By Jono Edwards for the Otago Daily Times
Otago's bonspiels could be another victim of a changing climate as the number and severity of frosts are predicted to steeply decline in the region.
The severity of frosts will probably reduce and frost seasons will likely be shorter, Niwa predicts. It's feared this could stop curling on outdoor frozen ponds. Photo: 123RF
A recent National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research report outlining the potential impacts of climate change on Otago predicts the number and severity of frost days steeply reducing in the coming century.
By 2040 reductions of 10 to 15 frost days per year are projected for inland parts of the region if greenhouse gas emissions go unchecked.
About 20 to 40 fewer frost days are predicted by 2090 for inland areas.
The severity of frosts will probably reduce and frost seasons will likely be shorter.
It could mean the end of the country's traditional bonspiel.
Since 1879, when the conditions have been right, curlers from across the country have dropped everything for a two-day national curling competition on outdoor frozen ponds.
The last time the conditions were cold enough was 2015, when it was held in Naseby, but generally they are held at the Idaburn Dam in the Ida Valley.
The national championships were held in 2015 in Naseby, which also hosted the world curling champs qualifiers indoors in January 2019. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton
Central Otago's curling stalwarts say if predictions are accurate it will be a huge loss.
Naseby Curling Council secretary Jock Scott said it would "undoubtedly" make it much more difficult to hold the national bonspiel, as they required consecutive extremely cold nights.
"It's 100mm of ice that needs to be formed to comfortably hold a bonspiel, maybe more these days.
"Although, I think these are changing times. The ancient game is starting to lose it a little bit among the younger generations and we're hell bent on keeping it alive."
It was hard to know who was right with talk of climate and trends, he said.
"All I know is that, thinking back to when I was a kid, the winters seemed to be a lot harder."
New Zealand Curling treasurer Ken Gillespie, of Oturehua, said bonspiel seasons usually ran on a cycle.
"I don't know if anyone has the ability to know where we are going."
It would be a shame for the events to become more rare, as they were ingrained in the area's history.
"Curling evolved because it got so cold here in the winter and when the miners couldn't mine they went curling, because they were English and Scottish.
"It's a tremendous get-together.
"The atmosphere of everyone on one big dam is pretty tremendous."
Curling may be held indoors only if predictions of less severe winters in Otago eventuate. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton
This story first appeared in the Otago Daily Times.
