A world champion curler introduced the game to Grade 4/5 students at Harwin Elementary School today (Friday) in Prince George.
Scotland’s Tom Brewster was part of Team Great Britain during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia where he picked up a silver medal.
Brewster told MyPGNow.com it’s always good to give the next generation of curlers a helping hand.
“It’s really nice to be involved in things like this and to get an opportunity to put something back into the game working with the kids, I have kids that are this age as well so I absolutely love showing them my medal and getting involved, it’s good fun.”
Brewster adds the game has grown by leaps and bounds over the past two decades.
“The whole sport has evolved and it has changed so much in the last 20 years it’s incredible from where it started to now, it’s a different sport as the top athletes are full-time now compared to what they used to be.”
As for how Brewster got introduced to the game, he came by it honestly thanks to his family and friends.
“We had friends that were playing in the national championship and that kind of inspired me to really want to progress and be successful in the sport.”
Brewster’s playing days are now done but he is still involved in the game as he is the ice rink manager at Curl Aberdeen in Scotland.
He hopes to pass some of his knowledge on to his son who is an aspiring curler himself.
“My son is really keen to play the sport at a high level and I am not pushing him in any way but I am giving him all the encouragement he needs and wants – if he wants to do it I want to help him as much as I can.”
1991 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Champion Curler Karri Willms also spoke at the event.
Willms, who is from BC, also picked up a silver medal at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Winnipeg that same year.
She also represented Canada at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France while curling was still a demonstration sport, earning a bronze medal.
Willms played Julie and Jodie Sutton along with Melissa Soligo where they were all inducted into the BC Curling Hall of Fame in 1996.
Willms also coached on the international stage with Italy (2012) and Latvia (2013, 2014).
The appearance ties into the festivities of the World Women’s Curling Championship that get underway next month from CN Centre.
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