We need your help! Fall, the traditional start to the curling season, will soon arrive. We have a short (6 question) survey for all curlers who play within the MoPac region. The information will help guide our Board as we plan for the upcoming curling season. Please consider taking the survey. Thank you!
Mountain Pacific Curling Association
Go West. Curl West.
Author: Sonia Montero (page 1 of 2)
Bonspiels are a time of coming together with curling friends, sharing games, broomstacking and making memories. The December 7th weekend event at Coyotes Curling Club was such a bonspiel, but it was also an opportunity to fundraise for San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club’s dedicated ice project. The event brought in 16 teams from Coyotes and Bay Area but also from Las Vegas CC, Hollywood CC, Orange County CC, Denver CC, Silicon Valley CC and Wine Country CC. The funds raised made an inroad into the project funding and helped make it possible for construction to continue into the planned Oakland, California facility. “We are all so appreciative,” says Kimberly Chapin, event coordinator for SFBACC. “We would not have done anything differently.”
Calizona Dreamin’ came about due to the suggestion and enthusiasm of Coyotes member Wesley (Wes) Seeger. Wes, formerly of SFBACC, asked Coyotes CC Board to consider providing the ice time, and they immediately agreed. Not only did the Club provide the ice for the two-day event but they also provided Coyotes CC volunteers, bartenders, and an ice crew for the weekend. The Saturday banquet was also catered by Coyotes CC member and Club Nationals 2019 winning skip, Mike Siggins, whose restaurant Pasta Brioni got praises for the dinner. Such a generous contribution to SFBACC’s cause is a noteworthy example of a club helping another sister club. While the event was a fundraiser, it also renewed the spirits of those who have worked so long to make Bay Area dedicated ice a reality. “Our members have really missed being on the ice together, and this was just what was needed,” commented Chapin. “It was also beneficial to see what it takes to operate a facility.”
The SFBACC bonspiel committee wanted to offer a unique format and decided on a skins spiel. Four pools of four teams played three 6-end skins games on Saturday. The two teams with the most skins from each pool then advanced to the playoffs on Sunday. In all games, teams were awarded with cash for each skin won. And due to the number of teams most players only had one draw off the ice before going back on. The alternate draws gave teams a chance to stay at the rink and catch up with friends or try an ‘international’ tequila tasting event, with special guest pourer Adriana Camarena, skip of Team Mexico’s women’s team. On Sunday the Hot Shots event gave curlers a chance to keep curling on Sunday and try their skills. Players consistently remarked about how fun it was to play a different format, so SFBACC is definitely planning to offer a skins spiel!
Thanks to generous donations from SFBACC and CCC members, the bonspiel also hosted a silent auction and raffle. Using the online auction app Bidr also helped elevate the number of silent auction bids. Available were two brooms signed by the 2014 Olympic teams, a hat autographed by the Jennifer Jones 2018 Scotties rink, fit bits, a bottle of Don Pilar Tequila, a Matt Hamilton Bobblehead, green fees at an exclusive golf course and several pieces of original artwork. SFBACC happily met its fundraising goals after a successful weekend. “Our spirits were lifted by everyone’s generosity and spirit of curling,” observed Chapin. Their dedicated ice project is back on track, thanks in part to the CCC, as well as so many others in the curling community. Look for exciting news in February 2020. In thee meantime, the Club continues to fundraise and will accept additional donations through the website at http://www.dedicatedice.com/donate/ Once their facility is opened, SFBACC leadership plan to pay it forward. “We know what it takes now. We can help others in the future.” The spirit of curling lives on!
Winners – Team Devlin 
Runners up – Team Siggins 
Semi finalists – Team Raju
We are extremely excited about the growth of junior curling in the MoPac region and we are looking to host an U18 playdown tournament to determine who will represent the region at the U18 Nationals! We are currently reaching out to alert all member clubs, coaches and players eligible to participate in U18 Nationals who have formed their teams. Players must be members of a MoPac member club, less than 18 years of age at any time during the 30th of June 2019, and a US resident. A team can have players from different MoPac member clubs on one team. Interested teams should submit an email to Cameron Kim at mopacca.competitions@gmail.com with the team members and coach listed by September 30. In early October, coaches will be contacted to schedule the playdown on a weekend that is amenable to schedules and ice availability.
