Well I'm back! I thought I was going to be at the Winter Youth Olympics, but alas I value my sleep. So, it's back to Grande Prairie for the 2016 version of the Canadian Women's National Curling Championship - or as it's known the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. This is my third Scotties and I'm quite happy to be here. Ok, I'll admit, I didn't want to come: this event is looooong and the older I get the less I like spending all that time away from my cats to be honest. But, as soon as I arrived and caught up with all my curling friends, the excitement came rushing back and now I'm quite pleased this will be my home for awhile!
Thursday, February 18, 2016
I caught an early flight and then putzed away the day. I think I was asked to arrive a day earlier than I needed to be but no worries. I was happy to volunteer for Curling Geek though! The prequalifier games weren't televised so I signed on Thursday night and captured the shots rock by rock while posting some commentary and trying to semi-moderate the comments. It was a neat experience! It required like 5x the concentration and focus than I usually put in when watching a game, but I think I did an ok job!
Some familiar names!
Nunavut wins their first game at the Scotties ever!
Who doesn't love a piper?
Incident in the parking lot near my hotel after midnight. Pedestrian run over. Car rammed. High speed chase. I called the RCMP and left my name as a witness. Exciting times in Grande Prairie!
Friday, February 19, 2016
I met up with a curling friend for lunch, then headed down for the Hot Shots Competition, which is one of my favourites to watch. I curlinggeeked the evening game - which went to an extra end which made everyone an hour late for the banquet dinner! But it's all good, all were fed and introduced and jewelry handed out to the curlers, then it was home for me to enjoy my hotel's cable tv!
Hot Shots! One of my favourite events.
My view as a curling geek. It was fun, but involved super focus!
Lot's of Hearts around for the banquet.
Backstage views.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Frantic emails this morning, oops should've set up the scrum area yesterday. I arrived in time for the Hot Shots Final, but spent most of the time setting up the scrum area. Big thanks to the TSN lighting guy for teaching me how to remove shadows from my shot! Everything is running tickety-boo, knock on wood.
JJones won a lease on a car!
Turns out I'm the Director of Ceremonies at the 2017 World Men's Curling Championship in Edmonton next year, so I was taking notes during the opening ceremonies for sure! The plan is to meet up with the Director for this event and pick her brain.
Nice message...
Opening Ceremonies line up.
Renee Sonnenberg throws the first stone.
After opening ceremonies, I filmed the media interview with the incoming CEO of Curling Canada, Katherine Henderson. She seems lovely and I'm excited to follow what she does with the organization!
Katherine Henderson - incoming Curling Canada CEO. I'm excited to follow the direction she takes with the organization.
More backstage views.
Then it was first draw, first scrum, first bit of chaos.
Dinner. Nice chat with volunteers - some are the same as the Canada Cup I just worked so it's nice to already have that working relationship. The ladies are super and my media guys are nice as ever. I'm also working with a curling friend I haven't worked with since 2012 so it's been nice to work with a friendly face after all these years.
Time for some curling action!
A view from my office...
Look, there's sky here! Forget that sometimes in the arena.
Some new curlers at this event to get to know - so far it's been enjoyable shooting their media interviews, especially when they're this excited...
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Biggest thing about today was the discovery of a typo, which wasn't my fault, which 6 people including myself missed for 4 videos, which meant I had to do some fixing and reloading and resending and reposting and sigh.
Ah well. Twas another day of curling. I have big ears so learn lots at these events about the curling world and the business of curling. I've gotten pretty good at keeping my learning to myself, but gosh darn it's all super interesting!
One of the pro photographers took a photo of me. If he doesn't get anything better then this will probably be my new facebook/twitter profile pic!
At one point I was leading our curling club's Scotties Pool!!
Thursday, February 18, 2016
I caught an early flight and then putzed away the day. I think I was asked to arrive a day earlier than I needed to be but no worries. I was happy to volunteer for Curling Geek though! The prequalifier games weren't televised so I signed on Thursday night and captured the shots rock by rock while posting some commentary and trying to semi-moderate the comments. It was a neat experience! It required like 5x the concentration and focus than I usually put in when watching a game, but I think I did an ok job!
Some familiar names!
Nunavut wins their first game at the Scotties ever!
Who doesn't love a piper?
Incident in the parking lot near my hotel after midnight. Pedestrian run over. Car rammed. High speed chase. I called the RCMP and left my name as a witness. Exciting times in Grande Prairie!
Friday, February 19, 2016
I met up with a curling friend for lunch, then headed down for the Hot Shots Competition, which is one of my favourites to watch. I curlinggeeked the evening game - which went to an extra end which made everyone an hour late for the banquet dinner! But it's all good, all were fed and introduced and jewelry handed out to the curlers, then it was home for me to enjoy my hotel's cable tv!
Hot Shots! One of my favourite events.
My view as a curling geek. It was fun, but involved super focus!
Lot's of Hearts around for the banquet.
Backstage views.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Frantic emails this morning, oops should've set up the scrum area yesterday. I arrived in time for the Hot Shots Final, but spent most of the time setting up the scrum area. Big thanks to the TSN lighting guy for teaching me how to remove shadows from my shot! Everything is running tickety-boo, knock on wood.
JJones won a lease on a car!
Turns out I'm the Director of Ceremonies at the 2017 World Men's Curling Championship in Edmonton next year, so I was taking notes during the opening ceremonies for sure! The plan is to meet up with the Director for this event and pick her brain.
Nice message...
Opening Ceremonies line up.
Renee Sonnenberg throws the first stone.
After opening ceremonies, I filmed the media interview with the incoming CEO of Curling Canada, Katherine Henderson. She seems lovely and I'm excited to follow what she does with the organization!
Katherine Henderson - incoming Curling Canada CEO. I'm excited to follow the direction she takes with the organization.
More backstage views.
Then it was first draw, first scrum, first bit of chaos.
Dinner. Nice chat with volunteers - some are the same as the Canada Cup I just worked so it's nice to already have that working relationship. The ladies are super and my media guys are nice as ever. I'm also working with a curling friend I haven't worked with since 2012 so it's been nice to work with a friendly face after all these years.
Time for some curling action!
A view from my office...
Look, there's sky here! Forget that sometimes in the arena.
Some new curlers at this event to get to know - so far it's been enjoyable shooting their media interviews, especially when they're this excited...
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Biggest thing about today was the discovery of a typo, which wasn't my fault, which 6 people including myself missed for 4 videos, which meant I had to do some fixing and reloading and resending and reposting and sigh.
Ah well. Twas another day of curling. I have big ears so learn lots at these events about the curling world and the business of curling. I've gotten pretty good at keeping my learning to myself, but gosh darn it's all super interesting!
One of the pro photographers took a photo of me. If he doesn't get anything better then this will probably be my new facebook/twitter profile pic!
At one point I was leading our curling club's Scotties Pool!!
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