RACHEL HOMAN MASTERING THE ICE & BALANCING LIFE
2023 GSOC Masters Saskatoon SK - Photo by Anil Mungal.
in the spotlight - RACHEL HOMAN
W e were extremely fortunate to recently sit down and chat with Canadian and World Champion curler, Rachel Homan, at her home in Alberta. Between breakfast with the kids and getting ready to head out the door to train for the upcoming 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada’s national women’s curling championship. Rachel shares about her ability to balance life and the many challenges being a professional curler throws at her, her family, and her teammates. It does not take long, when speaking with Rachel, to understand her passion for the game and why she has been one of the most dominant skips and teams in international curling for more than a decade. In the competitive and strategic world of curling, Rachel Homan stands out, not just for her remarkable achievements on the ice but also for her exemplary dedication to family, teamwork, and the intricate by Ashley MacInnis Mastering the Ice & Balancing Life
dynamics of the sport. With an illustrious career that includes national and world championships along with many international accolades, Homan and her team have become a household name in Canada, synonymous with curling excellence and sporting integrity. Homan’s journey in curling is a testament to her relentless pursuit of excellence, a trait deeply rooted in her family’s sporting legacy. From watching her relatives curl to carving her own path in the sport, Homan’s narrative is one of passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to her craft. Her insights into the game’s strategies, her experiences balancing a demanding career with a bustling family life, and her thoughts on the future of curling offer a compelling glimpse into the life of a champion. We recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Homan to see how she manages her professional athletic career alongside a busy family life.
“I was just always exposed to curling and involved through my family and I enjoyed it.” then my parents also curl, they met Earl Morris, and my brother and John played in Juniors together and I got to watch some of their success. So, I was just always exposed to curling and involved through my family and I enjoyed it. I love competing and no matter what it is, sports are games, so I got into the competitive side of curling and stuck with it. I was lucky enough to team up with Emma and quite a lot of talented players along the way. To have as much success as we’ve had together is cool and, even more, that we were able to start it together. SoB: I know your husband is a hockey player, and so I’m curious – are your kids showing particular interest in either side, either hockey or curling or both? RH: Yeah, I think when you’re little, curling is something you don’t have to do all that much to participate in. So, I want them to know the basics of curling for sure but to throw those rocks is a little much for them – my eldest is only four, so it’s a lot. But, you know, we’re focused on exposing them too as much as we can. The eldest, for example, has done gymnastics and soccer. This winter, he’s playing hockey. Our little girl is just starting to be able to do activities on her own, so, she’ll be in swimming and gymnastics. It’s lots of fun to watch them find what activities they’re enjoying, getting exercise, and having a good time doing it. We got our son Ryatt a little set of golf clubs and we’re excited to be taking him out to the driving range this coming summer! It’ll be cute.
Spotlight on Business: You’re a household name here in Canada for your impressive career in curling, but could you tell us a bit about yourself, what you do in your downtime and any upcoming events you’re looking ahead to? Rachel Homan: Next up for me is the Scotties, which is coming up in just a few weeks. Downtime is busy right now with three kids under four (Ryatt, Bowyn, and Briggs) and it sometimes feels like we’re just spinning from taking care of them to running to activities. This is a fun stage because we’re seeing what they enjoy doing and learning their personalities so, that’s really where a lot of my time has been taken right now in the offseason. But, in the summer we try and go camping a couple of times and get out golfing as much as we can but, like I said, with three kids, it can be challenging to get downtime! SoB: What is it that got you into curling in the first place? What was the draw, so to speak? RH: Yeah, it was just always in my family. My great- grandfather curled and my grandfather curled – it was a hobby that you could do in the Air Force. They had a gymnasium and a curling rink – just activities they could do in their downtime to get their mind off things. And
SoB: So, I must ask – you grew up in Ottawa and now you’re living just outside of Edmonton… are you a Senators or an Oilers fan? RH: Oh, Senators. Absolutely! You gotta stay with the home team! I’ve got a bunch of toddler Sens tee shirts and jerseys. But it’s hard to pull them away from the Oilers and Connor McDavid, that guy is just so talented and fun to watch. SoB: But back to curling… is there an off-season for you? It looks like it runs pretty much throughout the full year. I know it’s considered a winter sport but is there a typical offseason? RH: Yeah, so the offseason usually runs from the beginning of April until the end of August. It’s not overly long but we have a solid three months or so of complete downtime before we start practicing again. It sort of depends on where you live and train; there are only a few clubs that get ice in August so you might have to travel and get together as a team and then the season’s sort of up and running by the end of August. SoB: OK, so a nice little break. When August hits, then, and you’re fully involved in your season, I’m assuming it’s a very different routine for you during the on-season than the off-season. Could you tell me a bit about what a typical day in the life of getting ready for competition looks like? RH: Yeah, I mean, every day looks a little bit different. And it’s pretty chaotic with the three kids and their schedules. But, a typical day for us looks like the kiddos are up early and we all do breakfast. Then, it’s getting my son out the door for preschool. And then, sometimes I’m able to do a Chiropractic treatment or something similar in the morning. And in the morning, I’ve got Briggs and Bowyn with me. And then Bowyn starts school at noon. So, at that point, I can do practice and workouts, and then it’s straight to pickups at three o’clock. Sometimes, my husband or whoever’s in town to help us out might do one of those for us so that I can get practice and workout done and then come back and help out with the family stuff in the evening with the kids. After school activities, my son plays hockey five days “You must understand the game well. So, this means there’s a lot less explaining, and, in every shot, everyone has a good sense of Plan A or Plan B.”
