A Rimbey ladies’ curling team has qualified for the 55+ Alberta Seniors Games after defeating teams from Red Deer and Lacombe in the zone 4 finals.
Debbie Ratzlaff’s team of Mikki Collis, Anna Ledieu and Connie Jenson emerged victorious at the playdowns held in Red Deer on Dec. 1.
The ladies are excited about qualifying for the Games to be held in Calgary in February.
“We struggled in the first four ends of the first game and a bit in the second game, but we won in the end,” said Collis.
“We got a little lucky,” added Ledieu.
The ladies agreed the Games will be “exciting.”
Both Collis and Ledieu use a stick when delivering their rock rather than shooting it from the traditional kneeling and sliding position. Using a stick enables a curler to deliver a rock from a standing position. The stick extends from the curler’s hand and attaches to the rock handle.
While this method of delivery takes getting used to, it enables curlers who may have problems with their knees or backs to continue to curl.
“It’s all in the rhythm,” said Collis. “You just have to practice.”
Ledieu, who has problems with her knees, said using a stick is the only way she can continue to curl.
“Some people think it’s an advantage. It might be, but you can still mess up your game whether you use a stick or not.”