CRAPAUD - It has been less than one year since the sport of wheelchair curling was introduced to Islanders and already it is attracting major attention. Crapaud Community Curling Club has been selected to host an Atlantic Canada High Performance Wheelchair Camp in January.
Wheelchair curler Eric Payne of Warren Grove will be participating in the camp. He believes the camp will be a significant steppingstone for wheelchair curling on P.E.I.
"It's going to bring attention to (the sport) here on P.E.I. It's going to help the sport itself grow in the Maritimes and it's going to help extend the network of wheelchair curling across Canada," said Payne, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident.
Wheelchair curling was introduced on P.E.I. last winter through demonstration nights. Jamie Thompson of Victoria attended one of those demonstrations and is now a dedicated member of the team that will participate in next month's camp.
"I really enjoy it," former Summerside Western Capital Thompson said about the sport. "It's something to look forward to all week."
Thompson and Payne are avid activity enthusiasts. The pair strongly believes that a disability should never be seen as an obstacle when it comes to sport.
"It's important for everyone to get out and get active rather than sit at home. I think that's as healthy as the activity itself," said Thompson, who was injured five years ago in a farming accident. "There's a misconception of people in wheelchairs that you are withdrawn from society, but as far as I'm concerned I'm involved with everything I was before I got hurt and more."
Payne added that it is important for the disabled to take advantage of any available options to get active.
"Just because I've sustained an injury and/or lifelong disability doesn't mean that there's no opportunities for me to be active," he said. "They're giving us the opportunity here and there's no sense wasting opportunities."
Payne and Thompson, along with their teammates, curl Tuesday evenings at the newly renovated Crapaud Community Curling Club. The club was renovated to be able to host wheelchair curling. Changes included replacing steps with ramps, widening doorways and making washrooms accessible. Crapaud and Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside are now the only two fully wheelchair accessible curling rinks on P.E.I.
The three-day High Performance Wheelchair Camp is geared toward athletes who have or plan to compete at the Wheelchair Curling Nationals. Camp activities include technical review on and off-ice, drills, strategy, mental preparation, team dynamics, video analysis and three games. Special guest instructors include national team coach, Wendy Morgan, and national team mental trainer, Dr. Laura Farres.
Curlers planning to participate in the camp are asked to confirm their attendance by Saturday, Jan. 1, via e-mail to hradford@nscurl.com. For more information contact Gayle Johnston at 368-1071.
