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Maybe Later

Red Deer Curling Classic postponed due to enhanced COVID-19 restrictions

Nov 13, 2020 | 4:51 PM

Two-week enhanced measures aimed at curbing a surge in COVID-19 cases have forced the postponement of the Red Deer Curling Classic.

The annual World Curling Tour event was slated to hit the ice at the Pidherney Centre from Nov. 27-30.

General Manager Wade Thurber admits postponing the event is disappointing.

“We’re trying to postpone it and play it on a different weekend,” he explained. “We had 24 men’s teams and 22 ladies teams, so we’ll see going forward, that might change. Normally we take 28 men’s and 28 ladies but we’re not allowed any international teams, of course, and some other provinces aren’t allowing their teams to leave the province, so it was basically Alberta teams.”

Thurber says the plan now will be to check with those teams to see if they’re able to take part at a later date.

“We might have been able to start on Nov. 28, but we weren’t trusting the government to not extend the deadline. So we thought we should just move it and play it day-by-day and hopefully we’re good to go by November 28 again.”

After starting the local curling season on Oct. 13, Thurber anticipates this current shutdown to bring up other concerns as well.

“There’s some financial concerns there for the club,” says Thurber. “But we’re going to try and extend our season by two weeks so we can make up for the two weeks we lost. Hopefully the lockdown for us isn’t any longer than the two weeks.”

Thurber notes that public health officials have previously deemed curling a low-contact sport, so he’s confident the game can be played safely when activities resume.

He points out staggered start times to avoid congestion in the lobbies, hand sanitizing stations, wipes out on the ice area so players can wipe down rock handles, extra cleaning and disinfecting by staff at high touch points like tables and chairs, and masking of course.

“We’ve done everything that AHS has asked us to do and in the curling world, most clubs are doing these things,” suggests Thurber. “And I think there’s a point where people have to look after themselves too, so make sure you’re washing your hands and sanitizing and if you’re not feeling well, stay home. We’ve just got to hang in there and hopefully we’re good to go and resume when we do and hopefully finish out the season.”