Shuffleboard enjoys quite a following in High River thanks to the Foothills Shuffleboard Association.
Ken Wardley is the president of the group and says the sport has really taken off in the community.
“We started with about ten or twelve people and each year it’s progressively just gotten more and more and more,” said Wardley. “In five years we have a wonderful membership we're exceeding 100 members right now.”
The group makes use of a facility that would normally stay empty through the summer months.
“The curling club was very, very receptive because we are using this facility in the summer time when normally this would be empty,” said Wardley.
Wardley says the organization is built on three things; wellness, physical activity and sociability.
The group is on the boards at least three times a week and next month, five players from High River will compete for Canada at the week long International World Shuffleboard Championships in Seattle.
“In 2005, I went to Brazil and shuffle boarded and in 2006 I went to Lakeside, Ohio, in the International. So this is my third time, “ said Team Canada member, Margaret Mowat.
Mowat says the strategy is the same as curling but its easier on the joints as you get older. “You don't have to get down on your knees or sweep,” said Mowat.
“Shuffleboard is where it’s at in Alberta and we want to grow the sport. We're there to try to help any other community that would be interested in putting in shuffleboard,” said Wardley 10:58
For their team spirit and spunk, Foothills Shuffleboard Association is the CTV Calgary Athlete of the week for Friday, july 20, 2012.
