Paul Gowsell had irrational confidence from an early age.
While other junior curlers were learning the game by
challenging their peers, Gowsell was taking cash and cars from the
best teams in the world. When Neil Houston and Glen Jackson
graduated from Team Gowsell's junior ranks after their Uniroyal
World Championship in 1976, they continued as part of Paul's
bonspiel team, even while he and lead Kelly Stearne picked up John
Ferguson and Doug McFarlane to win the '77 Canadian Juniors and '78
Worlds. These Gowsell rinks became infamous for their long
hair, beards and crazy pants, but also for ushering in the hair
broom era and initiating the rapid end to the corn broom.
Paul shares stories from those junior championships and
traveling in his van to cashspiels across Western Canada.
You'll hear about the party at the Van Winkle hotel, the brushing
controversy in Scotland, Revenue Canada's attempts to tax
curling, dealing with the RCMP and tips on how to beat corn
broom teams.