Junior Program Overview
The Duluth Curling Club has a very active Junior program, with the three goals of providing a venue for organized games between young curlers, introducing young people to curling as a recreational winter sport, and developing the skills of existing young curlers who want to try for competitive excellence.
“Junior” in curling means anyone not yet 22 years old. The DCC Junior Program has age groups for children as young as 9.
Curling is a sport in which size, gender, strength, and speed are of no particular advantage. The helpful skills are balance, mental focus, and “touch”. In general, girls compete on an equal footing with boys. Curling is also a very civilized game with a strong tradition of etiquette, consideration, and courtesy towards your opponents. Frankly, if you can’t compete against someone without treating them like they are “the enemy”, then you may not enjoy curling. Its a great way to meet people and make friends, while learning a sport you can play for a lifetime. Anyone from the age of 9 to 21 is welcome in the Duluth Curling Club junior program. Club membership is not required.
The Junior Instruction Program
The 2010-2011 Junior Curling program starts November 2 at 4PM. A responsible adult must accompany the child for registration, which takes about a half hour. The session will be over at 6PM
This program is intended to introduce young new curlers to the “Roaring Game”. It runs for 15 weeks every winter, November to March with lessons on Tuesdays (4:00 to 6:00). Cost of the program is $75 for 15 weeks. The fee covers use of all the necessary equipment and facilities, USCA-certified instructors, and ice-time, plus subscriptions to the Curling Club Newsletter and the US Curling News, and entry fee for the Bert Payne Junior Bonspiel, one of North America’s premier junior curling events.
To talk to someone about, or sign up for, the Junior Instructional Program, please contact Junior Program Directors: Jon Fiskness (jfiskness@gmail.com) and Renee Meyers (rmeyers0202@gmail.com).
The Bert Payne Junior Bonspiel
America’s largest bonspiel for Junior teams is the Bert Payne Bonspiel in Duluth. The Bert Payne International has separate divisions for “competitive” (highly skilled) and “developing” (mostly teenagers, with a few few remarkable younger teams) and “recreational” (adolescent) teams. Junior teams from around the world have come to Duluth to participate in the Bert Payne, because it is a top world event. You will not find stronger competition this side of the Junior World Championships.
For a list of other junior bonspiels in the area, click here.
The Junior Development Program
In the past, DCC Junior teams have won state, national, and world titles. The “winningest” junior curler in history is a product of our development program, as were two of the MVP’s at the US Junior Championships in 2006 and a 2006 Olympic contender. The 2007 US National Junior Champions, both Boys and Girls, were led by Duluth juniors.
DCC provides extensive support for its youth teams. Anyone willing to put in the long-term time, sacrifice, and effort to compete at their very best level is welcome in our Development program.
Junior Memberships
Junior League Memberships cost $135 per year, which includes the $75 Junior Instruction Program fee. For all junior members, the ice at the Duluth Curling Club facility is open for practice and pick-up games, any time that organized play or maintenance is not in progress. View the reserved ice schedule. There are usually some younger people around after school hours on weekdays and almost all the time on free weekends. So join the club and curl every day!
