As a player, never made it to the Olympic Games.

Now as a coach, the 52-year-old curler from Kelowna is on the verge of living out a lifelong dream.

Ursel will guide the host country害羞草研究所檚 national men害羞草研究所檚 curling team next month at the in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Ursel, now in his third season coaching the foursome, is grateful for what could well be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just great to be going, in any capacity,害羞草研究所� said Ursel. 害羞草研究所淚 never made it as a player, so it害羞草研究所檚 like a dream come true and I害羞草研究所檓 super excited.

害羞草研究所淚 feel pretty lucky,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淚 know it害羞草研究所檚 for a different country (than Canada), but I think it害羞草研究所檚 just going to be a great experience.害羞草研究所�

Ursel spent five months coaching the Kim team during the 2015-16 season, then returned for another 12-week stint last season.

It was last spring that the young South Korean team realized a dream, winning their country害羞草研究所檚 national trials and qualifying for the Olympic Games.

害羞草研究所淚t was so satisfying,害羞草研究所� Ursel said of the Korean team害羞草研究所檚 Olympic qualification. 害羞草研究所淭hey beat the team (Soo-Hyuk Kim) that had been national champions seven years in a row, so it was just a great accomplishment.害羞草研究所�

Ursel, a three-time B.C. men害羞草研究所檚 champ as a player, has enjoyed watching the team evolve and believes the Chang-Min Kim rink has a legitimate chance to make it onto the podium.

The wild card, said Ursel, will be how well the young curlers cope with the pressure and distractions of playing in their home country.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e a great group of guys, they害羞草研究所檝e improved so much and it害羞草研究所檚 really gratifying,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 firmly believe they can medal.

害羞草研究所淭he million dollar question is how will they do with the pressure?害羞草研究所� Ursel added. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be pretty demanding, the media attention, the exposure will be like nothing they害羞草研究所檝e seen. They害羞草研究所檝e never played in front of more than 200 people. There害羞草研究所檚 going to be about 3,500 in the area there and TV and media, so we害羞草研究所檒l see how they deal with that.害羞草研究所�

From Ursel害羞草研究所檚 perspective, his main priority in Pyeongchang will be coaching the Korean men害羞草研究所檚 curling team. But that doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean the Kelowna man will restrict his Olympic experience to curling only.

害羞草研究所淚n talking to (former Olympians) Kevin Martin and Thomas Olsrud, they told us to make sure you enjoy the experience, don害羞草研究所檛 go in there too serious and forget about what害羞草研究所檚 going on around you,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hen we have some down time, I害羞草研究所檓 going to go out and see some of the other events, experience the culture, just try and take it all in.

害羞草研究所淵ou may never get the chance to do something like this again.害羞草研究所�

Ursel and the Korean men害羞草研究所檚 team are in Camrose, AB this week for the Canadian Open, the last major event in North America before next month害羞草研究所檚 games.

The team will then spend the following two weeks practising in Canada, before heading to Pyeongchang, South Korea in early February.

The curling competition at 2018 Olympic Games is set for Feb. 14 to 25.

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