REGINA — The 2026 Winter Olympics may be over, but local curling clubs are feeling the impact from the buzz.
Regina’s Caledonian Curling Club, board president Patty Kenaschuk said major events like the Olympics lead to more intrigue in curling.
“We definitely get a lot more inquiries about the sport. A few people come out and try it,” she noted.
Elsewhere, Brad Hebert, general manager of the Highland Curling Club, said they’ve received numerous calls about learning how to curl.
“[They ask], how can I potentially get involved in curling, even if I've never curled before? So, absolutely, [Olympics] generate some interest for sure.”
Unlike other sports, Kenaschuk said curling is more accessible for all ages, making it easier to try.
“Everybody can curl. We are now getting into it. We've got the wheelchair curling, we've got stick curling, we've got curling for all age groups, we've got double curling, and we've got four-person curling. So we have something for everyone.”
Hebert noted curling is a cheaper option compared to other sports.
“[You] really only just need a pair of shoes, a slider, and a broom, and you're good to go.”
The Olympics not only play a factor in getting new people into curling, but it also helps motivate regular players.
“They see Rachel Homan made this shot [and say] I can make this shot. I do think that our typical league curlers are going for the bigger, better shots and trying things that they normally wouldn't do,” said Kenaschuk.
Curling in Regina has seen a slow resurgence after a decline due to COVID-19.
“We’ve [seen] definitely consistency in the last two years. We are increasing our teams, probably an average of 10 to 15 new teams per season, over the last couple of years,” noted Kenaschuk.
Hebert mentioned their club has returned to pre-pandemic numbers, and the Olympics hype will continue the momentum.
“We're still always looking to grow the game where we can.”
