Locals try out curling in Missoula

MISSOULA — Three carloads of local residents travelled to the Glacier Ice Rink in Missoula recently to try their hands at the sport of curling.

The trip was organized and led by Dave and Suz Rittenhouse who have recently moved back to Montana from Boise, Idaho where they took up curling after the 2006 Winter Olympics. They are serving on the Mission Valley Ice Arena Association (MVIAA) that was established last summer to pursue an ice arena in the Mission Valley. That committee is chaired by Hilary Lozar and includes hockey, skating and curling representatives.

Dave said the new curlers were quick learners and enjoyed some good competition among themselves. Contacts have been made with representatives of the Polson School District and CSKT in hopes of scheduling additional opportunities next fall or winter. A special thanks to Eric Penn of the Glacier Ice Rink and Barry Bollenbacher of the Missoula Curling Club for help in organizing this event.