The rocks are out and the rings are ready for the first event on the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tour.
The Princess Auto Elite 10 kicks off Wednesday in Chatham-Kent at the St. Clair College Thames Campus Arena with the first round robin draw at 7 p.m.
It’s the first time women will be included in the Elite 10 and champion curlers like Jennifer Jones are pretty excited about it.
“The Grand Slams are always a lot of fun to play in,” said Jones. “We’re trying to go out there and have some fun and enjoy the format and see what we can do.”
The style of play during the Elite 10 is different than many curling tournaments, including what audiences may have seen by watching the Olympics.
“The Elite 10 is a unique format and we don’t get to play it very often,” said Jones. “You can take some more chances. If you have a bad end, it’s not the end of the game. As long as at the end of the day you win more ends than the other team.”
Many women curlers have already been on the ice to start the quadrennial (because of the Olympics, most curling teams operate in a four-year rotation), but the men are hitting the sheets for the first time this season.
For Jones and her team, they’re also working in a new teammate.
“We did take some time off this summer so we’re just getting back on the ice,” said Jones. “Trying to work out team systems of communication… everything you’d have to do with a new teammate.”
Jones is looking forward to the atmosphere Chatham-Kent has to offer.
“The best events that we’ve played in are where people are seeing curling for the first time,” said Jones. “The atmosphere is always a lot of fun.”
After Wednesday night’s first round robin, Thursday through Saturday are full days of curling action. Women’s and men’s finals are on Sunday.