Team SK Women
“What was your record?”
“Well…”
“Not well. Numbers. Cut and dry numbers. What was your record?”
“4 – 2”
“That’s a good record. We were 2-4.”
You mean Team Sask had a better record than Glenn Howard this weekend?!?
Talking to Glenn Howard and his team about sums up how exciting this week’s experience has been. Not only did we get to rub shoulders with curling’s elite we got to witness how the TV magic happens. Our team was chosen for the TSN truck tour meaning we got a behind the scenes play-by-play of the portable broadcast booth. We even got to choose a few of the camera screens shown on TV including a sweeping instant replay—because we all appreciate a good sweep.
From partying in the patch with some of curling’s greatest to meeting new friends, Team Sask wants to thank everyone who made this event a success. Friends, family, husbands, grandmas, mother-in-laws, aunties… the list goes on. We were truly surrounded by a sea of green; including all the export-Saskatchewan-ites who popped in to cheer us on!
Although we fell short of our ultimate goal, we are grateful for the opportunity to represent our province. We could not be more proud to have put on the green jacket and give it our all! Overall, some of our favorite people this week were the officials. They truly give up so much time and without them the event would not happen. We were honored to shake the hands of these great people—they are certainly special.
Thank you so much to our peers. You were all amazing competitors to be around and we had so much fun getting to know you all. They didn’t mind putting up with us either I guess! From giving our “biggest-little fan” a Team Yukon jersey, to voting our lead Calli Benko and Vice Jade Bloor for the sportsmanship awards, thank you.
#GirlPower! Shout out to the Leduc Curling Club’s fantastic ice maker for great playing conditions. The ice was second to none and truly a treat to play on. To the host committee, the Leduc Curling Club and all its volunteers—from drivers to timers—thank you. We recognize that there are a lot of moving parts to make a successful event so to all the people behind the scenes we know you are there, and we appreciate all of your hard work.
Curling is one of the greatest sports and we are grateful we get to call it ours! Until next time Saskatchewan (insert wink face).
Me and My House by Jade Bloor
I remember me and my house
Teeth chattering
In both anxiety and cold
Standing in procession like nervous soldiers before battle
A battle of etiquette, focus and control.
A battle of the self and the team.
And I remember me and my house
Sliding
Sweeping
And granite colliding.
A team of four. A team. Connected.
Standing united in all conditions,
Together, a team, proving the impossible.
Against physics.
And I remember me and my house.
“Yes, Hurry!”
Voices cracking, brooms scratching and hearts pounding
Cold air chapping our warm faces
Flush with the effort of 100 ft. of force,
Laughing at the grunts of strain as we slide back to our house.
Our home.
I remember me and our house
Deep breaths,
Cool moist air massaging our lungs as I try to slow my heart.
Control. Control. Calm.
Deep breaths of calm as my slider scratches the ice
Pebble breaking, heart pounding.
Heart pounding.
Oh and I remember me and our house
Waiting
Hoping
Holding our breath—
Muscles pounding, forwards, back—sweeping,
Gliding, watching, screaming… “Yes, no! quick! Room… HARD!”
Like time itself has stopped—we watch—
Tick, hit, roll—sweep, sweep, sweep…
The clock erupts. The house collides
And the team stares. Staring. Staring.
We did it.
We did it.
Together.
Never alone in our house.
