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Making ice in the desert

When the world's best come to compete in Las Vegas at the end of March their playing surface will be thanks to an Okanagan man.

The world men's curling championships will be held at the 5,000 seat Orleans arena starting March 31st. "I've been making ice for 40 years and have done three continental curling events in the same arena," said  Dave Merklinger while taking a break from his management duties at the Vernon Curling Club.

Merk to his friends is a legend in the curling world having been called upon to make ice at the national and international level including the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver. "My biggest concern is the lack of dehumidifiers in the arena, it will be 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside so the air conditioning needs to be working properly," added Merklinger.

It will take a week to put the ice in, and then Merklinger and his crew will keep the ice in top shape for the duration of the tournament. "It's a great way to end the season, and then I'm looking forward to hitting the golf course," said Merklinger.

"My money is on Team Canada's Brad Gushue to repeat as world champion." He adds that 90 percent of the crowd will likely be Canadian making it something of a home ice advantage, but there won't be an embedded loonie or anything, as the ice makers did for the ice hockey at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, "We don't do that." 



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