Chris Price will get a ‘sturling opportunity’ to compete in his first 55+ BC Games in Kelowna.
Sturling, or stick curling, is a modified version of ice curling. It features teams of two and allows participants with physical challenges such as knee, back, heart shoulder, wrist or foot problems to enjoy the sport. Curlers use a stick to deliver the stone either from standing or sitting positions.
The sport is going to make its debut at the 2019 55+ games this year.
Two teams from the Parksville Qualicum Beach area qualified to compete in the inaugural sturling competition at the games. Price and his partner Reg Johanson will represent Zone 2 as Team A, and the husband and wife tandem of Ron and Lorna Schwartz will head to Kelowna as Zone 2’s Team B.
Price said he’s never been to Kelowna and that this will be his debut in the 55+ games.
“I am looking forward to my first senior games,” said Price, who used to curl the traditional way until hip issues led him to move to stick curling.
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Aside from competing, Price have taken another role. He has volunteered to be the BC Senior Games Society Zone 2: Vancouver Island North representative for Area 2 (Nanoose Bay to Deep Bay).
“I took this task for two reasons,” said Price. “One is this is going to be the first year for sturling. I am a person that wants to be very much promote stick curling. This I saw, sort of, runs parallel to what I have been doing with the Parksville Curling Club. And I actually hoping we can introduce more seniors and more people 55 years and older to stick curling because it’s a way to stay fit and involved. It’s a recreational sport.”
Price said when he attended BC Senior Games meeting for Zone 2, there was a vacancy for Area 2 and he thought it was a “good fit” to already what he was doing for stick curling.
“My job is now to try and encourage more people to go and compete in Kelowna,” said Price.
The games feature a wide variety of sports and events that Price said can be interesting for seniors.
Price said he wants to be able to direct people interested in going to Kelowna to the right contact for specific sports and also provide information. The Kelowna games will be held Sept. 10-14.
Participants from across the province will compete in 31 different sports. Kelowna’s list of sports offered is larger than typical for the games, and is currently set to include triathlon, fast-pitch, sturling, and 8 ball as first-time events.
Formerly the BC Senior Games, the games prides itself on its diverse offering of sport, with emphasis on the range of interests included and offerings for all physical abilities.
To give seniors in Parksville Qualicum Beach area an opportunity to check out the sports and opportunities that may spark their interest, Price is organizing “Give It A Try” in partnership with the Regional District of Nanaimo Recreation Department and the BC Senior Games Society, both of whom will be funding the event. Dates have not been confirmed yet.
Anyone interested in participating in the 55+ BC Games can go online at https://www.55plusbcgames.org/zones/zone2/ to check out the dates for any of the sports playdowns as well as the contact for each sports.