Hello,
As fall curling slides on, we have a few reminders and updates about upcoming events and opportunities.
Who is the spookiest curler?
Halloween this year falls on a Tuesday curling night! To celebrate, we encourage everyone to come dressed in costume. We will have prizes for the best individual costume as well as the best team costumes.
We can't wait to see what you all come up with!
Deadline to sign up for November pick-up games
While we will have a break in our Fall League Nov. 21 for Thanksgiving week, we will offer a night open ice if enough members sign up.
Along with pick-up games, we will have a few fun activities planned as well. These may include seeing who can best throw the stone from sheet F hack to sheet A house while wearing a welding helmet or who can throw a Thanksgiving pie closest to the button.
The deadline to sign up is Nov. 6. You must be logged in to register: https://cedarrapidscurling.com/index.php/calendar/event-listings
USA Curling Members' Assembly this Saturday
USA Curling is excited to its annual members' assembly this Saturday, Oct. 14. Sessions, which can be attended virtually, will touch on a number of topics relevant to members and clubs, including membership growth, creative revenue streams, coaching, and more.
RSVPs for the sessions are recommended and appreciated, but not required. Your responses will help us, and the presenters prepare for the sessions.
Tips to speed up your game
Whether you're new to Cedar Rapids Curling or you've been around for awhile, everyone could always use a reminder about good curling etiquette, so the next few newsletters will focus on this area.
This month, let's talk a bit about keeping the game moving so everyone can get eight ends in every league night.
- Rock ready: As soon as the opposing player has released their stone, the next player to throw should move quickly to the hack. Clean the stone and get set up so when your skip takes control of the house, you're ready to throw.
- Help a teammate out: If your teammate has to get their slider on or you skip is coming down the ice, get the rock out for them while you're waiting.
- Lead on: As the beginning of an end, if you do not have hammer, your lead should NOT help to put the rocks away. Instead, the lead should find their first rock, get in the hack, and be prepared to throw as soon as thie skip is at the other end.
- Out of order: Rocks do NOT need to be put away in order. Simply putting the rocks neatly in the corners and not worrying about the number order saves a lot of time.
- Stay focused: We want our games to be social and fun, but to also not constantly be put on pause while people finish a conversation. Save some of it for broomstacking!
Let Emily Nelson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) know if there are curling things you want to learn more about in a future newsletter. It could be anything from tips on play, etiquette, or whatever is on your mind.
Calling all ladies for a fun spiel
The 75th annual USWCA National Bonspiel will be held Feb. 14-18, 2024, at the St. Paul Curling Club. It's been six years since this national women's bonspiel has been held in the Midwest, so it's a great time to try it if you haven't before.
The $500 team entry includes:
- 10-end timed games, 32 teams
- 4-game guarantee
- Wednesday evening kit party and opening ceremony
- Thursday banquet and Friday dinner
- First draws Thursday, finals and awards Sunday finished by 3 p.m.
Women members of Cedar Rapids Curling who are 21 years old by Jan. 1, 2024, are eligible.
CRC can send one team to this national bonspiel. If you have a team and would like to participate in the USWCA National Bonspiel, email Emily Nelson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by Oct. 27.
If you have any questions, send them Emily's way.
FREE bonspiels for CRC members
The Midwest Curling Association hosts several bonspiels throughout the year that are FREE for Cedar Rapids Curling members. These are great opportunities to play on dedicated ice.
The 10th annual Prairie State Challenge will be Nov. 4-5 at Exmoor Country Club and Chicago Curling Club. This is a great opportunity for curlers of all experience levels to get on the ice with old and new friends. Find more information.
The 78th annual Dar Curtis Bonspiel will be Dec. 16-17 at Exmoor Country Club. The Dar Curtis is meant for players to currently curl as leads or twos or newer vice skips to allow them a chance to curl with their peers and try out their own strategies in a fun environment. Find more information.
If you're looking for team members for either spiel, throw a thread on the Cedar Rapids CC Virtual Warm Room Facebook group page or chat with people at league!
Buy CRC-branded shirts on our own website
If you missed out ordering something from the recent CRC merchandise store or you're wishing you had a few more Cedar Rapids Curling-branded items in your wardrobe, we have you covered. There is a CRC merchandise store within the members-only part of the website. You can find it in the Member Menu under CRC Merch.
The items offered are what we have in our own stock. These are the shirts/socks that you see us selling during Learn-to-Curls and other public events.
We DO NOT ship items. Anything you buy, you must pick up at league or another CRC event.
Please excuse any hiccups in this process. We are still working out bugs for how to make this easy for everyone involved. If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
(You must be signed in to see and buy items.)
Meet your Cedar Rapids Curling team competing at National Championships
Cale Tesch, Parker Abbott, Stephen Spence, and Greg Schmitt will compete Nov. 9-12 at the 2023 U.S. Arena National Championship in Eveleth, Minnesota. Wish them luck!
