Parksville Curling Club will host a unique doubles event featuring teams from around the world, beginning Friday, Nov. 17. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

shot rock

International teams in Parksville for unique ‘double-doubles’ curling event

Nov 16, 2023 | 4:19 PM

PARKSVILLE — It’s a new twist on an ancient sport, with some of the world’s best showing it off locally.

The Parksville Curling Club is hosting a total of 24 teams for the Double Doubles bonspiel beginning Friday, Nov. 17, and running through Sunday, Nov. 19 at their Community Park facility.

Organizer of the tournament and club volunteer April Gale-Seixeiro said international teams from New Zealand, Mexico, Taiwan, India, and the United States will play against B.C. and more local teams in competitive and social divisions.

“We have eight teams from the local area who like to play doubles and they’re going to be able to play alongside these very strong teams and so we’re hoping that deepens their love of the doubles curling game.”

Doubles curling is a newer, faster format of the game with its lineage dating back to the 1540’s.

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It sees teams of two throw five stones (two by one curler and three by another) toward the house, navigating not only their opponent’s rocks but also two other stones placed in set locations prior to the start of the end.

Gale-Seixeiro said it makes for an extremely fast-paced game.

“Everybody is always thinking, everybody’s always rushing around and it’s an extremely different game from the four-player game. It’s a lot of fun and very exciting.”

Curling Canada’s Warren Hansen is credited with the invention of the game in 2001, with the first World Mixed Doubles Championships held seven years later.

The rinks of the Parksville Curling Club will be busy beginning Friday, as teams from as far away as New Zealand and India come for a unique tournament. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The idea for a local doubles tournament came from Gale-Seixeiro’s experience on the international scene, representing Team Portugal alongside her husband.

It was the connections made through tournaments around the world which really got this local event going.

“We started this event as an opportunity to bring teams in and practice for the World Mixed Doubles qualification event which is coming up in Dumfries, Scotland at the beginning of December. These national teams get to come in and play against their peers…so it’s a really great tune-up for them.”

The bonspiel will also be an opportunity to showcase the club to a wider audience and generate some revenue.

Membership at the club is strong, with around 350 active curlers according to Gale-Seixeiro.

Admission to the event is free with a schedule of play and live scoring available on the club’s website.

Gale-Seixeiro recommends a blanket for seating in the cool stands, but there will be plenty on offer beginning Friday at the Double Doubles Bonspiel. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW