The Americas Challenge was a curling challenge held by the World Curling Federation between teams in its Americas zone. The winner of the challenge qualified their country for the World Curling Championships, and in later years, the runner-up for the now defunct World Qualification Event.[1] The challenge is not automatically held every year, and only takes place when a team in the Americas zone challenges the second-ranked Americas team in that year's World Curling Championship (or the first-ranked team if the second-ranked is hosting).

Americas Challenge
Established2009
Abolished2021

The challenge merged with the Pacific-Asia Curling Championships to become the Pan Continental Curling Championships in 2022.

History edit

The first challenge was held in 2009, with Brazil losing to the United States. Brazil again challenged and lost to the United States in 2010, 2015, and 2017.[2] In January 2018, with the United States automatically qualifying as hosts of the 2018 World Men's Curling Championship, Brazil challenged and lost to Canada. The November 2018 challenge was the first to see more than two teams competing, with Guyana joining the challenge for the first time.[3] In 2019, Mexico joined the challenge with Guyana not competing. United States would win again, going 4-0.

A women's event has only been held twice, in 2017 and 2019. In 2017, Brazil challenged the United States but lost. Brazil's women's team challenged the United States in November 2018, but conceded to the United States to qualify for the World Qualification Event. In 2019, Mexico joined the challenge but the United States still won going 4-0.

Champions edit

Year Men Women Host
Winning country Winning team Winning country Winning team
2009   United States Todd Birr, Paul Pustovar, Greg Wilson, Kevin Birr No challenge held Bismarck, North Dakota, United States
2010   United States Pete Fenson, Shawn Rojeski, Joe Polo, Tyler George No challenge held Grafton, North Dakota, United States
2015   United States Heath McCormick, Chris Plys, Joe Polo, Ryan Brunt, Colin Hufman No challenge held Blaine, Minnesota, United States
2017   United States John Shuster, Tyler George, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner, Joe Polo   United States Nina Roth, Tabitha Peterson, Aileen Geving, Becca Hamilton, Cory Christensen Blaine, Minnesota, United States
January
2018
  Canada Glenn Howard, Adam Spencer, David Mathers, Scott Howard No challenge held London, Ontario, Canada
November
2018
  United States Greg Persinger (Fourth), Rich Ruohonen (Skip), Colin Hufman, Phil Tilker No challenge held Chaska, Minnesota, United States
2019   United States Greg Persinger (Fourth), Rich Ruohonen (Skip), Colin Hufman, Phil Tilker, Tyler George   United States Tabitha Peterson, Becca Hamilton, Tara Peterson, Aileen Geving, Natalie Nicholson Eveleth, Minnesota, United States
2021   Canada Brendan Bottcher, Darren Moulding, Brad Thiessen, Karrick Martin No challenge held Lacombe, Alberta, Canada

References edit

  1. ^ Davis, Terry L. (November 12, 2018). "Americas Challenge begins Friday in Chaska". USA Curling. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  2. ^ "CANADA TO BE CHALLENGED BY BRAZIL FOR WORLD MEN'S BERTH DURING WFG CONTINENTAL CUP". Curling Canada. September 28, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "Three teams set to battle in America's Challenge". World Curling Federation. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.