a week and my daughter has gymnastics so, sometimes in the morning, I might take her to her gymnastics class. And then, swimming starts in March. So, you know, everyday kind of looks a little bit different and I schedule my training and workouts around the kids’ activities and it’s nice to be able to do some other activities during the day, so we have more of our evenings to ourselves and it’s not as hectic. I’m on maternity leave from my main job, which is teaching, so right now, I’m not having to juggle work as
well. Curling is my main job now. A newborn’s full-time so it’s like, full-time and more than full-time! It’s more like having two full-time jobs! I’m just enjoying the infant and newborn stage and it goes by so quickly. So, I’m just fortunate that I’m able to be home as much as I am and it’s hard being away from them and missing certain things. Still, I know that I’m showing them that setting goals, being dedicated, and working hard towards something is important, no matter what you choose. I hope that we’re setting good values in our kids and for them to see what you can achieve when you put your focus into it. So, it’s really that every day looks different for me, there are no days that are the same but I’m able to get my training in during those hours, while the two older ones are both at school and I’ve had different friends watching the baby while I’m practicing, or working out and couple times he’s joined me in the gym and slept through my workout. So yeah, everyday kind of looks different for me! SoB: Over the past decade, you have had a phenomenal win record – more than 80%. What do you think is the key to keeping you and your team at the top of your game without giving away the secret sauce, so to speak? RH: Honestly, I think it comes down to the commitment to teamwork. We worked hard this year as a team, and we were a new team last year. I think it’s made a difference for us to have players that have previously been at the back end and truly understand the strategy. You must
“And we’re not perfect – we make mistakes – but it’s made a big difference to have four back-end players on our team. But I think when you have four players with a really good idea of the strategy, it goes a long way with being able to manage a rock down the sheet and to understand the communication that needs to happen. And we’re not perfect – we make mistakes – but it’s made a big difference to have four back- end players on our team. Last year, we tried out a few different roles which allowed us to figure out where everyone fit best so we could play together well. So, we all learned a lot. We’ve only had one full season where we’ve all worked together, and it brings new challenges. You have new voices that you’re not used to hearing and listening for, and understanding the way a new team member calls a line or the way that they approach the game means a lot of melding the different strategies. It has been a lot of fun,
2024 GSOC Canadian Open Red Deer AB - Photo by Anil Mungal
understand the game well. So, this means there’s a lot less explaining, and, in every shot, everyone has a good sense of Plan A or Plan B. In the past, maybe there would be some misunderstandings or miscommunications and, at our level, one or two shots with a miscommunication occurs is huge.
