Female Athlete of the Week: Emma Miskew

This week’s female Athlete of the Week is Emma Miskew of Ottawa, Ontario. Birthdate: Feb. 14, 1989 Birthplace: Ottawa Hometown: Ottawa Curling Club: Ottawa Curling Club Current Team: Rachel Homan Position: Vice-skip Delivery: Right Nickname: Em Getting to know Emma Miskew There were early hints that the partnership of third Emma Miskew and skip Rachel Homan was going to produce some amazing things. Nearly a decade ago, the pair teamed up to win the first of four Ontario bantam (16 and under) girls championship, a feat that may never be repeated. Along the way, Miskew also earned a gold medal at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, a gold medal at the prestigious Optimist International juvenile championship in 2006, and gold medals at the 2006 and 2004 Ontario Winter Games. Since then, Miskew has turned into one of the country’s rising stars at vice-skip, as the Homan team embarks on its first full season on the women’s circuit. Miskew has proven her mettle often against top women’s teams over the past few seasons, even though she was still eligible for juniors. During the 2008-09 campaign, the squad finished 10th on the Canadian Team Ranking System, and became the youngest team ever to qualify for the Asham World Curling Tour’s Players’ Championship, where it qualified for the playoffs in Grande Prairie, Alta., and also earned AWCT Rookie Team of the Year honours. Those results landed the Homan team a spot in the Tim Hortons Road to the Roar Pre-Trials Tournament in Prince George, B.C. Playing the women’s teams obviously benefitted Miskew and her teammates; they won their first Ontario junior title in 2009, and went to finish second to Manitoba’s Kaitlyn Lawes at the M and M Meat Shops national junior championships that year in Salmon Arm, B.C. Then last season, the team finally reached the pinnacle of Canadian junior curling, winning the national championship in Sorely-Tracy, Que., where Miskew was named the first all-star team, and then going on to bring home a silver medal from the world junior championship in Flims, Switzerland. Miskew does some coaching in her spare time, and her feats have been recognized at her high school, as she was named her school’s Athlete of the Year in 2007, and also won a visual arts and crafts award the same year.

Click thumbnail to enlarge (Photo: CCA/Brennan Schnell)

Click thumbnail to enlarge (Photo: CCA/Brennan Schnell)

Click thumbnail to enlarge (Photo: CCA/Brennan Schnell)

Quick Hits with Emma Miskew Do you have any superstitions? “I wear the same socks until we lose (I know, gross!). I need to follow a pretty similar routine for the most part before every game.” Three people, living or not, whom you would invite to a dinner party. “Roger Federer, Audrey Hepburn, Walt Disney.” If you could be a star any other sport, what would it be, and why? “Tennis. I just love the sport; so much fun to play, and I could meet and compete against some great athletes.” If you could change any rule in curling, which one would it be, and why? “That at a world championship, you can throw regardless of the skip being in the house or not (haha! May have done that by accident at worlds and had a rock pulled!).” What music do you like to listen to before a game? “Hip hop, upbeat dance music.” Favourite: — Website? “Our team website! www.teamhoman.com.” — Order from Tim Hortons? “Everything bagel with herb and garlic cream cheese, along with a large tea, one milk, one sugar.” — Vacation destination? “Dominican Republic.” — Junk food? “Ice cream, chocolate chip flavour.” Do you have any pet peeves? “Many; not cleaning up after yourself and leaving a mess is the biggest one.” Three things you always travel with? “Toothbrush, pyjamas and sweatpants.” First thing on your Bucket List? “Tour all around Europe.” Favourite pastime between draws at cashspiels? “TV, napping and homework (not a favourite . . . ).” One thing most people don’t know about you? “I love drawing.” What is the biggest misconception about curlers? “That it isn’t a physical sport and we’re not in shape.” Your ideal shot to win an Olympic gold medal: “Draw to the button.”