BLAINE, Minn. (August 15, 2013) — Marcel Rocque is an accomplished curler turned coach. The team he used to play for won the Canadian men’s curling championship four times, and the World Championship three times. This week, he was in Blaine coaching a team as they prepare for the Olympic Trials.
You may expect him to be working with a younger Canadian team, another with another country known for curling, but, in fact, he is coaching a women’s team from China.
While is may seem odd that teams from around the world are traveling here, it’s partially because the Four Seasons Curling Club is very unique in the curling world because it lives up to its name and is open year round.
“[It’s] the first open all year round curling facility in North America,” says Regan Mizuno.
Rocque praised the club for not only having ice in the summer, which is a feat in itself, but for having high quality ice in a high quality environment. “To have a facility of this quality is second to none, really, in the world.”
Next year, when the Olympics are held in Russia, 10 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams will compete. Russia automatically qualifies because they are the home country, and 7 of the 9 remaining spots go to associations with the most qualifying points in the world curling championships over the last two years. This leaves only two team spots, and this Chinese team is hoping to land one of the them at the qualifiers later this year in Germany.
The team has a strong history of victory, and stands a reasonable chance of making the cut, and traveling to Sochi next year. They won the World Championship in 2009 and a Bronze Medal in the Vancouver Olympic Games.
While China eyes another medal, they are not the only potential Olympians training in Blaine this month. Team USA has been practicing here over the last few months, and will continue training here as the Olympics near.
While Team China was here, they played a friendly match against Team USA Erika Brown & Team USA Allison Pottinger and beat both of those teams.
This club is not just for the pros, and you don’t have to be training for the Olympics to hit the ice. They have a variety of leagues for different skill levels, and even teach basic curling at Learn to Curl classes. They also plan on increasing the number of introductory classes and leagues as the Olympics approach and as interest in the sport grows.
The next round of USA Olympic Trials Teams will be training at the club from August 23 – 25. Everyone is welcome to go and watch the teams practice from Gabe’s Rinkside Bar and Grill- the attached restaurant that offers views of all the curling lanes.
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