For the last six years, Josh Vanderburg has been head ice technician at the YNCU Curling Centre, home to the Soo Curlers Association.
He started working at the facility 15 years ago as a self-described ‘rink rat.’
“I make sure we have the best playing conditions for Soo Curlers members or any events that we have, like the Henderson Metal Fall Classic or any provincial or national tournaments,” Vanderburg told SooToday.
Though he has assistants, Vanderburg logs many hours as the curling club’s head ice technician.
The local curling season runs from mid-October to the end of April and getting the ice ready is a painstaking process.
“You start sealing the floor and spray it with water until you start to build ice. Then you build up a little bit more ice and then you paint it.
"That’s called white washing. Then you lay down your decals and lines. With everything going well that takes probably 10 days. If there are any hiccups it could take up to 14 days,” Vanderburg said.
The ice is melted at the end of the season.
Vanderburg has prepared the ice for many northern Ontario tournaments and has met several notable curlers.
“I’ve seen the Brad Jacobs rink, obviously, as well as Matt Dunstone, Brad Gushue and the Italian Retornaz rink at the Henderson Metal Fall Classic. I’ve seen Japanese teams, Korean teams and American teams. I've had a chance to talk to a lot of them that come through here and they're always very happy to be here and happy to be curling on good ice.”
Vanderburg’s passion for ice maintenance stems from his own experience as a curler.
He curled competitively from 14 until his early 20s, including for Sault College.
"We won the provincials in 2015, but we lost the national final in 2016. So, I have one gold and some silvers. I still curl in our Soo Curlers Major League on Wednesday nights.”
Vanderburg said he enjoys the camaraderie between teammates.
“You're only playing with four people so you have that closer bond with your team. It's a good sport to take up in the winter. I’ve played skip, lead, second, I played vice. I played in every position.”
Vanderburg was one of 31 individuals honoured at Sault College’s first-ever Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in August.
“It was a cool honour. It was nice for them to do that,” Vanderburg said.
He studied Digital Film Production at Sault College.
“When I was a kid I enjoyed making movies with my brothers so I thought I'd do that and I got to curl for the college as well, but while I was taking film I always knew I wanted to be an ice maker.”
After years of service for Soo Curlers, Vanderburg will be leaving the YNCU Curling Centre to work for the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
He will work as a city facility operator, maintaining the ice at GFL Memorial Gardens, Northern Community Centre and the John Rhodes Community Centre.
“There are about 10 operators with the city rinks. It'll be basically the same except I’ll drive a Zamboni instead of walking behind a handheld scraper. Driving a Zamboni is pretty cool.”
Vanderburg said the Soo Curlers Association and the YNCU Curling Centre will always feel like home to him.
He said he will lend a hand at the curling club until a new head ice technician is trained.
“I'm going to give my full support to Soo Curlers this year if they need help. Just because I'm leaving as an employee doesn't mean that I'm completely leaving.”