LAC LA BICHE - With the curling season now underway, the Lac La Biche Curling Club is preparing to host its first tournament of the season, the Funspiel.
Dylan Maskalyk, President of the Lac La Biche Curling Club, said this year’s Funspiel slides onto the schedule Saturday Dec. 9. The event is open to any team-of-four combination — men, women, seniors or kids. The entry fee for each team is $200.
It’s the third year for the day of curling. And like the name implies, says Maskalyk, it’s for anyone looking for a fun time on the curling ice.
“We started this event to encourage new curlers of all ages to come out for a less-competitive, fun-oriented bonspiel," he said.
Traditionally, the tournament — which is not like a regular bonspiel with A, B and C event brackets — has consisted of three six-end games for each team. Maskalyk expects the one-day competition will draw at least 12 teams.
There are prizes up for grabs, some for individual games and players and also for the overall winners.
Over the years, most teams that compete in the Funspiel are from the local area, but occasionally, the event does draw teams from other parts of Alberta and even beyond. Last year’s event featured a visitor from Texas who hit the ice for the first time.
“He enjoyed it so much that he plans to come back again this year,” Maskalyk said.
More events
In addition to the Funspiel, the Lac La Biche Curling Club will be hosting three more tournaments in the new year. These include the one-day Men’s Bonspiel on Jan. 20, a themed Ladies Bonspiel from March 15-16, and the club’s farewell event of the season, the Mixed Bonspiel from April 4 to 7.
