71 Days until the Pre-Trials Starts!!! 163 days until the Olympics!!

The season is finally here… and for some, it already started two months ago!  That’s right there has been ice in Canada for two months and a number of our top teams have been taking advantage of it.  There are now a number of clubs across Canada currently putting their ice in and you will see a large percentage of Trials and Pre-Trials teams getting started – if they haven’t already.   At the National Training Center in Calgary we have ice being prepared to get started on September 5th – with four Pre-Trials/Trials teams coming in for the weekend to get a few days of on and off ice practice. This may arguably be the top 32 team field assembled for a Trials process and those who will be in attendance at the Pre-Trials and Trials will be in for some of the best curling in the world.  It’s hard to imagine some of these teams getting better – but trust me – they are working hard to do so.  Each team has created their own support system with help from their team coach and their National Team Program Consultant from the CCA.   All 32 teams are getting some type of funding to help ensure their readiness for Vancouver 2010…….remember longshots have had a history of winning at the Trials!! In terms of the Olympic process things are proceeding nicely in Vancouver.  Below is a picture of the outside of the Vanouver Olympic Center (where curling will be played) And here is one from the inside – during the recent World Junior Championships: As you can see it will be a very intimate stadium.  This facility will be a multipurpose rec centre in Vancouver with the whole goal in mind being legacy.  Arguably curling could have been played in a NHL or WHL style facility however the Vancouver 2010 committee opted for a smaller setting within city limits.  This will be the first time curling has been in the host city – the last three Olympic games it has been hosted at a smaller venue outside the major center. You can read online about the concerns over the Athlete’s Village – not that it won’t be completed – but who is going to pay for it.  Thankfully the BC government is helping to foot the bill and Canada’s multi-million dollar ocean views will still be in tact!! Keep in touch on all the latest.  Here we go on BC Bound