After a successful showing at the World Mixed Curling Championships, the New Zealand Curling world is now turning its attention to the next challenge in Canada.

The first rocks at the 2024 Pan Continental Championships in Lacombe, Canada were thrown on Sunday, [Mountain Daylight Time in Alberta] with the Kiwi men’s team taking on USA at 3.30am [NZ time] this morning.  

The New Zealand women’s team compete against Japan at 8.30am NZ time.

Both teams are in the A-Division of their events, which are qualifiers for their respective 2025 World Championships. As hosts Korea (women) and Canada (men) will automatically qualify for the Worlds.

 Apart from them, the top four women's and men's teams will qualify.

The NZ Men's side from the last two Pan Continental’s who qualified for the World Championships both times, return for this event.

The team consists of Maniototo curlers Anton Hood, Ben Smith and Hunter Walker as well Brett Sargon - fresh from playing in the Mixed World Championships in Scotland - and Jared Palanuik, both of Auckland.

It is Palahniuk's first international competition.

Also making their international debut are New Zealand Women’s curlers Sophie Tran and Ariel Weber, of Auckland.

They are joined by fellow Auckland curlers Chelsea Suddens and Eleanor Heald, and Grace Apuwai-Bishop, of Dunedin.

The New Zealand Women's Curling team competing in the Pan Continental Curling Championships in Canada are (from left) Grace Apuwai-Bishop, Ariel Weber, Sophie Tran, Eleanor Adviento and Chelsea Suddens. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Men’s skip Anton Hood said the team was”feeling great’’ ahead of the championships.

"We've had a pretty good run in the Canada season in the lead-up to the Pans, lots of wins and a few playoff appearances. We've been in Canada for six weeks already, training every day."

"Our goal is to make top four this year.

‘’Keeps the World's qualification locked away and we feel we're good enough to get there,’’ he said.

Women’s skip Chelsea Suddens said the team had been given free ice time from the Thistle Curling Club in Edmonton in the lead up to the Pan Continentals “which has been amazing’’.

'The team is feeling good and enjoying the lead-up,’’ she said.

"We want to learn a lot and to play our best. We're targeting sixth place but will take any opportunity we can get.’’

'The team is feeling good and enjoying the lead-up," said skip Chelsea Suddens. "The Thistle Curling Club in Edmonton has been giving us free ice time, which has been amazing."

"We want to learn a lot and to play our best. We're targeting sixth place but will take any opportunity we can get!"

The Pan Continentals run throughout the week with the finals on Saturday.