National curling camp in town

ASHWAUBENON - Competitors from all over the country are in the area, taking a crack at the sport of curling.

This week the Green Bay Curling Club is hosting the event.

The centuries old sport of curling requires both finesse and skill.

But it takes an extra bit of concentration, when throwing from a wheelchair. Coaches say it’s all about the buddy system, helping to keep each others wheelchairs in place.

And with no sweeper, the tosses have to be a little more accurate.

"It's not easy, I'm pretty new at it," said Green Bay resident, Jim Kenner. "But it gets easier, now that I curl, the easier it's getting for me."

David Palmer of Cape Cod, Massachusetts has tried many sports, but says curling is becoming his niche.

"I mean, when you first start, you're new, and this and that, but the social aspect of curling, that's what really drew me in, I mean it was like a family," explained Palmer.

And he, like the others, came all the way to Northeast Wisconsin to improve his game at this week's National Wheelchair Curling Camp.

"Anybody with an impairment, whether it’s an amputation, or spinal cord injury, if you use a wheelchair, there's no reason you can't curl," said Wheelchair Curling Outreach Development Director, Marc DePerno.

And there's more than just skill building opportunities on the ice. The camp gives the men and women an opportunity to compete for only 5 spots on the national team.

The first competition is this October in Madison.

And making the team may even give them a chance to compete at the 2014 Paralympics games in Russia.

Until then however, there's still some more training to do. But the athletes are hopeful they will get that chance.

And maybe a local athlete like Jim will find himself under the world spotlight.

"My goal is to do the try-out and one day be a USA curler for the wheelchair team," Kenner said.

There are currently 15,000 curlers in the U.S. However, officials say there are only around 60 wheelchair curlers.

Coaches hope these camps will encourage more participation.