Ten years ago, it was Sarah Koltun and Thomas Scoffin.

This past weekend, it was Alex Kopan and Inuvik’s Deklen Crocker taking tips from curling instructor Al Kersey.

The instructor from Surrey, B.C., held his annual two-day clinic at the Whitehorse Curling Club on Saturday and Sunday.

“I’m able to read what their needs are,” Kersey said of his clinic’s purpose. “I don’t come with too much of a plan. I design it as I go towards the appropriate needs. It’s kind of detect and correct.”

Kersey’s lessons ranged from skill enhancement and situational game situations to team building and nutrition.

The coach said curlers begin charting their course at a young age.

The successes of skips Koltun and Scoffin over the past decade proves that.

“Maybe I didn’t have so much to do with teaching Sarah and Thomas how to curl, but I’d like to think I had an influence on helping them make good decisions,” Kersey said.

Inuvik coach Stephanie Crocker said the N.W.T. rink attended Kersey’s clinic as a means of preparing for the Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C., next February.

Led by skip Deklen Crocker, 15, the team also includes Hay River resident Logan Gagnier (third) alongside Inuvik front end Braeden Picek and Ethan Allen.

The group beat a Yellowknife team for the right to represent the N.W.T. at nationals, coach Crocker said.

“This is all about progress and moving forward,” she told the Star.

“It was good to see the camaraderie between the boys this weekend.”

Meanwhile, 11-year-old Kopan and his boys team from Whitehorse are vying to be the Yukon’s next high-level junior curling rink.

Team members include Neil Mikkelson (third), Alex Sumner (second), Nathan Sumner (lead) and Alex Schultz (fifth).

“I expect to see them on the competitive circuit before long,” Kersey said. “I saw lots of potential. I spent the weekend giving them a bag of tools so they could develop themselves.”

The Prepare for the Podium junior curling clinic was presented by the Whitehorse Elks Lodge.