Daily Dose — Nelson Curling Club is Closed but the Game Goes On
By Ari Lord
Back in 1931, when Gene Mauriello of Nelson was born, has been curling for many years.
So many in fact, that he can’t exactly remember.
“I am 92 and still curling as I find this is a great enjoyable sport where you can meet a lot of nice people who are also interested in the sport,” he says.
For Mauriello, there is much to love about the game.
“It’s not a contact sport, it’s a wonderful sport, honest and clean to play, similar to playing golf, usually shaking hands before and after the game with no hard feelings,” says Mauriello.
The social connection he gets from curling is one thing that keeps him coming back year after year.
“You meet the other curlers and get to know them as you play these other teams. We also build friendships this way and look forward to the next time we meet again. Great times come with the curling Bonspiels that are enjoyed by all curlers plus a great meal at the end of the curling event,” says Mauriello.
As a lifelong sports enthusiast and lover of downhill skiing, Mauriello appreciates the exercise he gets from sweeping.
Mauriello moved from North Vancouver to Trail in 1937, and later to Rossland, followed by Procter area, and then Nelson in 2021.
Mauriello still sees the Nelson Curling Club as his home club even though there is presently no curling locally.
This winter was the first season in 127 years that the Nelson Curling Club was forced to miss a season due to needed pricy repairs. The total necessary improvements will cost an estimated $422,000.
Mauriello and others still represent Nelson at curling events out of town.
He misses other teams travelling into Nelson to play games.
“I miss the visitation curling that we once had. We would visit Grand Forks and Castlegar and they in turn would visit us here in Nelson.”
He says visitation curling is more friendly and open without rigorous competition and offers a way for new curlers to gain experience.
“It would be nice if we could reintroduce the visitation curling again. We could check to see if it is possible to include Trail, Rossland, Beaver Valley, Kaslo, Castlegar and Grand Forks. If we get one or two it would be great. It could help revitalize curling in Nelson and it would also help the other curling clubs.”
He encourages younger people to try out the sport, especially if the Nelson Curling Club reactivates.
“[We can] get some of the young generations to start curling by reducing fees. We have the curling shoes, grippers and brushes. I know we also have the equipment for helping the school classes that come by bus to try curling and to see if they are interested in the sport.”
Mauriello will be curling in Kaslo on February 17th and in Beaver Valley on March 1st – 2nd.
He hopes he and his teammates can get back to curling in Nelson in the Fall of 2024.
