Dave "Merk" Merklinger, manager of Vernon Curling Club, is ready to welcome people back for the new season. (File photo/Vernon Matters Staff)

By Pete McIntyre

Emerging from pandemic

Curlers ready to hit the ice in Vernon

Sep 27, 2021 | 2:00 PM

Ready…set…curl.

The manager of the Vernon Curling Club says people are raring to return to curling after a slowed season last year due to the pandemic.

“Last year was a bit of a write-off,” said Dave Merklinger. “We had to shut our doors Dec. 1 and we tried to muddle our way through a couple of months of having practice with two people per sheet, but this year we’re going to be full-fledged.”

Vernon’s curling season will start on Oct. 1, with an open house this Saturday and Sunday on Oct. 2 and 3.

“People can come down and try it out. Bring a clean pair of running shoes and we’ll have instructors if they would like to try it out,” Merklinger, also affectionately known as “Merk,” told Vernon Matters.

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Leagues will begin on Monday, Oct. 4

“We’re going to be right into it. Most leagues will start that week, some will start after Thanksgiving, but basically we’ll be in full run by Thanksgiving weekend,” said Merklinger who is a national ice technician.

People will need to show proof of vaccination to enter the building and to curl.

“We’re going to follow the public health guidelines. We’re an indoor sport and we have to follow the rules,” the manager stated.

The club is allowed 50 per cent of its occupancy.

“There is only 64 curlers curling at any given time, and we have a huge lounge upstairs so we’ll be able to socially distance.”

Masks are not required on the ice while people are curling.

“That will certainly help a lot of people with asthma or breathing problems,” Merklinger remarked.

Merklinger said his club will slowly get back into bonspiels and larger events.

“We normally have the Prestige Hotels and Resort Curling Classic. It used to run at the end of September, but because the city is installing new compressors and a dehumidifier, our season is late starting so we had to cancel that. We also had to cancel a clinic with Russ Howard and Mary-Anne Arsenault, but we will have our junior cash speil in October and we will have our ladies Silver Star Speil at the end of October so we’re trying to slowly get back into the fold.”

Merklinger said the club is making it through the pandemic in good shape financially.

“We took advantage of grants and stuff like that, but our membership was very gracious in supporting us and we managed to come through, I won’t say unscathed, but at least we can open the doors.”

by Pete McIntyre

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