A few issues ago I wrote a note about trying curling for the first time at the Eau Claire Curling Club. Some friends and I had a really great time pushing stones down the ice and emphatically sweeping in front of them as they slid towards huge targets. Afterwards, I really wanted to sign up to play more, but you had to make a quite lengthy time commitment and have a team through the entire ice season (November through most of March). Not to mention the investment in your own gear (broom, sliders, etc) along with the league fees made it kind of steep for a beginner. Well, Volume One has now teamed up with the Eau Claire Curling Club to launch a brand new “starter” league – featuring a shorter 8-week season, a lower cost, and including everything a newbie would need to get going and give it a try. The details are in an ad on page 17. Come out to one of the free “curling lesson” nights and see what it’s all about – then think about signing up a team. It all starts this January. Give it some thought. For me, I feel like curling could play a big part in beating the winter blahs and help re-cast winter as a good thing around here. It’s a cold weather sport on ice, but it’s inside a building where the elements are always cooperative and the ice conditions are perfect. You don’t have to be a “real” athlete, you can drink a beer (or hot chocolate) while you play, and it’s a sport that focuses a lot on community and camaraderie. What’s not to love?