INUVIK
Curling fans, no matter their age or level of mobility, can now participate in a version of the sport on the verge of sweeping the North - in part because this form of curling requires no sweeping at all.

Beth Hamilton takes aim during a game of Curling Without Ice at Ingamo Hall Nov. 19. - James Goldie/NNSL photos

On Nov. 19, all community members were invited to Ingamo Hall to try their hands at Curling Without Ice, a relatively new physical activity specifically designed with seniors or disabled people in mind. Unlike traditional curling, the game is played on the floor using three-pound plastic "stones" mounted on ball bearings that are rolled at a vinyl target mat across the room. The lightweight object makes for a more accessible game. While there is no sweeping involved, cheering is still very much a part of the game.

"My favourite part is the cheering," said William Allen, an elder who played the game only once before. He said he thinks it's growing in popularity, because there were "almost three times as many people this time as the first time."

The event was attended by participants of the Elders Day Program and residents of the Billy Moore Home.

For players unable to kneel when throwing the stone, the game includes two "pushers" - broom-like sticks that fit into a stone's handle and allow it to be launched toward the target.

This aspect of the game comes in handy for Beth Hamilton, who uses a walker.

"Everybody should come out and do it. All the elders," she said.

Hamilton admitted that it's not always easy for seniors to motivate themselves to go out and participate in physical activities, but the floor curling doesn't involve so much strain that it leaves players exhausted.

"Sometimes you don't want to come but once you come it's great," she said.

Crystal Navratil, community health representative for Beaufort Delta Health and Social Services Authority, organized the curling match as part of the territorial government's Get Active NWT program, which provides funding to groups and projects that encourage people to be more physically active.

Navratil said it's the perfect sport for seniors. "It gets them motivated. It gets them playing a sport. It gets them socializing and active," she said. "It's a great game in that how it's set up, even if you're disabled or in a wheelchair or walker, you can still (play). It's versatile."

In October, Navratil attended the annual Elders in Motion gathering in Yellowknife where she gave a presentation on the potential benefits of introducing Curling Without Ice to seniors programs.

"I introduced the game and did a little (explanation) of what the game was, and then I invited all the elders in the room to come and play first. And so for about half an hour we played," she said.

Navratil said as far as she knows, Inuvik is the only place in the NWT where the game is currently being played. Because the Elders in Motion gathering was also attended by people from the Yukon, Nunavut and Alaska, Navratil said she believes this new kind of curling will only grow in popularity.

"I think this will be the start of a lot more user groups in all three territories and even Alaska purchasing the curling game," she said.

"In order to get people motivated to get active, you really have to incorporate the element of fun ... That's really what gets people out, is that element of fun. And they're all competitive and cheering each other on."

At Ingamo Hall, Rachel Kasook was playing for the first time.

"I was wondering how they were going to do it," she said, adding that she enjoys the large teams and the opportunity to interact with so many people throughout the course of a match. She highly recommended others come out to future games.

"Come out and have fun and see what it's like to curl on the floor."

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