Renée Sonnenberg is retiring from competitive curling.
After a nearly 25 year career, the Grande Prairie skip will next be travelling with some of the national women’s teams as a strategy and tactic consultant getting ready for the next Olympics.
The coaching opportunity is freeing her up to take over the Kumon math and reading centre in town, and she says a lot of her decision to retire was based on time.
“Partly it was that I didn’t really have three other players locally that were will to put the time and effort in, and I wasn’t sure that I could put the time and effort in. In the last couple years in getting ready for this last Olympic trials, I pretty much did all my life could handle, and it wasn’t enough.”
Sonnenberg says some of her career highlights include representing Alberta at nationals five times, and she hopes she may have another chance to represent Canada through coaching.
She coached the Dutch team at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, and also earned two provincial titles, as well as two junior provincial titles.
Throughout all her successes, she credits her hometown for always being behind her.
“I’ve had a ton of support throughout my career, and without that, I would never have been able to even attempt it. All the staff at the Grande Prairie curling club have been great, preparing the best ice for me to be able to be ready to go.”
As such, Sonnenberg will remain involved in the Peace Curling Tour.in the area.
Photo by Michael Burns, courtesy curling.ca