Aspiring curlers in the Energy City had the opportunity to learn from the best of the best on Tuesday night.

Olympic Champion Russ Howard, his daughter and CurlSask Executive Director Ashley Howard, and Briar Champ Pat Simmons were all in town to instruct folks in the finer points of the increasingly popular sport.

"These are the types of things that will make this province better in the long run. I think we all concentrate too much on competitive curling, and every competitive curler had to start right here, like we're doing tonight. No better than to have Pat Simmons here to be instructing, and hopefully we can generate some interest," shared Russ Howard.

"Everyone started somewhere. I would have attended things similar to this when I was their age. Everyone starts somewhere, and it begins with lighting a spark or a flame, so to speak, under them. Sometimes that's all it takes," Simmons also chimed in.

Curlers of a variety of ages got down to the basics with skills such as delivery and sweeping, however, Russ Howard had one specific tool in his pouch he wanted to impart to his students.

"The balance is key. People overlook that. With curling you can put your weight on the rock, you can put your weight on the broom, and get away with it, but you really can't when you go to release it, if you want to get to a better level. You've gotta control the rock."

He demonstrated this to those observing by sliding out with his hands straight out to the side.

"That's not easy to do on Teflon, and hopefully it gives the kids that type of pointer. You really have to have perfect balance. My dad used to teach clinics and he'd do 10 hours of instruction before he'd let you throw a rock, because you've got to be balanced, otherwise it's controlling you."

"We've found that the success rate after a clinic is fantastic. They just get better, so hopefully we can get that across to them," Howard added.