Please direct any U18 Playdown questions to Cameron Kim at mopacca.competitions@gmail.com.
It happened. Nevada has its first dedicated curling rink. Lake Tahoe, the blue jewel in the high sierras, now has another reason for people to visit. Lake Tahoe Epic Curling (LTEC) has sparked much buzz with its new two sheet facility. Located a short distance from the South Lake Tahoe casinos the facility is currently being tested by its members and lucky learn-to-curl participants. “It’s been truly amazing and such an exciting time for our little club!,” says Club president Edith Hazard, “We’ve been working hard to get this done and it’s wonderful to see it come together.” The build began October 2018 in a refurbished building that also houses the Lake Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
Grid system being laid down
Chiller being connected
The rink is currently still being built out; phase one is done – the ice is in. Phase two will see the warm room completed by September. A viewing area, locker rooms and a kitchen area will round out the facility. At the moment the rink is not fully open for business but as soon as the building is done, LTEC hopes to begin planning events. “As soon as we get our occupancy permits we hope to open our doors,” assures President Hazard, “and hopefully invite other clubs to showcase our rink.” In future LTEC plans to hold many events and hopes the curling community will make the trip to play. From all accounts the LTEC new rink is set to become a popular destination located in the picturesque town.
Sheets installed
Where: 128 Market St, Unit 1A, Stateline, Nevada 89449, off Hwy 207.
For more information: @LakeTahoeEpicCurling and www.ltec.org
Who is ISS? USA Curling announces partnership with ISS Ice, Sports and Solar Systems
As May comes to a close we look back at the great turnout by teams from the MoPac region at the 2019 Arena National Championship. Clubs from the region showed up in numbers; teams from Las Vegas Curling Club, San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club, Silicon Valley Curling Club and Wine Country Curling Club made their way to West Chester, Pennsylvania for the week-long competition.
Diane Palme, Amanda Chang, Melissa Wheeler, Mary Riordan & Jennifer Asis
The Silicon Valley Curling Club ladies team ended on a victorious note, securing the bronze after an exciting week which saw them come back in one game to score 3 points in the eighth end to take the game. Their final victory came after they got past the Wine Country Curling Club ladies.
For all final standings and results visit the USCA 2019 Arena Nationals site. And stay tuned for next year when the Arena National Championship travels to Gillette, Wyoming.
Photo of Silicon Valley Curling Club ladies team courtesy of Andy Carle.
Heartfelt congratulations go out to the 2019 Club National Championship men’s team winners from Coyotes Curling Club known as Team Siggins: Michael Siggins, Adam Endicott, Travis Gaddie and Eric Kowal. The team was one of two men’s teams participating from the MoPac region.
(Photo courtesy of USA Curling)
Also taking home the accolades was the women’s bronze-winning team also from Coyotes Curling Club known as Team Burton: Jayne Burton, Tatiana Keeling, Amy Thompson and Kim Gaddie.
(Photo courtesy of USA Curling)
Both teams participated in the Club Nationals Championships together with clubs from Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Washington and Wisconsin. The event was held this year at the Dakota Curling Club in Lakesville, Minnesota. Also participating from MoPac were men’s Team LeClair: Bob LeClair, Greg Gallagher, Jeff Baird, Tom Danielson and women’s Team Aubrey: Debra Aubrey, Luba Brock, Cassandra Matras, Kimber Maroney.
We are very proud of all of our teams and hope that Team Siggins’ victory stands as an example of what is possible for curlers from our region.
MoPac proudly announced the honorees selected for the 2019 International Tankard which took place from March 29-31st at the Abbotsford Curling Club, Abbotsford, British Columbia.
