PARALYMPIC CURLING // BROOMSTACKING IN THE USA
Wheelchair Curling Program continues to expand
By Bobbie R. Todd, U.S. Curling News columnist
Wheelchair Curling Outreach and Development Program Director Marc DePerno has been working to grow the sport of wheelchair curling since his appointment in 2007. DePerno was introduced to wheelchair curling around 2003 when working in an occupational rehab facility in upstate New York. Because of this experience, he was asked by USA Curling to take the position, eff ectively becoming USA Curling’s lead authority on wheelchair curling. While DePerno and his team have been working very hard to increase
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awareness of the sport, many curlers don’t realize that wheelchair curling exists – much less that it is a Paralympic sport. Likewise, many people are unaware that the “para” in “Paralympics” does not stand for the frequently assumed “paralyzed.” As Rusty Schieber, National Wheelchair Curling As- sistant Coach for USA Curling, put it: “Paralyzed has nothing to do with it.” T e “para” in Paralympic “stands for ‘parallel’” as in “a parallel track of amateur competition” that runs alongside the Olympics. Wheelchair curling diff ers from able-bodied curling in two major ways:
1) no sweeping is allowed and 2) the stone must be thrown from within 18 inches of the center line. T is makes the sport much more exacting and much less forgiving than that of able-bodied curling. Furthermore, interna- tional play in wheelchair curling is coed, so all teams must include at least one curler of the opposite gender. In addition, wheelchair curlers must have certain types of impairments.
According to the World Curling Federation, “Wheelchair Curling is open to individuals who are non-ambulant or can only walk short distances. T is includes athletes with signifi cant impairments in lower leg/gait function, such as spinal injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or double leg ampu- tation, who use a wheelchair for daily mobility.” Given these requirements, USA Curling has been attempting to reach individuals who meet these cri- teria both as a way to increase participation in the sport and to increase the competitiveness of American wheelchair curling. One way USA Wheelchair Curling is doing this is by reaching out to
disabled veterans. According to the VA’s Adaptive Sports Program, “Dis- abled Veterans of all ages and abilities report better health, new friendships and a better quality of life when participating in adaptive sports.” Under DePerno’s leadership, USA Wheelchair Curling Program has been able to establish something of a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veter- ans Aff airs (“the VA”). In fact, the USA Wheelchair Curling Program has been actively seeking (and receiving) grants from the VA in order to obtain funding to put on camps, clinics, etc., for disabled veterans to come out
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usacurl.org ))
U.S. Paralympic Curling Introductory Sport Camp
For Disabled Service Members & Veterans %FOWFS $0 t "QSJM
The Nation’s Premier Paralympic Curling Camp
Free participation – Travel, lodging and meals are included
Camp is limited to 10 participants Registration closes March 1
Instruction by members of 2017 National Team & Staff
Contact: Marc DePerno,
marc.deperno@
usacurl.org or 315-292-3520
heelchair curling, or the adaptive sport of curling designed for individuals who utilize a wheelchair for daily mobility, is a growing aspect of USA Curling’s scope. U.S. National
and try wheelchair curling. T e most recent of these outreach eff orts was a Learn to Curl held at Green Bay Curling Club (Green Bay, Wis.) over the recent Columbus Day holiday. T e USA Wheelchair Curling Team also held a curling camp at Denver Curling Club (Golden, Colo.) this past April. USA Wheelchair Curling continues to build on its alliance with the VA by spon- soring various events such as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and participating in the National Disabled Veterans Sports Clinic. When planning a wheelchair curling event, there are several unique fac-
tors that need to be taken into consideration that many would not normally think about. For instance, while most curlers understand that dedicated ice is preferred to arena ice whenever possible, requirements such as accessibil- ity need to be evaluated: Are the bathrooms at the host location wheelchair accessible? Are there wheelchair ramps? Is the host facility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and if not, what further altera- tions will need to take place? However, the most diffi cult challenge is get- ting the word out to potential new wheelchair curlers. Oſt entimes, turnout for events is low, but the few who do show up tend to show up regularly. DePerno jokingly refers to these familiar faces as “repeat off enders”; but, as with able-bodied curling, when someone gets hooked, they’re hooked. T is was the case with Steve Emt and Patrick MacDonald who, aſt er attending an event run by DePerno’s team, were both bitten by the wheelchair curl- ing bug and have gone on to represent the U.S. in the World Wheelchair Championship. Wheelchair curling has seen some signifi cant growth over the past de-
cade or so, especially with it becoming a medal sport at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games held in Torino, Italy. In the last 15 years, the sport has grown to the point where there are now
about 25 countries actively participating in it. One can only imagine how much more it will grow over the next 15 years. Q
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