Terrace hosted 28 curling teams from Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Smithers and Haide Gwaii in the Men’s Loggers Bonspiel in Terrace on the last weekend of March.
Gordon Lawley, chair of the organizing committee, said they had a great time at the season wind-up event for the north.
“We curled all day and late into the evening… had a great time,” he said.
During several evenings, the teams enjoyed live music by the local “After Hours” band, and a dance on Saturday was attended by about 150 people.
“Being the biggest bonspiel of the season for men, and the wind up for the northwest, it makes for some fun and enjoyable and competitive curling,” Lawley said.
“It’s competitive but also very friendly… good sportsmanship.”
The winners of the A event this year were Team Greenslade from Kitimat. Terrace teams won the other events, with Team Copeland winning the B event, Team Melanson winning C event, and Team Kennedy winning D event.
Speaking of curling, Lawley says one thing he loves about the sport is the strategy.
“I consider curling to be like chess on ice. You are always trying to set up your end, so you are usually thinking two or three shots ahead, similar to chess. It’s a very strategic game, you are always putting your rocks in certain places to set up other shots,” he said.
With the varying characteristics of ice and its affect on how the rocks slide, Lawley says there is also a lot of quick adjustments and thinking.
“You have to adjust your game on the fly” he said, adding that after the games, teams usually meet upstairs and talk over a beverage.
“It’s a very competitive but a very social game at the same time. That’s probably one of the things I enjoy most about it,” Lawley said.
The loggers bonspiel wrapped up the curling season for this year.