I am coach Ed.  Many of you have also known my predecessors coach Kathy and coach Maurice.  And many Friday night curlers have curled with athletes Jonathan and Art.  They are joined by Claire and Patrick on Thursday nights, 7pm, when our Special Olympians take to sheets 1 and/or 2.

On Thursday evening, November 28th, 2024, these four athletes competed in the 5th annual Special Olympics Virtual Curling Competition,  held across BC.   There were

43 teams registered; Burnaby (4), Campbell River (3), Coquitlam (1), Creston (1), Dawson Creek (1), Delta (2), Invermere (1), Kelowna (5), Langley (1), Oceanside (3), Powell River (1), Prince Rupert (3), Quesnel (3), Salmon Arm (1), Surrey (2), Vancouver (3), Vernon (4), Victoria (4)

SCORING: The ends are set up the same for all participants. Each team plays the end and the results are recorded. For each end that the team beats the virtual team the points earned are put on the scoreboard. After the virtual game a picture of the scoreboard is sent to the organizers and the winners are determined. The teams play 6 ends. The Creston Team registered in a more challenging division this year scoring 3 points thru 6 ends.

As coaches, we are volunteers. Why? We love to curl.  We are challenged by our athletes to empower them to curl.  Special Olympians are athletes with cognitive exceptionalities which present or manifest in multiple ways and under multiple circumstances.  Coaching these athletes is fascinating.  For example,  some of us were taught that when delivering a stone, we turn our rock’s handle from 2 o’clock to ten o’clock and vice-versa.  What if you were only taught to read a digital clock?  What if you are non-verbal and need to holler “hurry hard”?  Curling rules are the same, as athletes may deliver with a traditional slide or may use a delivery stick.

People of all abilities can learn to curl!  We need new curlers and new Special Olympians.

Thanks for your continued support.