For Calgary's Olympic-bound curling team, the pressure of the impending Winter Games isn't a burden—it's a familiar companion. Skip Brad Jacobs and his Glencoe Curling Club crew are channeling that experience as they fine-tune their game, using this week's prestigious Grand Slam of Curling event as a vital stepping stone toward gold in Italy.
Veteran Poise Under Pressure
Fresh off a decisive victory at the Canadian Olympic trials in Halifax last November, Team Jacobs approaches the sport's biggest stages with a calm, collected demeanor. Jacobs attributes this to the team's collective experience, having all competed at the Olympics before. "I don't think anybody at any point in time really felt a whole lot of pressure, and I believe that was reflected in our quality of play," Jacobs stated, reflecting on their trials performance.
He contrasted this with the tension younger teams might feel. "When you're gripping the broom a little too tight and when you're nervous, tense, anxious... it does become more difficult to perform," Jacobs explained. "We're a little bit older, more experienced—we're a veteran team. It does become a little bit easier to free yourself up just go out and play."
Steinbach as a Springboard to Cortina
This mindset will be front and center as Jacobs and his team headline the 24-team Crown Royal Players' Championship in Steinbach, Manitoba, running from Tuesday through Sunday. The event represents the final Grand Slam of the calendar and serves as a critical competitive tune-up against the world's best before the Olympic spotlight shines.
"We're proud of the way that we performed at the Olympic trials. It was a well-earned, deserved victory," Jacobs said. "So now what we want to do is finish the slam season strong here... and then it's just all about the preparation going into the Olympics."
Balancing Act: Competition, Rest, and Family
The roadmap to Cortina involves more than just on-ice execution. Jacobs outlined a deliberate plan that balances high-level competition with essential downtime. After the euphoric celebration following their trials win, the team took a planned break.
"We've got some really good rest periods and training periods scheduled for the month of January and early February leading into Cortina," Jacobs revealed. He emphasized that this period will be "the most valuable time that we have going into the Olympics," encompassing intense practice, gym sessions, and crucial time with family.
The goal is clear: replicate their November triumph on the Olympic stage in February. With a veteran's perspective and a strategic preparation plan, Brad Jacobs and his Calgary-based team are methodically building towards their moment in Cortina.
