As a player, never made it to the Olympic Games.

Now as a coach, the 52-year-old curler from Kelowna is on the verge of living out a lifelong dream.

Ursel will guide the host country香蕉视频直播檚 national men香蕉视频直播檚 curling team next month at the in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Ursel, now in his third season coaching the foursome, is grateful for what could well be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just great to be going, in any capacity,香蕉视频直播� said Ursel. 香蕉视频直播淚 never made it as a player, so it香蕉视频直播檚 like a dream come true and I香蕉视频直播檓 super excited.

香蕉视频直播淚 feel pretty lucky,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淚 know it香蕉视频直播檚 for a different country (than Canada), but I think it香蕉视频直播檚 just going to be a great experience.香蕉视频直播�

Ursel spent five months coaching the Kim team during the 2015-16 season, then returned for another 12-week stint last season.

It was last spring that the young South Korean team realized a dream, winning their country香蕉视频直播檚 national trials and qualifying for the Olympic Games.

香蕉视频直播淚t was so satisfying,香蕉视频直播� Ursel said of the Korean team香蕉视频直播檚 Olympic qualification. 香蕉视频直播淭hey beat the team (Soo-Hyuk Kim) that had been national champions seven years in a row, so it was just a great accomplishment.香蕉视频直播�

Ursel, a three-time B.C. men香蕉视频直播檚 champ as a player, has enjoyed watching the team evolve and believes the Chang-Min Kim rink has a legitimate chance to make it onto the podium.

The wild card, said Ursel, will be how well the young curlers cope with the pressure and distractions of playing in their home country.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e a great group of guys, they香蕉视频直播檝e improved so much and it香蕉视频直播檚 really gratifying,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 firmly believe they can medal.

香蕉视频直播淭he million dollar question is how will they do with the pressure?香蕉视频直播� Ursel added. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 going to be pretty demanding, the media attention, the exposure will be like nothing they香蕉视频直播檝e seen. They香蕉视频直播檝e never played in front of more than 200 people. There香蕉视频直播檚 going to be about 3,500 in the area there and TV and media, so we香蕉视频直播檒l see how they deal with that.香蕉视频直播�

From Ursel香蕉视频直播檚 perspective, his main priority in Pyeongchang will be coaching the Korean men香蕉视频直播檚 curling team. But that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 mean the Kelowna man will restrict his Olympic experience to curling only.

香蕉视频直播淚n talking to (former Olympians) Kevin Martin and Thomas Olsrud, they told us to make sure you enjoy the experience, don香蕉视频直播檛 go in there too serious and forget about what香蕉视频直播檚 going on around you,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen we have some down time, I香蕉视频直播檓 going to go out and see some of the other events, experience the culture, just try and take it all in.

香蕉视频直播淵ou may never get the chance to do something like this again.香蕉视频直播�

Ursel and the Korean men香蕉视频直播檚 team are in Camrose, AB this week for the Canadian Open, the last major event in North America before next month香蕉视频直播檚 games.

The team will then spend the following two weeks practising in Canada, before heading to Pyeongchang, South Korea in early February.

The curling competition at 2018 Olympic Games is set for Feb. 14 to 25.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

whenderson@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .