The Grand Slam of Curling is back on the ice this week in Nisku, Alta., for the Tour Challenge, but it’s the next generation of curlers taking centre stage.

For the first time, the event is introducing both an under-25 and under-15 division — a move organizers hope will help “grow the game” by giving young athletes a chance to compete on one of curling’s biggest stages.

The U25 competition runs Oct. 16–19 at the Beaumont Curling Club, featuring 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams in round robin play. The U15 event, with eight teams, also takes place this week, with both finals scheduled for Sunday at the Silent Ice Centre — the same day the sport’s top professionals will battle for the Tour Challenge title.

“The curling landscape has changed immensely over the past years, and we are seeing mo

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