Team Homan - Photo by Anil Mungal
and it was nice to play different positions last year and see things from a different perspective. I think that was helpful for everyone. And, you know, we also all put in a lot of hard work individually and in the past, too, with different teams but now we’re putting it all together and it’s going well. SoB : You mentioned past experiences just now. Can you tell me a bit about those past teams? What was it like to curl with your brother for the mixed championship? RH: Yeah, that was a lot of fun. It was special to be able to curl with my brother. You don’t get that opportunity very often in sports, especially at higher levels, to be able to play with your family. That’s something I will never forget. Mark is such a talented curler. We live far away from each other now so that probably won’t happen again but it’s a lot of fun to play with your family, if you’re lucky enough to get the chance. SoB: So, you said it was fun playing with your brother and it was so great to have that opportunity. What are some of the other events in your career that stand out and why? RH: I’d say the Olympic Trials in our hometown at an arena where we’d grown up watching everyone else – the Sens playing, concerts were there, comedy shows, everything – when you finally get the opportunity to play at ice level there, it’s something. And when we won, they sounded the goal foghorn, and our friends and family were just packed into the building – that’s something I will never forget. It’s the memories with your friends and family that become the things you cherish. And then, being able to go over to the Olympics with family is obviously something that not everyone gets to do. Those are definitely the memories that stick with me and it’s hard to pick certain memories, but it’s been so awesome to win 15 Slams. You kind of get lost sometimes in the events and the busyness but when you look back at how many Slams we’ve won. It’s cool to sit back and think about all the wins over the years and how the Grand Slam has grown and what it’s become today is pretty awesome. It’s amazing to think back on how it started. “Earl Morris had a huge impact on how we approach the game and taught us the mental piece along with the basics and work ethic that needed to go into the game if we wanted to be at the top level.”
I remember the first meetings about the Grand Slams with Sportsnet and they’ve followed through on their end and turned it into an amazing product to launch and just to be a part of that, I feel so fortunate. So, yeah, hard to pick just one memory because there’s so many good ones. SoB: You have a lot of great memories to reflect on. And, just to take it back a bit, you mentioned your grandparents and your parents both played. Did you have any mentors growing up, as far as the sport, or someone in the community who inspired you while you were playing then or now? RH: Yeah, I think Earl Morris had a huge impact on how we approach the game and taught us the mental piece along with the basics and work ethic that needed to go into the game if we wanted to be at the top level. He showed what was important to focus on,
“hard to pick just one memory because there’s so many good ones.”
which started us off on the right foot and on the right track to get us to this level of success. I’ve had a mental performance coach over the years that has helped me develop into the player that I am and I’m eternally grateful for that relationship and friendship and his ability to help me get the best out of my game. He helps me get the most out of the game and think about it differently.
2023 GSOC Masters Saskatoon SK - Photo by Anil Mungal
It’s been unbelievably fun to learn and develop and grow and to see where the game has grown to. It’s been great to see all the exposure now that we get on TV for our sponsors, and into the game in general for people to be able to watch and tune in and follow along the journey for the season SoB: Now funny, you bring up sponsors, you know, how important is that to both the sport itself and to you and your team? RH: I mean, it’s invaluable. We wouldn’t be able to perform and play at the level that we’re at without the sponsorship partners that we have on the team. It kind of feels like a second family when you develop those relationships and get to meet the employees, just to get to know the people behind the brands and learn the dynamics and everything that goes with what they do. It’s also fun to keep in touch with them throughout the season, and they’re able to follow along and cheer and send their congratulations and they get to experience that journey with us. It’s such a fun partnership and we’re so lucky to have the sponsors, which allow us to be able to do what we love, and they obviously love following along and being able to get exposure for their brands and the same time.
2024 GSOC Canadian Open Red Deer AB - Photo by Anil Mungal
2024 GSOC Canadian Open Red Deer AB - Photo by Anil Mungal
take for granted. We feel so honoured and grateful to be able to entertain and inspire people. A huge passion for me is to get people involved in the game. And then after the game, you get to talk to some fans, friends, and family and you know, they felt every shot with you. And they felt the roller coaster and the emotions of the game right along with you, that is an amazing feeling to feel that support. I’m very lucky to be able to curl at the level that I’m curling at and to do so alongside great people. I have amazing teammates, Tracy (Fleury), Emma (Miskew), and Sarah (Wilkes) are all so talented. And they’ve worked so hard their whole career for that. My whole career, I have been so fortunate to be able to curl, with so many talented players. SoB: Looking ahead, you know, we’ve got the 2026 Olympics on our mind. Are you currently chasing any specific goals like an Olympic run? RH: Yeah, absolutely! We’re right in the middle of making that run for the Olympics. Olympic Trials are coming up and it’s just like the Nationals, you’ve got to win to go. I think that’s a great thing about our
2023 GSOC Kioti Open Pictou Co
2023 GSOC Kioti Open Pictou County NS
2023 GSOC Kioti Open Pictou County NS
2023 GSOC Kioti Open Pictou County NS
sport is that you don’t know until the very end when that last rock is thrown how it’s going to go. We certainly hope to be on the winning end of that, but there are some great teams in Canada, and they will be great representation regardless of the outcome.
ounty NS
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