
15 Sep 2023 – Four young Kiwi curlers returned from a week-long training camp in Norway last month buzzing from the experience.
Ellie McKenzie, Jed Nevill, Olivia Russell and Jack Steele, with coach Mhairi-Bronté Duncan, joined athletes from Britain, Denmark, Estonia, Romania and Spain at the World Curling Federation's annual youth training camp.
The camp focussed on the development of the athletes both on and off the ice. Off-ice sessions included fitness, mobility, Olympic values, nutrition, and strategy while the on-ice lessons targeted technical improvements, teamwork, and communication.
Jack Steele was presented with the Spirit of Curling award at the end of the camp. "I found the team activities and off-ice activities really good," he said afterwards. "Most nights we played some curling games and we mixed and matched between the countries, and it was interesting to see how different teams played and communicated. Mhairi-Bronté was great too. Awesome experience that I will remember forever."
"The camp was really engaging, and I enjoyed the wide range of activities involved," added Ellie. "Not only did we get great coaching on ice, but we also got to do things such as walking up the Olympic Ski Jump and getting to meet Youth Olympic Gold Medalists, which was very inspiring."
Jed had the same view. "We got a lot of off-ice activities, such as team dynamics and communication. It was a taster of what was to come. It was great to get to know other countries and build relationships with people who we might see in the future of our curling."
"I really enjoyed the opportunity," added Olivia. "I've improved my slide and sweeping. It was great to see the 2016 Youth Olympics building and what they have done to them to make them sustainable and reuse them; they are now a University Hall of Residence. I found the Anti-doping really interesting to learn about the new regulations."
Mhairi-Bronté also enthused about her charges and the Youth Camp. She had similar experiences as a curler but had a different perspective when viewing them through a coach's eye.
"It was a camp that looked at the athletes quite holistically, it looked at their nutrition, their overall fitness, their strategy and communication."
She was delighted with Jack's Spirit of Curling award. "He engaged super well with the coaches and learned how to correct his slide. He was also very inclusive of other curlers and positive in every session."
Olivia had the last word with advice for others who might have the same opportunity. "The world is your oyster," she said. "Get out of your comfort zone and try something new."