Corryn Brown says she has learned lots of great things about the Cariboo and is looking forward to coming to Quesnel to play in the 2019 Scotties BC Women’s Provincial Championship at the end of the month.
Her team, which welcomed a new member this year, has had an excellent season so far.
“Our success was unexpected at the beginning as we had a bit of a shake up with Ashley Klymchuk coming to to play as lead after our long time team mate Samantha Fisher took a step away from the game to concentrate on school,” Brown says.
“We were a new team, so we didn’t know how things were going to go but we started of with a bang by winning the first event we played in and it’s been very good since then as well.”
The team; which is made up of Corryn Brown as skip, Erin Pincott as third, Dezaray Hawes as second and Ashley Klymchuk as lead; won the King Cash Spiel at Maple Ridge’s Golden Ears Curling Club and followed that up with another victory in Kelowna at the Sunset Ranch Double Cash tournament.
They also produced solid efforts outside of B.C.
“We went to two out-of-province spiels this year, so that was really key to our success,” Brown says, “Just seeing a bit of a different field and travelling really helps.
“It makes you know each other a bit better when you’re out of your comfort zone.”
The squad won three games at the Autumn Gold Curling Classic in Calgary, which they were pleased with considering the top calibre competition they were up against; and qualified at the Red Deer Curling Class, making their way to the quarter finals.
One of the the big perks of playing in Quesnel will be the arena ice on which the contest will be held.
“It’s definitely a different beast than club ice,” Brown says, ” I love it personally.
“There’s a lot more curl and it feels a lot different under-foot when you’re sliding, so it’s key to make sure you have a good rotation and you’re out to the broom because it’ll take off on you if you’re not positive with the throw.”
The team has been getting a little help practicing for the conditions at their home club in Kamloops.
“Our ice maker does a good job of trying to replicate it by sanding the rocks and potentially dishing the ice just to somewhat imitate it.”
With just weeks to go until the contest, they’re also working on the mental aspect of the game.
“Our coach does a very good job of trying to prepare us mentally and right now we’re going through a program that is designed to get us ready prior to the event,” she says.
“And we do a good job of pumping ourselves up.
“Obviously it’s a very big event, so it doesn’t take much to get excited and we psyche ourselves up within the team.”
Their team dynamics is one of their strong suits, Brown says.
“I’ve played with Erin for almost my whole career, so I knew her very well. And this is my third season with Dezaray and we have a pretty lengthy path with Ashley as well.
“Erin and I played with her in university, so we all know each other very well.
“We really enjoy to laugh, so when moments get tense, that’s kind of our fail safe.
“We’ve had a lot of success doing that.”
READ MORE: Team Van Osch excited to curl in the North
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