Imagine a there-time Olympic medalist walking into your curling club and spending a full day sharing his vast knowledge of curling with you and 47 of your fellow curlers. That’s going to be the case Saturday, March 9 at the Brainerd Lakes Curling Club when Kevin Martin, considered by his peers as “the greatest curler of all time,” leads instruction on and off the ice. The academy, which is a fundraiser for the Lupus Research Foundation, includes a Party Mixer and Fun Game. The event is open to all ages and skill levels.

The cost for the academy is $200 for adults and $150 for Juniors. Click here to register

The academy includes the following three sessions:

Technical Skills
On-ice customized instruction that focuses on your delivery: set-up, drive, delivery and release.

Strategy
Off-ice instruction that breaks down scenarios when you have hammer/no-hammer and when you’re up/down on the scoreboard. This features Kevin’s smart yet simple strategies that are good not only for skips but the entire team. Everyone will be on the same page during games. Everyone receives a strategy book.

Team Systems
Back on the ice, this session focuses on the strategy, roles and responsibilities of each player on 4-person teams and Mixed Doubles. Topics include game management, front-end play (timing, clearing, sweeping), back-end play, communication, sweeping and concepts like drag effect, how rocks interact with each other, angles and more.

Party Mixer – Included in the registration cost and open to others for $20 per person
The day ends with a fun meet-and-greet event with Kevin. He’ll give a keynote address, where he’ll share highlights of his curling career and some colorful stories, as well as how he approaches the game. Wine and cheese will be available, and a cash bar will be open. Get photos and autographs with Kevin. Also includes a live auction. Tickets are available by clicking on the link above.

Fun Game – Not included in registration but open to anyone for $10
This is where you have a chance to play a 4-end game with Kevin. Again, it’s open to everyone and is NOT included in the registration. The cost is $10 per person. Sign up and pay at the club. Seven lucky winners will be drawn.

The weekend’s schedule is below

Saturday March 9
10 am-Noon  Technical Skills
Noon-12:45 pm – Lunch
12:45-2:45 pm – On-ice Team Systems
2:45-3 pm – Break
3-4:30 pm – Strategy Session in the Social Area
4:30-5:30 pm – On-ice Fun Game
7:30 pm – Party Mixer

More About Kevin
Kevin Martin is a world-renowned skip with two Olympic medals: Gold from 2010 and Silver from 2002. He’s been teaching his curling academy for decades in Canada, and now he’s bringing it to Brainerd. Kevin shares cutting-edge knowledge, including sweeping techniques used by the best curlers in the word. He was voted by his peers as “the top Canadian male skip of all time” and is a member of the World Curling Hall of Fame. He won 18 Grand Slam titles on the World Curling Tour and a record eight Players’ Championships. Over the course of his career, his teams won about $2 million. Kevin was the first skip to win a “career Grand Slam,” winning a title in each Grand Slam event, after he won the Players’ Championship Grand Slam event in April 2005. Kevin owns Kevin Martin Curling, a one-stop shop for stones and scrapers to pebble heads and apparel. He has the Inside Curling podcast with Warren Hansen. You’ll also recognize him as the Olympic commentator for curling, as well as for the Grand Slams (which he helped establish), and World Curling events.