Team Carson — Orrin Carson, Logan Carson, Archie Hyslop and Charlie Gibb — went unbeaten to win the Take Out Trophy in Basel, beating Switzerland’s Team Stocker 4-1, a run that cements Scottish junior curling as a force heading into the World Juniors.
That Basel victory, together with a Mercure Perth Masters title and a fourth Scottish junior crown, shows why rising stars curling are testing themselves in men’s events to sharpen strategy and shot-making before the junior curling championship in February.
British Curling’s Pathway Manager Nancy Smith praised the depth of talent and noted that senior-level experience should pay dividends for the junior curling world when Scotland’s quartet arrive in the World Juniors.
Key Takeaways
- Team Carson’s unbeaten Basel win highlights Scotland’s medal potential at the World Juniors.
- Playing in men’s fields gives juniors real-world pressure and varied ice conditions.
- British Curling emphasizes structured pathways to move athletes from junior to elite levels.
- Mixed doubles results from Uppsala show broader national depth for Scottish junior curling.
- Preparation now could determine outcomes at the junior curling championship in February.
Rising Scottish Teams Make Waves on the International Men’s Tour
Teenage curlers from Scotland are forcing attention on the men’s circuit with strong results and smart planning. Their recent wins show a clear path from junior titles to senior tests. British Curling’s pathway emphasis has pushed squads to seek tougher opposition to sharpen skills before major international events.
Team Carson Basel stunned the field in Switzerland by going undefeated at the Take Out Trophy Basel, closing with a 4-1 final win over Team Stocker. The quartet previously claimed the Mercure Perth Masters, marking a major senior-level breakthrough while most members remain teenagers.
Four national junior crowns sit on their record, underlining a long run of domestic dominance. The move into men’s events reflects a deliberate Scottish juniors to men’s tour strategy. Orrin Carson has stressed sharper decision-making and more consistent shotmaking as the adjustments needed at senior level.
Coaching staff and pathway managers point to varied ice conditions and stronger opposition as key elements of World Junior preparation. Regular exposure to continental teams helps these young athletes learn game management and pressure play before February’s junior world stage.
- Nancy Smith highlights targeted improvements and training intensity as vital to sustaining momentum.
- Consistent men’s competition serves as live rehearsal for match tempo and team communication.
- Program models from elite track and field show how community backing and focused support accelerate transitions.
junior curling championship: What to expect at the World Juniors
The 2025 World Junior Curling Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo will offer a clear test of depth and readiness among under-21 teams. With ten men’s and ten women’s squads set to compete, analysts will watch which programs translate senior-level experience into consistent results. Many teams use the event as part of a wider international junior curling calendar that shapes training and selection decisions through the season.
Key performance indicators for medal contention
Teams that aim for the podium show steady shot execution, fast strategic reads, and calm play under pressure. Match data from recent tours show that squads with strong percentages on takeouts and draws win more tight ends. Familiarity with varied ice in tournaments across Europe and North America helps teams adapt when the ice shifts late in play.
British Curling pathway managers and coaches often point to mixed-discipline exposure as evidence of potential. National programs that support juniors in men’s or mixed events report quicker tactical growth and better late-game decision-making, traits the World Juniors demand.
How senior-level exposure benefits junior competitors
Playing senior events shortens the margin for error. Junior athletes face opponents who make fewer mistakes and who press tactical advantages. Regular senior competition forces juniors to sharpen shot-making and to think quicker. That experience proves useful when teams meet European opponents with complex systems.
Examples from the tour show that teams who compete against Swiss and other continental sides gain confidence on hostile ice. Those gains often translate into stronger performances at the World Juniors expectations, where pressure mounts for every draw and takeout.
Calendar and stakes for U.S. and international audiences
For the US curling audience, the World Juniors serve as the year’s key under-21 event and a glimpse of the Olympic talent pipeline. The April schedule in Cortina will feed into selection conversations and funding plans for 2026.
Teams chase qualification for the next World Championship while seeking the junior crown. Fans and stakeholders follow the international junior curling calendar to measure progress and to spot medal contenders juniors curling before they move to senior ranks. For background and event details see the official event preview on the Milano Cortina site: World Junior Curling Championships 2025 overview.
Mixed doubles and youth pairings showing global depth
The Nordic Curling Tour stop in Uppsala highlighted rising talent in mixed play. Young teams pushed established pairs and showed how international exposure sharpens competitive instincts for mixed doubles juniors.
Scottish mixed doubles entries made a strong statement. Katie McMillan and Angus Bryce topped their pool and beat the Schwaller pair in the quarterfinals. Lisa Davie and Mark Watt matched them with a 4-1 pool record, leaving elite teams out of the playoffs.
The final provided a lesson in resilience. McMillan and Bryce erased a 7-4 deficit with two ends remaining to win 8-7. That comeback demonstrated clutch decision-making under pressure and deep shot-making skill among youth pairings.
Program-level support played a clear role. National coaching, travel opportunities, and study-friendly schedules helped young athletes face world-class opponents. Nancy Smith noted these results as proof of a robust pathway feeding talent into senior ranks.
To widen the talent pipeline curling needs targeted funding and community backing. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation offers a useful model for removing barriers and focusing resources on promising juniors.
Observing the Uppsala Mixed Doubles shows how the Nordic Curling Tour can accelerate careers. Regular international match play gives mixed doubles juniors a stage to learn, adapt, and prepare for elite competition.
Pathways, mentorship, and the broader next-generation movement
National programs are shaping how juniors move from local rinks to international ice. British Curling pathway work focuses on technical skill, tactical decision-making, and staged competition exposure. Regular entry into senior men’s and mixed events, plus tournaments like the Mercure Perth Masters and Nordic Curling Tour, gives players real pressure that mirrors World Juniors and elite events.
Mentorship and community support amplify those structures. Athlete mentorship curling programs pair experienced coaches and past competitors with rising players to refine shotmaking and strategy. Removing barriers — travel grants, equipment support, and flexible scheduling — helps keep talented kids in the game and eases the youth to elite transition.
Team Carson’s rise from junior dominance to senior wins shows how coordinated coaching, pathway oversight, and competition planning work together. Associations such as the Ontario Curling Council and Curling Canada reinforce coaching certification and player development to sustain next-generation athletes.
The movement also benefits from club-level innovation and broader collaboration. Practical guides on strengthening clubs and building youth pipelines can be found through resources like Curling Ontario’s Enhance Club Potential, which outlines grassroots steps that complement national strategies and support long-term athlete development.
