Curling

CALGARY - Reigning Olympic champion Brad Gushue knows what winning gold feels like so he has an extra appreciation for what's at stake this week in Prince George, B.C.

The Olympic curling pre-trials kick off Tuesday with four men's and four women's spots at next month's Olympic trials up for grabs.

A dozen men's rinks and 12 from the women's side will compete in the triple knockout format tournament this week with the top four on each side moving on to the next phase.

"It's not the route we wanted to go four years ago but it is what it is and we have an opportunity now and hopefully we can take advantage and get through this week,'' Gushue said in an interview.

The St. John's, N.L., skip, who won gold at the 2006 Turin Games, said he and his teammates realize this kind of opportunity comes only once every four years.

"We know what we're playing for and we know what potentially we're going to miss if we don't get through so I don't think it adds any more pressure or takes away any pressure,'' Gushue said. "I think we know exactly what we're playing for and I think that may have benefited us over the last couple of years in that we were working hard because we know what we have a chance to play for.''

Kevin Martin, Glenn Howard, Kevin Koe and Randy Ferbey had already qualified for the Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials Dec. 6-13 in Edmonton.

Joining Gushue in the quest to move on are two-time Brier winner Jeff Stoughton, the 2005 Olympic trials runner-up, two-time world champion Wayne Middaugh of Toronto and Winnipeg's Mike McEwen - the fourth seed in the competition.

Rounding out the men's field are two-time Brier winner Kerry Burtnyk of Winnipeg, Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw, Sask., 2006 Brier winner Jean-Michel Menard of St-Romuald, Que., Edmonton's Ted Appelman, Bob Ursel of Kelowna, B.C., Pat Simmons of Davidson, Sask., 2000 world champion Greg McAulay of Richmond, B.C., and Jason Gunnlaugson of Beausejour, Man.

"With the triple knockout there's a lot of luck that's involved because if you happen to lose a game you could end up dropping to play a number one seed or a number two seed but then again you could drop to play a number 11 or 12 seed,'' Gushue said. "Hopefully we can go on through and win three games and get out of here.''

Reigning Canadian champion Jennifer Jones, 2006 Olympic bronze medallist Shannon Kleibrink, Calgary's Cheryl Bernard and Saskatoon's Stefanie Lawton have already qualified for the women's trials.

Kelly Scott of Kelowna, B.C., the 2007 world champion and 2005 trials runner-up, is the top seed for the pre-trials and came within a whisker of representing Canada in 2006 when she lost the final 8-7 to Kleibrink in Halifax.

"We were young and kind of up-and-comers at that point in time and we've done a lot since that game,'' said Scott. "It kind of vaulted us into the high level scene of the women's curling game. That's what really started us in winning our Scotties and worlds - although at the time it was hard to swallow and it was one of our most testing moments in the sport.''

Scott said she and her teammates have learned to balance their lives to include careers, curling and now family. Her son is 15 months old and she said she is ready to re-commit to the sport.

"I think having a couple of challenging seasons has made our desire that much greater,'' she said. "We know what that taste is like a few years ago and for some reason we kind of lost our groove so we're really encouraged that we're almost back there again.''

Joining Scott is Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., Marie-France Larouche of St-Romuald, Que., Michelle Englot of Regina, Calgary's Heather Ranking, Rachel Homan of Ottawa and Crystal Webster of Calgary.

Rounding out the list of competitors is 1998 Scott Tournament of Hearts winner Cathy King of Edmonton, Thunder Bay, Ont., skip Krista McCarville, Amber Holland of Kronau, Sask., Eve Belisle of Montreal and Sherry Anderson of Saskatoon.