Lacrosse may be Canada's official national sport and hockey its most notorious, but curling has a long history in this country with a committed following of spectators and athletes.
Owen Hayward, head ice technician and Gibsons curling club manager, spent 15 minutes on the phone with another ice techie talking enthusiastically about "greening and keening" and "single or double pebble" and "I can get three feet of curl" but "watch your overlap of the pebbling, man, or it will densify."
Hayward learned to make rinks under the tutelage of B.C.'s Dave Merklinger, a world-renowned ice technician who is one of two chosen to make the ice for the 2010 Olympics.
"It's an art as much as it is a science," Hayward said.
Hayward got his start as an apprentice ice maker at the Royal City Curling Club in New Westminster, B.C. before going on to take courses through Curl B.C. and the Recreational Facilities Association. He is a history buff on the sport and can tell stories about the archaeological discovery of Scotland's first curling rocks to the evolution of the equipment used today.
He said the Gibsons club has a couple of things that make it unique. They have top quality rocks made partly of Blue Hone Scottish granite and a water purification system. That, along with a good dehumidifier and a strong group of league volunteers, keeps the rink busy.
Hayward said, "It's more than full time. I put in six days a week of 10 to 12 hours a day for seven months of the year."
The club was built in 1976 and in its heyday had around 350 members. Today Hayward said there are about 200 and not many young people. Its upkeep falls under the jurisdiction of the Sunshine Coast Regional District.
He said all grades 8 to 12 physical education students took four lessons in curling last winter, and some talented young women showed interest. Scheduling conflicted, so there is no youth league presently.
The club is offering a $1,000 bursary for a 2009 graduate who is interested in learning ice making from Hayward and learning the ropes about running the rink.
In its second week of play, the biggest league is the senior men's with 14 teams playing Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and at 1 p.m.
Skip Bob Hodgson said the league would be short 20 or more players if it had not been for the invention of the delivery stick that allows curlers to release the rock from a standing position rather than kneeling to slide out of the hack.
Hayward said, "Initially there was resistance to it, but the stigma is disappearing and people are back out there socializing and playing the game."
Hayward said the most competitive curling for spectators interested in coming down to the club for a drink and live sport is Monday night at 7:30 for the open mixed group of six teams.
Tuesday night is the women's league with room for one more team to enter, and Wednesday is the mixed league, which also has room for spares. Thursday is the regular men's league with 10 teams on two draws at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
"It's pretty good curling. They say they aren't competitive, but they are," Hayward said. "There are some working-aged men and some seniors."
On Thursdays at 12:30 p.m., there is an open mixed league that is "very relaxed and convivial," and on Saturdays, a dozen or more Special Olympic athletes take to the ice at 12:30 p.m.
"Last year they went to their first bonspiel in Langley and won a few games too," Hayward said.
Saturdays are also a time for anyone who is curious to try out the sport or practise. There is a pro shop on site with low prices compared to the city, Hayward said.
He also stressed that it is not an exclusive club and the public is welcome to come in to buy a bite to eat or a drink as they catch up on this strategic game for all ages.
