Kelly Scott's relaxed curling schedule has her feeling rejuvenated as she takes aim at a Scotties berth

Balance is everything in curling.

Time and time again, we're told that everything a curler does well radiates from the cornerstone of a well-balanced slide out of the hack. If you've got that, you can build the rest.

For Kelly Scott, there's another important version of curling equilibrium, and she seems to have struck it just about right as she prepares for the upcoming B.C. Scotties, in Maple Ridge. Gone is a schedule of relentless, time consuming travel and extended hotel stays. The sort of lifestyle that is needed to stay active at the game’s highest levels. What remains is a more manageable juggling act between game day, practice, home and professional life.

“There’s a lot less time spent in airports," Scott says of her readjusted time commitments this season. "We pick up, drive to a spiel and we’re home that same day. That’s been good."

Scott, whose decorated team was upset in the final of the B.C. Scotties in 2014 as they sought their fifth straight provincial title, wanted a change to the grinding life of a grand slam vagabond. "I think we’re just tired," she said, at the time, as she announced that her rink was calling it quits.

The future was unsure, although Scott knew what she wanted moving ahead, should she decide to stay in the game; balance. Balance in playing, in career, in home life.

After years and years of slugging it out at the top levels - with plenty of success to show for it - Scott was ready for change. There was a chance she'd leave the game altogether. Or she could go with column B and stir things up with a new team and a reduced schedule.

Turns out it was column B.

“I did mull it over," says Scott. "If I was prepared to start back at square one with a brand new team. It took the right group of people to give me that encouragement and I’m so glad I did.”

With a new line up in place (although Sarah Pyke remains from Scott's 2013-14 team) and a newly energized feeling, Kelly Scott goes gunning for her 9th provincial title, when eight teams gather for the triple-knockout formatted B.C. Scotties on January 21st.

“That was the goal we started the year with and I think we’re kind of right where we want to be,” said Scott of winning another provincial championship. “We have high hopes for provincials. I mean, that’s what we’ve planned our whole season around. That’s what we’re aiming for. We want to get that B.C. title.”

In essence, that is what Scott - a two-time national and one-time world champion - is all about these days. Provincial curling, with an eye to gaining a national Scotties berth. She and her teammates have ventured out of their province just once so far this season, to play in Red Deer, Alberta. All tolled, they’ve taken part in four World Curling Tour events and a series of cash spiels to get some games in.

“Definitely it’s more of a reduced schedule,” explains Scott. “I think our whole team this year buys into that.”

Along with Pyke (known as Sarah Wazney, previously), second Karla Thompson, vice Shannon Aleksic and alternate Kristen Recksiedler, Scott has found a redefined curling lifestyle that suits her fine, even if the fact that not all of her teammates live in the same city can mean a lack of quality, on-ice time together. Despite that, Scott feels good about the way the rink can spring to life when they play. “When we do come together at cash spiels, you can see that we start out at a pretty consistent level, pretty decent," she says. "But we can ramp it up as the weekend goes on, the more games we get playing together.”

“I just love how everyone comes to perform their role on this team and it just clicks when we’re together," Scott adds, noting that her crew also managed to get in  couple of full training weekends together, earlier in the season.

It appears that a simplified curling life is a good fit for Scott and her teammates, at least for now. It’s a life that sees much, much less travelling and a more flexible schedule that allows for a higher quality of home and work life. Whether the team becomes more active in the future is a conversation for another day. “Next year it’ll be a bit of a discussion," Scott says. "Do we ramp it up a bit or is this the commitment we can all continue on with? Because that’s part of the enjoyment. When you’re not overloaded and letting things down at home or at work. Right now I think it’s a real good balance for everyone.”

As far as how deep the commitment could someday run, say to another shot at an Olympic berth, Scott seems firm.

“No, I would say I would not commit to that. I think that the way the points system is structured - I think it’s a great system - but it favours the twenty year olds that are available to travel week in and week out. And I’ve done that."

Whether Scott and her teammates can win it all at Maple Ridge and book tickets to nationals, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, remains to be seen. Although their tour schedule did not see them win a CTRS event (two finals appearances included), Scott sees reason for guarded optimism.

“We have yet to lose to a B.C. women’s team (this season), says Scott, "but that’s no indication. They’ve all been brand new teams formed this year, as well.”

“I think we’re be up for some really good battles," she continues. Even though Scott has a different team and more relaxed schedule in place, she is still Kelly Scott and will have a bit of a bullseye on her jacket. "I think teams will be out to get us and we’ve gotta be at our best,” she says.

That part hasn't changed.

Perhaps, Scott's curling/life philosophies will be altered again in the future, leading to another busy schedule filled with those airports and hotel rooms, once more. The way she talks, though, you might not want to bet on that.

I’m really happy to still be playing at a fairly high level,” she says with an air of contentment.

“I’m good with chasing the Scotties dream every year."