INSIDE USA CURLING
Important year underway for USA Curling
By James Pleasants, President, United States Curling Association
best U.S. men’s and women’s teams playing for the right to represent the U.S. in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. T e men’s winner advances to the Challenge in FÜssen, Germany, where eight countries battle for the last two Olympic spots. T e winners of the Trials will make a stop in Las Vegas for the Continental Cup, a fun event enhanced by being in Vegas, but with ex- tra adrenalin as the teams square off against future Olympic rivals. T en, on to the main event in Sochi, Russia, and the quest for a piece of Olympic history. T e rich dessert is the men’s and women Nationals held in Phila- delphia, host of a successful national championship two years ago. Of course, the best way to enjoy this curling feast is to be there in person
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with your fellow fans. But, for those who can’t make the trip, there will be an unprecedented level of coverage, both web streaming and TV broad- casts. I hope Tuck is resting his lungs so he will be able continue his spar- kling commentary through all of the exciting games. T e Olympic year also presents a great opportunity for all curling clubs
to showcase the sport to people who have seen it during the Olympics and want to give it a try. Open houses during and aſt er the Olympics will gener- ally draw a lot of curious people, some of whom will like it well enough to want to come back and sign up for a league. USCA Growth and Develop- ment Director Kim Nawyn has been working with a group of volunteers
Two new directors join USCA Board
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roy Gorans (Willmar, Minn.) and Scott Stevinson (Littleton, Colo.) were recently elected to the United States Curling Associa- tion's Board of Directors.
Gorans, a member of the Willmar Curling Club, began curling in 1999 at
the Bemidji (Minn.) Curling Club. He served as president for Willmar CC from 2004-08 and is currently a board member. Last season Gorans chaired the 2013 USA Curling Mixed National Championship. Gorans and his wife, Carrie, a curling fan, together have four children.
He works as a project manager and also volunteers with the Willmar Hock- ey Association and Willmar Youth hockey. In addition to curling, Gorans enjoys motorcycling and fi shing. Stevinson began curling in 2005 at the Broadmoor Curling Club in Colo-
rado Springs, Colo., and joined the Denver Curling Club's Board of Direc- tors in 2009. He currently is serving as the chairman of the Building Com- mittee as Denver continues its plans to build a dedicated facility. Stevinson, who works in real estate/commercial property management, has two sons with his wife, Rosa. He earned a degree in accounting from Arizona State University. He has competed in two Club National championships (2011, 2012) and will represent the At-Large region on the USCA board. ■
e are beginning a year that can only be described as a sump- tuous banquet for the curling fan. We start with the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Fargo in November, with the
across the country to make sure that clubs have enough instructors to get the new peo- ple up and sliding. We have added a new position in the
USCA offi ce: a Development Associate to as- sist Kim in meeting the needs of our member clubs. Christy Hering has moved into that position, and an administrative assistant will be hired to fi ll the job previously held by Christy. T is should allow us to better meet the needs of our members in this busy year. We are pleased to announce progress to-
Pleasants
ward groundbreaking soon on the new club in Denver, with approval of a World Curling Federation loan guaranteed by the USCA covering a por- tion of the cost. T e Triangle Club also will be applying for a loan as they make their plans for a future dedicated facility in North Carolina. Other clubs are receiving new stones this year through the WCF-USCA stone loan program. Driven by the USCA, curling has spread even to the far reaches of Hawaii, which will host a curling charity event in October with help and support of the USCA and Olympians John Benton and Tracy Sachtjen. I invite all members of our curling community to enjoy this special year
and make the most of the opportunities for your club. I hope it puts a little extra spring in your slide as you take to the ice this fall. ■
Digital Bonus
Is your club ready for Sochi?
T e 2014 Olympic
Winter Games are right around the corner. Is your club ready? Check out Lon Peper's article on this topic in the digital edition of the Curling News, which features SIX BONUS pages of content not shown on these pages.
USA Curling (( 5
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