The Rocky Curling Club is gearing up for a busy 2024/2025 season, and are hoping folks new to the game of curling can come along for the ride.

The club will be setting the stage with its Annual General Meeting (AGM) Sept. 18.

League registration night will then be happening Sept. 25 at the Rocky Curling Club and Pidherney’s Curling Centre (5332 50 St., Rocky Mountain House).

Official league play is set to begin after Thanksgiving.

No matter your level of experience, there’s a curling program for you, says Richard Bonneau, president of the Rocky Curling Club.

• Monday mornings: Ladies’ fun league at 9 a.m.
• Monday afternoons: Juniors at 4 p.m.  Men’s league at 7 p.m.
• Tuesday mornings: Sturling at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
• Tuesday evenings: Juniors at 4 p.m. Ladies’ league at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday mornings: Town and Country league at 9 a.m.
• Wednesday evenings: Men’s league 7 p.m.
• Thursday mornings: Sturling starting at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
• Friday mornings: Fun league, where teams will rotate players
• Friday evenings: 4×4 curling

For those new to the game, Bonneau says 4×4 curling is a perfect introduction to the game, as it’s designed to take new curlers, put them with existing curlers, and teach them the game in a fun atmosphere.

4×4 curling runs for four Fridays in November, January and March.

As for another great introduction to the game, Bonneau says players can sign up for the shorter, more easy-going Sturling play throughout the week.

“The games last about an hour and 15 minutes. For those that don’t like the sweep, the only sweeping that occurs are from the hog line in as the stone is being brought towards your home,” says Bonneau. “It’s a fun game. It teaches a lot about draws more so than the hit game.”

Wednesdays will also feature Town and Country, which Bonneau says is best described as a daytime “open” league for any combination of curlers – male or female.

People can also sign up to be spares, says Bonneau. As long as you have a membership, you can be a spare in any of the leagues.

Pidherney’s Curling Centre & Rocky Curling Club. (94.5 Rewind Radio/Jordan Rein)

Additionally, Bonneau says the organization will hold a special, ‘learn to curl’ session on Friday Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Pidherney’s Curling Centre and Rocky Curling Club.

Bonneau says league fees are around $170 for the full leagues, with a reduced fee for Sturling, and $125 for the juniors.

The Club provides all the equipment for the new junior curler, he adds.

Several major bonspiels are planned through the season, says Bonneau. Those include the opening bonspiel Oct. 25-27, men’s, ladies’, and mixed bonspiels throughout the year, as well as the annual Kinsmen and Rocky Oilmen’s bonspiels in the New Year. 

The Club will also be selling raffle tickets starting the first week of October, says Bonneau. Prizes include Oilers and Flames tickets with cash to cover travel and other expenses, as well as other cash prizes.

Bonneau says the ice plant was fired up on Sept. 16, and estimates curling could be happening on the surface as soon as Oct. 11.

Click here for more information, or to sign up for the upcoming season online.