New Zealand Curling’s young guns and their coach returned from Lillehammer, Norway, this week with new trips and tricks to improve their game (both on and off the ice) - and some cautionary advice.

Central Otago local youngsters Olivia Russell, Jack Steele and Jed Neville joined Ellie McKenzie and coach Mhairi-Bronté Duncan, both of Dunedin, to attend the World Curling Association’s Lillehammer Youth Camp from August 19 to 25. Players from six countries took part.

Jack Steele (from left), Ellie McKenzie, Olivia Russell, and Jed Neville on the ice at Lillehammer, Norway.

Speaking with the Central App on Tuesday (August 29) while on her way to the Naseby Indoor Curling Rink to try out her new knowledge, Olivia said the camp had been amazing.

“Travelling to a new place, meeting new people and learning a whole lot of new skills - it was incredible,” she said.

“We learned a lot about fitness, we learned a lot about nutrition, we learned about anti-doping, right down to the basics of what we take every day. I didn’t know half of the stuff I was taking. I came home and looked at my gym protein powder and realised what was in it.”

She said as competitive athletes, they needed to be aware of what they could and couldn’t take, and even medications considered everyday, such as ibuprofen, need to be approved and only taken on a doctor’s recommendation.

In addition to being taught technical knowledge, the group played a lot of team bonding games other than curling, and the on-ice lessons honed the players’ skills to a fine level.  

Curlers took part in team bonding exercises off the ice as well as honing their curling skills.

Mhairi-Bronté said that she had taken part in a lot of similar team bonding exercises as a player, but viewing them from a coach’s perspective was different, and made her understand why they were important.

The curlers were training alongside Olympic athletes and coaches, she said, which was brilliant for the level the young New Zealand players were at.

“It was a camp that looked at the athletes quite holistically, it looked at their nutrition, their overall fitness, their strategy and communication.”

Mhairi-Bronté said she also learned tips and tricks on how to correct issues the players might have had.

Two of the young players, Jack and Ellie, had never travelled overseas before and Jack won the Spirit of Curling Award at the camp. 

“He engaged super well with the coaches and learned how to correct his slide,” Mhairi-Bronté said. “He was also very inclusive of other curlers and positive in every session.”

Olivia said the curlers all came back eager to play and try out what they had learned, as well as having some advice for others.

“The world is your oyster,” she said. “Get out of your comfort zone and try something new.”