In addition to those attending the Tankard all Tankard volunteer honorees received the Timothy Max Irish Volunteer Service Award for 2019. Congratulations to every one of our deserving honorees. Their contributions to their respective clubs and the region as a whole will always be greatly appreciated!
Honorees attending the International Tankard
- Jay Diamond, Silicon Valley Curling Club/Granite Curling Club of California
- Katie Feldman, Wine Country Curling Club
- Lucinda Tutterow, Ogden Curling Club
- Andy Carle, Silicon Valley Curling Club
Additional Volunteer Honorees
- David Twohig, Coyotes Curling Club
- Bruce Irvin, Evergreen Curling Club
- BriAnna Weldon, San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club
- Bruce Johnson, Wine Country Curling Club
Opens today at 12 noon (PST).
For full info, please see the 5 and Under event page for more information and follow MoPac 5&U on Facebook
Here’s a chance to see world-class curling in person – in our region.
Watching the 2019 World Financial Group Continental Cup is a great way to start the new year. Two winners per eligible MoPac club will receive tickets to all games January 17-20, 2019 in Las Vegas!! (Travel and Hotel not included.) Tickets to be awarded in the spirit of giving back to the curling community.
Hey curlers, contact your clubs for specific contest requirements and guidelines for this..and remember to share your love of curling with the world. http://LasVegasCurling.rocks #VegasRocks @LVCurlingRocks
Thanks to @VegasCurlingRocks for their support
Winners agree to participate in MoPac, USCA and Las Vegas Rocks promotion, including photos and interviews.
It has been quite an active summer for member clubs in the MoPac region. Bonspiels, learn-to-curls, summer leagues, clinics, outreach events – we saw them all. Here are some highlights.
Golden Gate Bonspiel 2018 Opening Ceremony
Kudos again to the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club & the Silicon Valley Curling Club for kicking summer off with a fantastic Golden Gate Bonspiel.
Attendees, instructors & coaches at Junior Camp
Hotter than Hell Bonspiel
Cache Valley Stone Society & Coeur d’Alene Curling Club, among others, held learn-to-curl events for eager newbies. Coyotes Curling Club saw it all – they hosted the 2nd Annual AZ Junior Curling Camp (part of US Junior Curling Camps) – giving the next generation a chance to learn under the guidance of USCA certified instructors and coaches. Their No Ice, No Broom, No Problem Shuffleboard Pub Crawl was rousing fun and the Hotter Than Hell Bonspiel at Coyotes Curling Club also brought old and new friends together for a fun spiel in the dessert.
And speaking of heat, Hollywood Curling sizzled with events – hosting the largest bonspiel in the region as well as opening a third location in the Los Angeles area. (See the full story here.)
Boise Curling Club enjoyed a summer party and managed to bring the floor curl out into the sunshine. 
Utah Olympic Oval Curling Club‘s rink got an update to its chilling equipment in anticipation of a busy season. Curl San Diego enjoyed success at the Blockbuster Megaspiel and began planning its Fall activities in July! 
Las Vegas Curling Club kept it cool with new scoreboards and a summer league that included ‘The Accelerator’ in their Summer League finals – sounds impressive.
Granite Curling Club of California shared the love of curling in Riverside, California and collaborated with instruction on the basics of preparing arena ice for curling sessions. Salt Lake Magazine – Best of the Beehive Edition voted Park City Curling Club the best sports club to join for post-Olympic fever. And Silicon Valley Curling Club practiced their broomstacking skills and even took in a bit of lawn bowling. 
Woah! Orange County Curling Club hosted the Rock the Derby Mini Cashspiel – complete with bowties, fedoras and frilly hats.
Horses await their jockeys at Rock the Derby
Rounding out the summer season, Wine Country Curling Club & the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club hosted the NorCal Curling Clinic.
NorCal Curling Clinic debriefing
The Crush 2018 Opening Ceremony
Wine County also got busy with the famed Crush Bonspiel as the final summer hoorah. Nice job to all the Clubs. Thanks also to all the clubs for their photos. Now on to Fall 2018!!
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