Warren Hansen loves curling. Growing up in Namao,
Alberta, it was a passion rivaled only by football. Warren
played and coached for several years with the Edmonton Huskies of
the Canadian Junior Football league, but eventually curling took
centre stage. It became more than just a
seasonal endeavour as a player, it became a path for his
life's purpose. From Brier winner with Hector Gervais, to
coaching, event management, media relations and Olympic training
and development, Warren has covered it all. Frustration with
his experience at the 1974 World's along with a constant rejection
of new ideas (such as pre-game practice, uniforms and officiating)
drove him to help transform an eccentric winter pastime into an
Olympic medal sport that could be respected and admired by a wider
audience.
In Part 1, Warren shares his thoughts on Hector Gervais and
the circumstances that moved him from a player to a builder.
He'll explain why, in the early days of teaching, flat foot
was promoted over the tuck slide. He'll provide an insiders
view into the 1980 Labatt Brier and the transition from its
original sponsor, the Macdonald Tobacco Company.