While the curling season is officially winding down, one thing is decidedly not: the long-standing legacy of the St. Stephen curling club in promoting cross-border participation. Founded in 1885, making it one of the oldest such clubs in New Brunswick, the club has attracted Americans for decades.
      One such American, Bill Rowley of Pembroke, got his start with curling around 2018. Since moving from Vermont in 2007, he'd been on the search for a winter activity to replace the telemark skiing he was used to.
      After seeing curling during the Olympics, he looked for a local club. "I found one in St. Stephen, went in and said I wanted to learn to curl," Rowley recounts. He was immediately welcomed in. If you present yourself as a beginner, "you will be swamped by people telling you how to do it," he says with a chuckle.
      From that day forward -- apart from a few years' break due to the pandemic -- Rowley has been going over twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
      It's a suitably challenging sport on the physical front, Rowley has found, incorporating moving a 40 pound granite stone across ice without directly touching it while it's in motion. The thrower launches the stone while the sweeper attempts to control its direction, all of which can be a workout.
      For those who have difficulty throwing the stone for mobility reasons, a curling stick can be used instead. At 75 years old, Rowley is still using the traditional kneeling method, but he appreciates the curling stick as an option for those who need it. "I've seen someone in a wheelchair curl," he says.
      Beyond the activity of the sport itself, Rowley appreciates the social environment, he says. "They're a really friendly bunch of people. They all have a great time. It's a great place to go and get away from the world's craziness."
      It's a sentiment echoed by other Americans who have ventured across the border to give curling a try, including Steve Clark of Alexander. He's been an active curler at the club on Monday nights for about five years after being introduced by his late friend, Gerry Mcgee. "I enjoy the winter sport and the camaraderie," Clark shares.
      It's not just locals who are getting in on the fun. Hilary Lorenz of New Mexico, who recently served as the artist in residence at the Tides Institute & Museum of Art, found herself going over multiple times a week during her stay here. "The club is fantastic!" Lorenz enthuses. "One of the members took me onto the ice to show me what to do. People were accommodating in giving me tips and helping me to get more control over what I was doing. After that first day, I returned every Tuesday and Thursday."
      Curling sessions are typically followed by sharing in coffee, homemade cookies, doughnuts and conversation. "It's an excellent social time," Lorenz says.
      "New members are definitely always welcome from either side of the border," says club president Rob Watson. During the first week of the season -- which runs from late October until mid March -- newcomers are invited to try the sport at no cost. "No equipment is required other than a clean pair of footwear to wear on the ice as the club has everything else needed available for use."
      During the regular season, league nights are held three times a week, while casual "fun curling" sessions are held during the mornings for players to come and test their aptitude in a low stress environment. "For this, you do not have to be a member, just simply drop in any days you wish to play and pay the $7 fee, with coffee and doughnuts included," Watson says. Children's curling is also offered one day a week.
      "Our club is always looking to welcome new players any time of year," Watson says, inviting those with questions to call him at 506 321 5444. Additional information about the club can be found on their website at www.ststephencurlingclub.ca.