47 Briers and counting: Calgary curling fan keeps pin-trading hobby alive in 2017

There is no shortage of unusual traditions that go along with the sport of curling and its premierCanadian tournament the Tim Hortons Brier.

From fans who dress up in costumes every day of the event, to a 79-year-old man pretending to be a dancing bearquirky rituals run strong through the game of rocks and brooms.

CurlyWalz of Calgary has been collecting and trading curling pins for nearly 40 years, and made the trek to St. John's this weekto watch his47th Brier competition. It's believed he has one of the largest collections of curling pins in the world.

Sitting at a table atMile One Centre during the ninth draw on Tuesday afternoon, Walz and his wife Shirleyproudly displayed hundreds of the pins they've collected over the years.

The designs are mostly of curling club crests from different provincial teams through the sport's history, some specifically designed for past Briers or world tournaments.

Declining interest

Pin trading has given Walza great way to get excited about the game and meet people at events all across the country. However, he said there's just not as much interest in the hobby as there was years ago and he's only aware of a few traders in the older generations who still take it as seriously as he does.

"The younger ones don't seem to be picking it up," he said. "A lot of the old timers that were really into it have passed away and a lot of them have quit."

"But it's been prettygood this year, usually there's three or four [pin traders] around, but they're getting scarce."

Walz's collection isworth tens of thousands of dollars by now, and while he brought hundreds of the metal pins to Newfoundland this week, he optedto leave the most valuable and cherished ones at home.

Despite this being his 47th Brier and having travelled to Newfoundland several times before Walzregrets notmakingit to the last Brier in St. John's, back in 1972.

"I missed that one," he said. "I was a working boy then."