Visitors who came to Portage la Prairie for the 2017 Viterra Provincial Men's Curling Championship this past weekend left impressed with the city's multi-use recreational facility: Stride Place.

Portage Regional Recreation Authority (PRRA) general manager David Sattler says a lot of positive feedback came from curlers and other visitors in regards to the venue, and the event as a whole.

“I spoke with Jeff Stoughton ... and he was blown away by the facility that we have and the different types of events we can host here in the city of Portage la Prairie,” Sattler says. “Many of the curlers, many of the visitors from out of town, were blown away from what we could offer. Some of the curlers said this was the best provincial event they've attended in terms of venue.”

The quality of the five curling sheets installed at Stride Place for the event impressed Curl Manitoba's ice guru, Greg Ewasko. Sattler credits that to the new reverse osmosis system and the level ice system for ice-making at Stride Place.

Curl Manitoba measured the sheets at the outset of the event in six spots, and found the surfaces were consistently level to 1/16 of an inch.

“There was no additional build-up required,” says Sattler. “Normally, they have to build it and level it.”

Sattler adds, beyond the PRRA and its staff, many volunteers helped to make sure the event was top-class for everyone involved.

“We all worked tremendously hard to make sure it was an experience of a lifetime for those curlers,” he says. “Because it could be their first, or it could be their last provincial curling championship.”