Curling her way to the national stage

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This article was published 20/03/2017 (3425 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Paige Beaudry is hoping to help Manitoba make a little curling history next month.

Beaudry, who is in Grade 12 at Collège Béliveau, will be part of the women’s team representing the province at the first-ever U18 Canadian Boys and Girls Curling Championships, operated by Curling Canada, which will be held in Moncton, N.B. from April 18 to 22.

The Royalwood resident plays lead for Team Mackenzie Zacharias, which qualified for the nationals by winning the recent provincials — the Asham U18 Championships — at the Springfield Curling Club in Dugald, Man. Also on the team, which is coached by Sheldon Zacharias, are Morgan Reimer and Emily Zacharias.

“It’s pretty crazy,” said Beaudry, who also a member of Team Smith in the Hardline Curling/Team McEwen Junior Super League at the St. Vital Curling Club.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet that we won the provincials. It’s very exciting to be going to the first national championships. I’ve never really been out that way.”

At this point, Beaudry has no predictions about how Team Zacharias will fare in Moncton. For her, the most important part is having the opportunity to be involved in the experience.

“I have no real expectations, and I’m super excited to be going there. The most important thing is that we play well and enjoy the experience,” she said.    

Beaudry, who also enjoys playing soccer in the spring and summer, was exposed to curling at a young age, and considering she has been a member of St. Vital CC’s junior program for the past 12 years, it’s little wonder growing up in this environment has fostered her passion and talent for the sport. For starters, her father, Guy, is the club’s junior director. And then there’s the small matter of the club being the home rink to the Olympic gold medal-winning Team Jennifer Jones.

“My passion for curling started with my parents, who actually met when they were curling, so the odds were stacked in my favour,” Beaudry said, adding she will probably be heading to the University of Manitoba when she graduates, although nothing has been confirmed yet.

“And Team Jennifer Jones has been a huge influence, ever since I was little and wanted to be like Jennifer. That team has reached a level that we can all aspire to be at.”

Another benefit of playing a sport that consists of relatively small teams is the bond that develops between teammates, Beaudry said.

“You become close with the people you play with, who become good friends and like sisters, in a way.”

Beaudry would also encourage young people who may not have taken part in curling to consider giving the sport a try.

“It’s a lot of fun, and a very social sport. You don’t even necessarily need to be good at it, you just need to have a blast,” she said.

Go online at www.curling.ca to learn more about Curling Canada.  

Visit www.stvitalcurling.ca to learn more about St. Vital CC.

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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