tour will also play their first tournament at the Sutherland on Sept. 3-6, with registration opening Monday, Aug. 9. The Moose Jaw event will take place Nov. 5-7.
Both season-openers will feature 10-team limits.
The Mixed Doubles Tour opens on Sept. 10-12 at the Martensville Curling Club, with registration opening soon.
