Officials with the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling are gearing up for this fall’s season-opening tour stop in North Bay.

The Canadian Beef Masters goes October 22nd to 27th at Memorial Gardens.

Former Brier, Olympic and World Curling Champion Kevin Martin, who is also one of the Sportsnet commentators for the Grand Slam, was in the city last week promoting the event.

He tells BayToday back in the 90’s he envisioned a tournament style event like this being as popular as it is today.

“This is not a surprise that the grand slams are so popular world-wide now, no. It makes sense to me, it’s the best against the best. The only way you get into these events, and the Masters is going to be here at the end of October, is straight qualification, straight top 15 on the World Rankings,” he says.

Martin says he heard about North Bay hosting a successful World Women’s Curling Championship last year.

“I wasn’t here, but I heard, the best ever. That’s a big statement, so we’re certainly looking forward to coming here in October and having another world-type event,” Martin tells BayToday.

Full-event passes for the local tour stop are available at the Battalion Box Office and online (CLICK HERE).

(Photo by Chris Dawson/BayToday.ca)

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