Hoping to inspire future curlers

Shannon LeClair 

Times Reporter

 

Students at Brentwood Elementary School were treated to curling lessons through the Rocks and Rings program, put on by Capital One and the Canadian Curling Association. 

Rocks and Rings is an indoor simulated curling event. 

Each class had a chance to head to the gym and try dry curling, while learning basic terminology and having fun.  

“I think curling is starting to die a little bit in Canada, not die, but it’s not thriving as well as it was 20 years ago. I think this is an effort for Rocks and Rings to try and get interest, and just raise awareness about the sport,” said Craig Jantzen, who spends five days a week teaching kids in different schools all over southern Alberta. He was at Brentwood school for two days last week. 

“It’s not a crazy, intense sport as far as physically demanding, but it is a good social sport that people can do for their lives.” 

Each class is 40 minutes of instruction and fun. The students never have to travel, all the equipment is brought to them. At the end of the program, each participant is given a Capital One Rocks and Rings Graduation Certificate. The two kits Jantzen brought with him are worth a total of approximately $1,000. He said he has been using them five days a week, with about seven classes a day, since November and the equipment doesn’t seem to be wearing down. 

Staff members at Brentwood school said they would like to be able to purchase the kits some day and use them as a part of their physical education curriculum.