Yea! This Saturday is the first day of the youth curling league at the Petersham Curling Club down in Petersham, Massachusetts (about 45 minutes south of where I live in Keene, NH).

It will also be the start of my second year coaching as I’m helping out with the “Little Rockers” who are between the ages of 7 and 11. (Including my now 10-year-old daughter, pictured in the photo accompanying this article.) I helped out last year and didn’t realize how much fun it would be to do! On a certain level it shouldn’t have been a surprise given my love of teaching, but I didn’t expect how much I would enjoy it.

I’m looking forward to getting back on the ice this weekend and seeing what we can do this year with the kids.

If you are interested in learning more about the youth curling league and live in the area of north central Mass. or southwest NH, you can check out the web page about the youth curling or you can contact me directly. The Little Rockers curl every Saturday from 9:30-10:30 from now through the end of March.

We’ll probably be having an Open House soon where people can come and check it out… stay tuned for more info!

A gent named Jeff Albertini produced this great short video about the 2012 US National Curling Championships in Philadelphia:

Philly Curling Nationals 2012 Documentary Short from Jeff Albertini on Vimeo.

Nicely done!

For those folks lucky enough to live in the Philadelphia area, or who can travel there, this weekend begins eight days of the US national curling championships! The best men’s and women’s teams will be in Philly vying for their chance to qualify in a slot for the 2012 World Championships and the 2014 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Expect to see some outstanding curling happening this week!

More on the story:

• Philly.com: U.S. curling championships come to Philadelphia area
• 2012 USA Curling Nationals Website

A local Philadelphia country music station also seems to have helped produce a video with interviews and shots of what is going on there:

Looks like fun, and if you are in the Philadelphia area, this is your chance to get to see some of the best curlers in the nation!

Recently a local TV crew visited the Petersham Curling Club in Petersham, Massachusetts, and recorded this video that provides a great introduction to the basics of the sport of curling along with some background on the Petersham CC:

Curling from WGBY on Vimeo.

After a couple of years away from the ice, it’s been great to get back into curling with the Petersham Curling Club. I curl in an evening Men’s League and my 9-yr-old daughter curls in the Youth Curling on Saturday mornings, where I also help out. Petersham is about a 45-60 minute drive from Keene, NH, but it’s been a great bit of fun and a very warm and welcoming community of people.

P.S. If you live in the region, the Petersham Curling Club is open to new members. Simply contact the Club via email or phone.

Here’s a pretty cool video from the Science Channel showing how a curling stone is made. I had heard that there were only two quarries in the world that supplied all the curling stones… this video gives a bit more insight into the whole process…

Would your kids like to try out the sport of curling? Did they see it on the Olympics and thought it looked cool? Or did you see it on the Olympics and think it might be something fun for your kids to try? (Or are you a “youth” reading this post and are interested yourself?)

If so, the Petersham Curling Club is holding a Youth Curling Open House this coming Saturday, November 5, 2011, from 1-3pm. Anyone with interest is welcome to attend.

The Petersham Curling Club has had a great youth curling program and is now looking to let even more people know about the program.

No experience is necessary… just bring your passion and excitement! (Well, and clean sneakers and warm clothes.)

Petersham, MA, is in north central Massachusetts near Athol, MA, and Royalston, MA. The curling club is right off of Route 2 for those coming from other parts of Mass. For me, it’s about 45 minutes from Keene, NH, driving straight down Route 32 (the club is on Route 32 in MA). Directions can be found on the club’s site.

The Petersham Curling Club is a great 2-sheet facility with very welcoming members and excellent instructors. I’m playing in the evening men’s curling league this year and my daughter is in the Saturday morning youth program. It’s a great bit of fun … and they’re looking to add even more youth players this year!

Looking forward to the Youth Curling Open House – should be a good bit of fun!

I’m looking forward to throwing a few rocks at houses tomorrow… the Petersham Curling Club is holding a “Learn To Curl” clinic for the public tomorrow, Sunday, October 16, 2011, from 10-1pm, a their 2-sheet facility in Petersham, MA.

I’m not going to be part of the clinic… given that I was last skipping teams, I’m a bit beyond that initial stage (although you can always learn more)… I’m actually going to bring my 9-year-old daughter down to see if it’s something of interest to her. The Petersham C.C. has an active youth curling program on Saturday mornings and we’re toying with pursuing that this winter.

But, I admit to hoping that when I’m down there with her I’ll at least get a chance to throw a few rocks 😉

Petersham, MA, is about an hour south of Keene, NH, heading straight down Route 32. It’s a good haul to drive for curling… but Petersham Curling Club is really the closest rink to our area. The next nearest would really be the Nashua Country Club over in Nashua, NH. (about 1.5 hours away), or the Union Ice Arena up in Woodstock, VT (also about 1.5 hours away).

We’ll see… we went down and visited Petersham last year and it’s a great 2-sheet facility. The folks there were very friendly and welcoming… it should be fun!

P.S. If anyone in the Keene, NH, / Monadnock Region is interested in seeing what we can do to get some more local curling options, please drop me a note… I’m definitely interested in seeing what can be done.