Curling with an Open mind

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/01/2016 (3795 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Most of the time, Derek Samagalski would agree throwing rocks is serious business, where every shot could count towards a big win or championship.

But sometimes, he’s out on the ice with a bunch of buddies, guys who go by nicknames such as Butthead and Kinger. The curling club is rocking, the taps are flowing, and there’s not much more resting on the game than the chance to buy — or be treated to — another round.

“The beer tastes the same, whether you win or lose,” Samagalski laughs, and there’s one time every winter when that is especially true.

Once again, it’s time for the Manitoba Open, the biggest and oldest annual curling brouhaha the world has ever known.

For generations, few Manitoban curlers have been able to resist the pull of the former MCA Bonspiel, which kicks off Thursday. That goes for beer-leaguers. It goes for budding contenders. It even goes for top players such as Samagalski, 2012 Brier all-star and current second on Manitoba champion Team Reid Carruthers.

Sure, most of the time Samagalski is hopping between grand slams and practice. At the Manitoba Open, though, he’s stepping outside his usual lineup, and playing skip for his casual team of golfing pals. “It’s like a dream come true,” he says. “I don’t have to sweep, and I get to boss them around.”

Call it a hallowed part of the Manitoba Open tradition, this casual collision of the province’s best players, dedicated hobbyists and total beginners. Surely, that is part of why it has lasted for 128 years, and is still ticking. Or freezing. Or hitting. Or, just tipping back the Caesars and drinking.

Those key features remain the same, but the bonspiel itself has changed. This is the third year since the event’s big 2014 rebranding, which saw the MCA Bonspiel become the Manitoba Open and begin welcoming junior curlers and women. It’s also the third year entries have been capped at 256 teams.

This time, though, there is a slight dent. While the 2014 and 2015 events sold out, as of Monday there were still two open slots for the full bonspiel. It’s not a huge problem — it just means some teams will get early byes — though Curl Manitoba director Craig Baker said they’re open to late applications.

“We would definitely take them, just to fill it as much as we could,” Baker said.

“I don’t know the reason why (it didn’t fill up). It’s earlier this year, I don’t know if that plays into it. We definitely have to look at that, and figure it out.”

One thing’s for sure, it’s not for lack of social entertainment. That’s long been the event’s focus, to act as something of a living advertisement for the colourful characters and spaces that define Winnipeg’s curling culture. On that end, Baker said, they’re wide open to new ideas going forward.

“We would love to get to the point where we can expand again,” Baker said. “Make it a fun, social experience and promote the game itself. Part of what we have to do is try to get people back into the clubs curling. We have to think of unique things around this bonspiel to help do that.”

Of course, it’s not all about the laughs. With three Manitoba men’s Viterra Championship berths up for grabs, the Manitoba Open can be a big opportunity for rising teams. In fact, Samagalski won a provincials berth at his debut MCA Bonspiel in 2006, playing second with Carruthers.

The team ended up making it all the way to the final that year, where they lost to Jeff Stoughton.

Still, it’s fair to say most teams aren’t entering the Manitoba Open with dreams of provincial or Brier glory dancing through their minds. Nah, most of them are there for the same reasons as Samagalski: friends, fun, a chance to tour the city’s eclectic curling clubs — and of course, the love of the game.

“This is more of just going back to good ol’ days where if you miss a shot here and there you don’t have to worry about it,” Samagalski says. “It’s that anticipation, when you look to see where you’re playing. You get to play against teams you don’t get to see. It’s a lot of fun.”

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca