Eau Claire (WQOW) - A group of area kids had a chance to
try a unique sport today. The Eau Claire Curling Club held its first day of
junior competition today.
There was plenty, of slipping,
sliding, and shouting at the Eau
Claire County Expo Center
Saturday.
"It really does get
kind of crazy out there sometimes," said Jeff Thompson, Junior Curling
Coordinator for the Eau Claire Curling Club.
30 or more young athletes gave it
their best shot, or toss, at the sport of curling. Some participants are trying
it for the first time.
"We've got two more
college students in there, and they're just sort of giving them the basics of
the game. How to slide, how to throw the rock, how to sweep," Thompson
said.
It is an unusual sport that can be a
tough sell with so many other games to choose from.
"The big thing for
us as a club, for getting juniors involved, is getting them started
younger."
"By the time kids
get to middle school, high school, they've got their sports picked. They're a
soccer player, or they're a basketball player," said Thompson.
But for some kids here, its an easy
choice.
"My grandma and
grandpa curled, and they kind of got me into it. They started doing classes and
they told me I should take it. I really got interested in it when I took my
first class," said Kaiah Hurt of Eau
Claire.
And you don't need to be the
biggest, fastest, or strongest to play.
"Any body type,
with work and practice, and a certain amount of balance and skill, can play
curling at a very high level. So that's one of the best things about it,"
Thompson said.
The Junior Curling Club is open to
athletes from elementary school up to high school. It costs $40 for a year
round membership.
