Ron Vanderstar only had a simple request when it came time to put a men's curling team together for the current season.
"Availability was the key," said Vanderstar.
The collection of curlers the Smithers-based skip assembled - third Lyle Hensrud from Mackenzie; second Wade Eberle from Prince George; and brother and lead Len - make the region five/six northern
champions a real team of the north.
Vanderstar said he and his brother knew Hensrud and Eberle would fit well together with them, as "We've played against them before so we knew their mannerisms.
"It wasn't going to be difficult to make it fit. Once you get on a team everybody tries to collaborate and make the best team you can.
"We sat down together and decided what position we should all play and what would make our strongest team considering our strengths and weaknesses," he added.
The foursome have only played as a team in five games this season, but it didn't stop them from qualifying for the 2012 Canadian Direct Insurance BC Men's Curling Championship in Parksville from Feb. 8 to 12.
Three of the four will be rookies at the provincial championship as Hensrud, with more than 40 years of curling under his broom, is the only member of the makeshift team to have qualified for the men's provincial
championship before.
"We realize that we're an underdog," said Vanderstar. "No question we're not the strongest team in the field. Having said that though, curling is like any other sport - if you can achieve a high level of execution you're going to be competitive regardless of who
you play.
"My goal going in, realistically, is to win half my games," he added. "If our team can win three and lose three, I would consider that a great success. My ultimate goal is to obviously qualify for the playoffs. If we could make the top four that would exceed our expectations, but not our aspirations."
The men's provincial championship this year will have a field of 16 teams.
"No matter what happens to us, I've had a great ride," said Vanderstar.
Eberle, the lone Prince George curler on the team, said it's an attractive year to step up and try to earn a berth.
"They're taking more teams at provincials this year so it was a little bit easier to get there," said the 42 year old. "I thought this was a good year to give it a try. When they called I just jumped at the opportunity."
