The 2011 Casino Rama Curling Skins Game on TSN was held on January 22 and 23 at the Casino Rama Entertainment Centre in Rama, Ontario. The total purse for the event was CAD$100,000.
Four teams were invited to participate. They played one semi-final each on January 22, and the winners played in the final on January 23. Kevin Martin's rink secured the win, taking home a total of $31,000 in a win over David Murdoch, plus a bonus of $15,000. The total winnings for the Martin rink is $57,000, while Murdoch won $25,000.
Teams Invited to the 2011 Skins game include the defending champion David Murdoch rink from Scotland, the Olympic champion Kevin Martin rink, the World champion Kevin Koe rink, and the Olympic women's silver medallist Cheryl Bernard rink. The invitation of Bernard is the second time a women's team has been invited, the first being Jennifer Jones in 2009. Bernard held her own against the heavily favoured Olympic men's champion Kevin Martin, losing by $1000 in the semi-final match, despite winning more skins.
The inclusion of Team Bernard had been controversial, and the Team was at first reluctant to play. Scott Howard, the second on the (excluded) Team Wayne Middaugh rink stated "I think it should be four men's teams... Last time there was a women's team... my dad (Glenn Howard) smoked [them]... I think the ladies are going to get smoked again this year. I just don't see the ladies being able to make those angle raises for two and other similar shots. The men's game is a whole different game and they're not used to playing it." Middaugh stated, "strength and power have a huge impact on the entire game".
Team Bernard Calgary Curling Club, Calgary, Alberta
Skip: Cheryl Bernard Third: Susan O'Connor Second: Carolyn Darbyshire Lead: Cori Morris
Team Koe Saville Sports Centre, Edmonton, Alberta
Skip: Kevin Koe Third: Blake MacDonald Second: Carter Rycroft Lead: Nolan Thiessen
Team Martin Saville Sports Centre, Edmonton, Alberta
Skip: Kevin Martin Third: John Morris Second: Marc Kennedy Lead: Ben Hebert
Team Murdoch Lockerbie Curling Club, Lockerbie, Scotland
Skip: David Murdoch Third: Warwick Smith Second: Glen Muirhead Lead: Ross Hepburn
Draw to the button Kevin Koe's team won the draw to the button contest and an additional $1,000. The total team distance from the button was 3.1 cm. Meanwhile, Team Murdoch was 39.8 cm, Team Martin 194.3 cm and Team Bernard at 463.4 cm.
Games Semi-final dollar amounts 1st & 2nd end: $1000 3rd & 4th end: $1500 5th end: $2000 6th end: $3000 7th end: $4500 8th end: $6500
Koe vs. Murdoch January 22, 1:00pm EST
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Final Koe - $ $ - - - $ - 7,000 Murdoch $ - - - - $ - $ 14,000
Martin vs. Bernard January 22, 8:00pm EST
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Final Martin - - - - $ - $ - $11,000 Bernard $ $ $ - - - - $ $10,000
Final January 23, 1:00pm EST
Final game dollar amounts 1st & 2nd end: $2000 3rd & 4th end: $3000 5th end: $4000 6th end: $6000 7th end: $9000 8th end: $13000 + $15000 bonus for the winner
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Final Murdoch - $ $ - $ - - - $11,000 Martin - - - $ - $ $ $ $46,000
External links Promotional site Final on YouTube
References