PCCC2022 Preview

 #BetweenTheSheets: Pan Continental Curling Championship Preview

New event brings together two regions and a new qualification system 

"Continuity gives us roots;

change gives us branches,

letting us stretch and 

grow and reach new heights."

- Pauline R. Kezer

Continuity in curling is to continue the #growthesport mantra. Increased representation from more countries around the world continues to showcase curling as a global, international sport.

The sport will sprout a new branch in Calgary from October 31 - November 6 when the inaugural Pan Continental Curling Championships hit the ice at Winsport Arena.

For some nations, they will grow and reach new heights just through their participation in this event.

For others, this event serves as a stepping stone to the world championships, which could be new or renewed heights for a few nations.

Change can foster positive growth in sport and we will see this come to fruition with this new event.

And, as Sheryl Crow famously sang, "A change can do you good."

Power Rankings - W13

#BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings

Grande Prairie rocked the mountain

The second event on the Grand Slam of Curling calendar came to an end over the weekend. The Tour Challenge crowned its Tier I and Tier II champions.

And the results caused some movement on Power Rankings mountain.

A new #1 for the men?

Is the gap closing for the women?

And what about the Tier II champions? One is already a fixture on the mountain while the other makes a triumphant return.

Plus we celebrate our first world champions of the season.

Tour Challenge Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Tour Challenge Preview

Setting a record with 64 teams competing

Knock, Knock

Who's there?

Orange

Orange who?

Orange you glad it's Tour Challenge Time?!

The same joke was used back in the 2019 Tour Challenge preview so I thought it was time to bring it back from the dead.

Some of you may not have laughed and would prefer it stay dead.

Hey, you cannot please everyone all the time but the "little blog that could" will try.

The Tour Challenge is one of my favourite events of the curling season. I love the Tier I and Tier II concept. I love bringing together this many high-quality teams to one event.

Plus my favourite colour is orange so I love the orange rings. 🟠

Again, a comment made in 2019 I will resurrect here but these orange rings really do look like a Tide pod sometimes.

What can you do while watching the Tour Challenge? Laundry of course...

Power Rankings - W12

#BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings

Welcome to the "In Between"

Are you familiar with the term "The In Between"?

The In-Between is a metaphysical concept where spirits of the dead linger until their unfinished business is settled. The spirits are between worlds, not in the world of the living and not in the world of spirits.

Spooky, no?

But also a perfect description of what this past weekend was for World Curling Tour action.

We just wrapped up a slam. Next week starts another slam.

And for most teams who will compete in Grande Prairie next week, this was an in between week.

Most have unfinished business awaiting them at the Tour Challenge.

Some will be competing in the Tier II competition, believing they have unsettled business of making the leap onto Tier I ice.

Oh there is some unfinished business for a majority of the teams competing this week...but until then, the teams sit inside "The In Between".

Perfect Halloween theme too, right?

#WMxCC2022 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: World Mixed Curling Championship Preview

Ready to crown the first world champion of the season? 

The Season of Champions is upon us.

While the tour season has been underway for a number of weeks, the World Curling Federation Season of Champions is about to hit the ice for their first championship.

And this is a special one....namely because it has not been held since 2019 due to COVID.

We may have missed out on a 2020 and 2021 championship BUT curling fans can get excited for the 2022 World Mixed Curling Championship!

Power Rankings - W11

#BetweenTheSheet: Power Rankings

How did the BOOST National shake up the mountain?

The season is officially under way when we conclude a Grand Slam of Curling event, yes?

We certainly saw some great curling in North Bay over the past week.

We saw a few upsets. We see you Team Hoesli and Team Keiser!!

But in the end, we saw very familiar slam champions once again prevail over the competition.

New season, new teams, similar results?!