How does a small town in Minnesota spawn so many Olympians? As Chris Justice, who runs the curling program at the local high school explains, “In Bemidji, there’s curling season, and there’s golf season.”
Bemidji, with a population of 15,946, is nestled on a beautiful lake in northern Minnesota. Once famed as the birthplace of the mythical Paul Bunyan, over recent decades, the town has become more well-known for curlers than lumberjacks. The Bemidji Curling Club, located in the middle of town, plays a role as both a physical and cultural center to the community.
For GreatCurling.com’s first podcast, I was thrilled to speak with Chris, who leads an incredible curling program at Bemidji High School, where he has worked with 3,500 students over his tenure. Chris was joined by one of his favorite students, a fellow curler named Carter.
Please enjoy the conversation, as Chris and Carter help explain how young people can not just learn to curl, but also learn to compete at the highest levels in the US and the world.
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