For Jennifer Baxter, stepping onto the curling ice provides a much-needed escape from the challenges of her daily life.
As a key member of the Christina Black team, Baxter, 38, is preparing to represent Nova Scotia at the upcoming Canadian Olympic trials in Halifax, commencing this Saturday.
With no men’s team from Nova Scotia qualifying for the trials, the spotlight is solely on Team Black to potentially become the first Nova Scotia team to compete in Olympic curling for Canada.
In a pool of eight men’s and eight women’s teams contending for a spot in the Olympics in Italy starting on Feb. 6, Baxter balances her curling commitments with her role as a learning center teacher at the Halifax Regional Centre for Education.
Unlike some remote-working elite curlers, Baxter cannot work while traveling for events, necessitating time off without pay, a situation remedied by the addition of a fifth team member, Marlee Powers, to reduce Baxter’s travel requirements.
Baxter’s daily routine involves leaving for work around 8 a.m., returning no earlier than 7 p.m., and training with her team after work, making for an intense schedule.
On a personal note, Baxter, married three years ago, faces fertility struggles with her husband, along with the recent passing of her father while she was competing in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts earlier this year.
Chasing the dream
Given the sacrifices and challenges, is competitive curling truly rewarding for Baxter?
“Curling has been a lifelong passion for me,” Baxter shared. “It’s hard to imagine life without it and what I would do once I’m done with it.”
Reflecting on her coach’s view of curling as a sanctuary, Baxter finds solace in the sport, leaving life’s burdens behind while focusing on her team and the task at hand.
“It’s a great way to temporarily escape reality,” she added.
Ranked fourth in the women’s field at the Olympic trials, Team Black, led by skip Christina Black, embodies the resilience and determination of Nova Scotians.
“We persevere and work tirelessly,” Black noted. “Nova Scotians are known for their hard work, and we aim to leave everything on the ice and in every aspect of our lives.”
Team Black’s recent success at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, including a bronze medal, has fueled their optimism for the trials, anticipating the support of the local fans as a strategic advantage.
