They are partners both on and off the ice, and Wayne and Kim Tuck continue to rise the ranks within Canadian curling circles. Most recently, the pair traveled to the Audi Quattro New Zealand Winter Games as Canada’s second team entered in the Mixed Doubles competition. After some “hardcore” fundraising (flights alone were $4,000) and finding a sitter for their two kids, the Tucks made the trek in what was just their latest curling honour.
In 2002, the pair earned a bronze medal at the Canadian Mixed Curling Championships, and followed that up with a silver at the same event in 2009. In 2014, they were crowned Canadian Mixed Doubles champs. Many accolades have come along the way, but their biggest highlight thus far has been competing as Team Canada at the 2014 World Mixed Doubles Championships in Scotland.
During the season, the Tucks curl in a league together at Ilderton Curling Club once a week, and head to different events as part of their respective men’s and women’s teams on the weekends. Add to that a couple of days of practice during the week.
“Pretty much, it’s all we do in the winter,” said Kim Tuck, who also spent her junior years at the Ilderton Club. “Wayne will be playing third for Travis Fanset this year, and I will be playing third for Caitlin Romain.”
Wayne, who played third last year for John Epping and lost in the Ontario Men’s provincial final to Mark Kean, started the sport at around age 10 at the Brantford Golf & Country Club. Wife Kim, meanwhile, picked up curling at 13.
Away from the ice, the Tucks are still involved in the game. Both work at Canada Curling Stone Co., a family-run business owned and operated Kim’s father, Fred Veale, and mother, Sandy Veale. Brother in law Khyle Croucher also works at the company.
Next on the horizon for the pair is the 2018 Olympics, as mixed doubles has officially become an Olympic sport to debut that year.
“I would say that’s our goal for sure,” said Kim. “We will train and specialize as much as we can until the sport grows more in Canada and we’ll look to Curling Canada with direction on how the process for choosing that team will entail.”
There are many aspects of curling that Kim enjoys, but she particularly loves the fact that “professional curlers” are just everyday people with jobs, kids, etc., doing what they can to be the best they can be at their sport.
“I love that if you meet a curler you immediately have something in common that pretty much leads to an immediate friendship,” Kim said. “And I love that curlers are passionate about their sport and that it can be played at any level by any age group.”
