ALBERTA STORM CREATING HEADACHES FOR COMPETITORS

EDMONTON — Friday’s storm through Western Canada caused some concern for local organizers of the Roar of the Rings Canadian Olympic curling trials.
Many of the participants were slotted to arrive just two days before the event’s Sunday start at Rexall Place.

Kelly Scott’s rink from Kelowna, B.C., was delayed by just 20 minutes as a snowstorm swept over most of the West. Scott’s WestJet flight did eventually get off 20 minutes after its original departure time and she was expected to arrive into Edmonton at 1:10 p.m.

There was also some distress that the two women’s Calgary rinks – skipped by Cheryl Bernard and Shannon Kleibrink – may be experiencing some slick driving conditions as they headed north along the Queen Elizabeth 2 Highway.

Volunteer drivers were already encountering slippery conditions early Friday morning as they
were picking up athletes at the Edmonton International Airport.

Several of the participants, including Glenn Howard, Jennifer Jones, Stefanie Lawton and Crystal Webster, arrived on Thursday.

The competition, which features eight men’s and eight women’s teams, will eventually determine Canada’s Olympic reps for the 2010 Vancouver Games.

More than 150,000 tickets have been sold for the eight-day event.

“All the draws are starting to look very, very good,” said Jackie-Rae Greening, Roar of the Rings chairperson. “We would still love to get a few more bums in the seats on opening day (Sunday).”

Opening ceremonies are slated for 11 a.m. on Sunday with the first draw (for the women) scheduled for 1 p.m.

Tickets for that initial draw will also get you into the opening ceremonies as well as entrance to Keith’s Patch for entertainment during and after. Sunday is also Boston Pizza Family Day, with tickets available for $15 for the afternoon festivities.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

mannicchiarico@thejournal.canwest.com