A Tier II series of Grand Slam-style competitions might be beneficial for Canadian curling.
Now taking place in Red Deer, Alberta, is the Grand Slam Canadian Open, a tournament that has become so elite that it is very difficult for Canadian teams to get into the competition. This is the pinnacle of curling.
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As has been the case at every Grand Slam event this season, just six of the 16 men’s teams and seven of the 16 women’s teams competing in the tournament are from Canada.
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That is not inherently flawed.
With the help of the Slams, which they earned their way into, international curling teams have become very successful and have used them as a launching pad for major triumphs in the Olympics and world championships.
Kevin Koe of Calgary said last week from Red Deer that “the Slams are the top events and they should have the top teams in the world, regardless of where you are from.”
Many of these foreign teams deserve recognition. They are putting in the effort, going farther than teams from Canada, and often visiting this location in order to win.
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More than anything else, the Slams have probably contributed to the expansion of curling on a global scale.
But what does it mean for Canada, which is now experiencing a drought that began in 2018 despite formerly being a major producer of world championships and Olympic gold medals?
Brad Gushue, Brendan Bottcher, Matt Dunstone, Reid Carruthers, and Mike McEwen’s teams, as well as Koe’s, often make it into the Slams.
There’s always Rachel Homan, Jennifer Jones, Kerri Einarson, and Kaitlyn Lawes on the female side. Jolene Campbell, Kate Cameron, and Selena Sturmay were also accepted into the Canadian Open; however, a team was added at the eleventh hour as Stefania Constantini of Italy had to withdraw.
However, a lot of Canadian teams are on the periphery and don’t often have the opportunity to participate in the major tournaments. As a result, many people think that the establishment of a Tier II secondary tour is the only option for these teams to advance.
Two-time Olympian Marc Kennedy, who finished third for Bottcher’s Alberta squad, said, “It’s almost time that we just accept it and build a tour for both levels, with room for those Tier II teams to move up into Tier I or the professional ranks or whatever you want to call them.”
“I envision a feeder system emerging in the next several years. It is also important for those mid-range teams to have easy access to quality tournaments.
Kennedy said that he has discussed the need for a Tier II tour with Curling Canada’s high performance director David Murdoch, as more and more players are beginning to believe it’s the best course of action.
The 15-time Grand Slam winner and two-time Olympic gold Kevin Martin, who is now a Sportsnet pundit, said, “You look at the whole big picture and the whole Tier II idea, and I think we’re starting to realise how important it is.”
Article content: “Although it hasn’t been a major concern for many, it is something we should be concerned about.
“The teams who won’t quite make it are still very talented, but there isn’t enough space as Tier I becomes bigger. Then Tier II also gains a lot of strength, and this is a fantastic method to establish a sport.
One of the five Grand Slam competitions held each season already has a Tier II level. There are 64 teams overall (32 men’s and 32 women’s) in the Tour Challenge in October, divided into two categories.
Although it’s a great idea and just what Canada needs to encourage more top teams to participate, raising the nation’s prospects of taking home international gold, there are practical problems.
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“I adore that occasion,” Martin said. Running it is a bit challenging since two rinks are required for 64 teams in one neighbourhood. It’s such a large-scale event that there are only so many locations that can accommodate it. However, the success, wow.
He then explained what could have to happen next using a golf analogy.
Martin questioned whether the PGA Championship and the next level of golf competitions need to take place on the same course on the same weekend. “However, I firmly believe that the Tier II events require better organisation and a more improved schedule for the entire year.”
Martin was among the Canadian curlers who, at the beginning of the new millennium, refused to participate in Curling Canada competitions in an effort to create the Grand Slam series.
Since then, the Sportsnet brand has expanded into a prosperous tour that has aided in the development of several Canadian and foreign teams’ careers.
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Niklas Edin of Sweden, Bruce Mouat of Scotland, Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland, and most recently Joel Retornaz of Italy have all achieved remarkable success after honing their skills on the Grand Slam circuit.
Despite the fact that Canada hosts every tournament, it seems that foreign teams have benefited more from the Grand Slam than Canadian ones. It is understandable that the tour organisers would want to field the top teams. In addition, teams must qualify for the Slams, and currently, more foreign teams are doing so than Canadian ones.
“Take a look at some of the new teams that are entering; they’re mostly foreign teams participating in their first major leagues,” Koe said. “It is undoubtedly feasible. It’s not simple; you simply need to put in the time and effort.
Non-Slam players may participate in large pay bonspiels in Ontario (Shorty Jenkins Classic, Soo Curlers Classic), British Columbia (Penticton Curling Classic), Saskatchewan (Western Showdown), and Alberta (ATB Okotoks Classic, Astec Safety Challenge).
However, the idea is that activities at a secondary level should be better organised. Ben Hebert, the head curler for Bottcher in Alberta, is one of the curlers who is becoming more active in event organisation and will probably need to join him.
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In order to remain relevant, Kennedy said, “it will be interesting to see how it plays out over the next 10–20 years and hopefully we can see a lot more Canadian teams getting into those big events.”
Martin has the last say when it comes to whether or not the present Slam exclusivity is beneficial for curling as a whole.
“The most plausible explanation for the growth of curling is that the sport is expanding globally and more and more countries are reaching the highest levels of competition,” he said.
“I think it would be better for curling as a whole if more Canadian teams were having problems getting in. That indicates that our amazing sport is expanding greatly.
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