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Heather Rankin
Born: Apr 30, 1965
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Resides: Calgary, Alberta
Throws: Right
Profession: VP of Management Consulting Firm, Scotia Consulting Inc
High School: Bridgewater High School in NS
College/University: Acadia University
Biography
In Own Words:
I am married and have a 2 year old son. My family is my biggest love, passion and is what makes me enthusiastic about life. I own a company in Calgary with my best friend. I love to help businesses and project teams deliver better, faster and more accurately. I like to help people learn how to succeed and get what they want. When I retire I would like to become a life coach and inspire people to greatness.

I have been curling for almost 30 years. I have competed at too many events to name but my best result was to skip a team from NS to be Canadian runner-ups while being rewarded with the All star skip award from my peers. That was pretty special even though we lost. I have won a major bonspiel in every province in Canada except Nfld, so I will be playing in Nfld until I am 80 trying to get a win in every province in Canada.

I love curling as you get to travel all over, interact with fans one on one, build relationships with other athletes that last for decades. Watching friends in the game excel, and become parents is special as well. The game is amazing as it is the only individual team sport in the world, where your role and shot making is quite individual until you let the rock go, and then it is up to the team to get the success. Team work is tantamount to success and it requires so much mental toughness to peak at the right time, in the right game all the time working as a team to be the best. Strategy and how to defeat the other skip at the T-Head is still my passion. I study strategy from the men's game, European women, and legends of the past to get an edge on the game I call. It is what makes curling so awesome as you have to have a plan, know how to react to the environment, what has transpired, your team's performance and how as a skip you are feeling to outwit, outplay and outlast the other skip. This is all done while wearing a microphone so you have to stay calm, focused and manage your emotions.
My favourite part of the game to this day is still going into an empty ice rink, turning on the lights, sliding and hearing the pebble break under my steel slider. That sound keeps me playing the game.

Curling Highlights:
- Skipped NS to a runner-up finish at Scotties in 90
- Won the All-Star Skip Award at Scotties in 90
- Played 3rd for NS at 92 Canadian Mixed finished 4th
- Played 3rd for NS at 93 Scotties finished 4th
- Skipped Alberta team at 2001 Olympic Trials
- Alberta Provincial Ladies Runner-up in 2001 as skip
- Alberta Provincial Mixed Runner-up in 2006
- Competed in 3 Players Championships
- Competed in 2 Canada Cups
- Have won at least one major cashspiel in every province in Canada except Newfoundland


Junior Highlights:
- Skipped NS at Canadian Juniors in 84 in Fort St. John, BC.
 
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Questions and Answers

Who were your favourite athletes/heros growing up?
Ed Werenich

What other sports do you play?
In high school I played baseball, swam and volleyball. In university I played varsity volleyball as a setter. I continue to love all sports and my dream is to finish a triathlon.

Do you have any pre-game superstitions or rituals?
Yes, mostly around where I sit in the car or van. I also won't pass anyone on the stairs before a game.

What is your career highlight to date?
Playing in the Canadian final against Alison Goring in 1990 in the Civic Centre in Ottawa, it was packed with screaming fans.

What is one shot you would like to try again?
In the 8th end of the Canadian final I lost my focus, took the wrong ice and missed an open hit for 2, it cost us the Canadians. That would be a good do over.

What is your hidden talent? Something unique?
I imitate Donald Duck for my son. I am freakishly good at Wheel of Fortune and I speed read.

What is the best advice you've ever received?
In curling, Werenich told me by the end of the first end I should know how to draw to the pin on both turns. He also taught me to drink, draw and win, instead of hit, sleep and lose. I still do that today. In life, my parents taught me to live with enthusiasm and passion.

What is your favourite sport other then curling?
Baseball

What is one thing you really want to do before you die?
Attend all 20 Greatest Sport Venues with my best friend Brian. We are attending number 10 this year:
http://www.top20sportsvenues.com

What sporting event would you most like to attend?
Olympics or Wimbledon

What do you wish you were better at?
Golf -- I have potential, but it needs a lot of work.

What is your favourite music? Groups?
Folk Music - I love Stan Rogers, current I like Lady Gaga

What are your favourite television shows?
Criminal Minds, Law and Order and Grey's Anatomy

What is your favourite movie(s)?
Shawshank Redemption, Imagine Me and You

Who was influential in your curling development?
Joyce Myers (my coach in NS she coached me for 10+ years)

What is your most embarrassing moment on the curling ice?
When I curled third for Colleen Jones I was sweeping a peel on arena ice back in the days when it was really frosty, and my feet got hung up in the frost and I face planted and my kilt (yes I wore a kilt -- 2nd most embarrassing moment maybe ) came up over my head and I lay there in front of 5000 screaming Manitoba fans in Brandon with my Flintstone boxer shorts on display. Better way Michael Burns got pictures.

Where would you like to spend a week's vacation?
Scotland and Ireland

What hobbies do you have?
Designing web sites, making movies and attending the top 20 sports venues in the world.

What is your earliest curling memory?
Practicing with my Mom when I was really young.

What kind of Training Regimen do you follow?
Circuit training 4 times a week, swimming for cardio
On Ice -- I throw every day, have team practice 1 or 2 a week. Play as much as I can.

Any Nicknames?
Pudge

What kind of goals have you set for yourself?
To be the best skip and teammate that I can be.

Do others in your Family curl?
Yes, everyone. Dad, Mom, sister, brother, sister-in-law and two nieces.

What do you enjoy most about curling?
The sound of my slider breaking pebble when I practice. The relationships built with women and men across Canada and the World. Finally the strategy of the game is so amazing, it is like chess on ice where you have to adapt to luck and misses.

Education
I have a Computer Science degree from Acadia University as well as a business minor. Management training with Accenture. I am continually learning.

Other Olympic Sport you'd like to try?
Luge

Most memorable curling experience?
Playing in the Canadian Final at the Ottawa Civic Centre, with thousands of screaming fans yelling Go Rankin Go. Olympic Trials in Regina were pretty special as well.

Who is your curling rival?
Anyone who plays defensive :)

Who is your greatest competitor?
Sherry Middaugh --- had some of the best games in my life against her. She is an amazing skip and it is always fun.

Favourite colour?
Red

What is your favourite book?
Golf is not a game of perfect by Bob Rotella, Outliers is pretty great too!
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