Curling hunks strip down to skivvies to pose for cheesecake calendar

REGINA – It takes some pretty big stones to strip down to your skivvies and pose for a photo, but that’s exactly what some of the beefiest hunks in the sport of curling have done.

The 2014 Men of Curling Calendar was released Tuesday.

Proceeds will go to a number of different charities, including the Canadian Spinal Research Organization and the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.

Mike McEwen, skip of Team Manitoba, is on the cover wearing form-fitting briefs while balancing on concrete blocks.

Most of the models are from Canada: Ben Hebert of Calgary, Carter Rycroft of Grande Prairie, Alta., John Morris of Chestermere, Alta., Jon Mead of Winnipeg, Craig Savill of Ottawa, Brad Jacobs and E.J. Harnden of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Paul Flemming of Halifax.

Rounding out the models are Niklas Edin of Sweden, Thomas Ulsrud of Norway and David Murdoch of Scotland.

“It’s for a great cause and I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” said Hebert. “We thought it would just be fun to do. We don’t get asked a whole bunch to be models in our sport by any stretch of the imagination.”

Hebert admitted it was a bit awkward to strike the cheesecake pose.

“I haven’t taken a whole bunch of shots with not a lot of clothing on,” he said. “I think the stereotype of curlers drinking beer (is) slowing going away with a lot of athletes in the game. I think that’s what the calendar represents.”

(CJME, The Canadian Press)