By Jonathan Brazeau

When we chatted with John Epping during the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard, he acknowledged that it may take a while for his revamped Winnipeg-based team to qualify for the Grand Slam of Curling series.

"I always say, especially with a new team, it's a marathon, not a sprint, and it might take some time to get things rolling," he said.

Well, sometimes you’re Eliud Kipchoge and other times you’re Usain Bolt.

Following the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard, Epping cruised through the AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic in Cornwall, Ontario, winning seven straight games to reach the final. Although Epping lost 6-4 to Scotland’s Grant Hardie last Sunday, the runner-up finish earned his team a berth to the GSOC Co-op Invitational, the first Grand Slam of Curling event of the season, running Oct. 13-18 at Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

The Grand Slam of Curling partnered with established tour events to create the Satellite Events series this season. Winners qualify for direct entry into Grand Slam tournaments. Since Hardie had already been selected to compete in the GSOC Co-op Invitational, Epping received the berth.

This week's Eight Ends column is all about Epping as we caught up again with the Toronto skip to discuss his fast-track return to the Grand Slams, his season so far and more.

FIRST END: Make no mistake, securing a spot in the Grand Slam was one of Epping’s goals heading into the AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic, but he knew it wouldn’t be easy. Epping wasn’t the only one keen to qualify, with other teams on the outside looking in.

Epping said his team was fortunate to face Hardie in the final, knowing that he'd be in line for the berth with the Scottish squad already in.

"It was a tough field, and we knew that the chances were a little bit slim, but we had a great week," said Epping, whose team is now No. 14 in the world rankings. "We're really happy that we get an opportunity to go to Victoria."

Epping is excited for second Ryan Wiebe, as the 26-year-old will get to play in his first Grand Slam of Curling major tournament. That served as a bit of motivation during the AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic.

"Not that we're all not trying hard, but we were (trying) a little extra hard for Ryan because it's a pretty cool experience being in the Grand Slams," Epping said. "They’re such great events, highly thought of, and, obviously, the field is the best in the world. Pretty pumped for him."

SECOND END: Let's flashback to 2008. Epping became a regular on the Grand Slam circuit when he threw second stones alongside Wayne Middaugh, Jon Mead and Scott Bailey.

Hmm, does that sound familiar? All these years later, the roles have changed. The 43-year-old Epping is now the veteran skip, taking a younger second under his wing.

"I like to say that I was spoiled when I was his age, that I got to be surrounded by Wayne Middaugh, Jon Mead and Scott Bailey, three of the best to ever play the game," said Epping, who has won four Grand Slam titles, including three as a skip. "I just kind of soaked everything in, asked all the questions and really just tried to feed off their experience and learn."

"I think Ryan kind of thinks that's what we're doing, hopefully, for him. What's really been neat is he's been asking a lot of questions. That's the biggest thing," he added. "He's just asking a ton of questions. As somebody in his position, that's really important, but also, I want to make sure that he feels like he has a voice and input, and we do take his input really seriously.

"Just because he's younger doesn't mean that it's just got to be the older experienced guys doing all the work and offering all the input. He's had some great ideas, and I think he's really fitting into his position well."

Wiebe was born in Winnipeg but lives in Toronto. That allows him to train with Epping, while their other teammates, third B.J. Neufeld and lead Ian McMillan, are in Winnipeg.

"It really helped form the squad," Epping said on the Toronto-Winnipeg split, "making sure two people were together to practise when we're not on the road competing and still get together and do training camps together.

"Obviously, it's super important — centralized training in our sport these days — but that's not always going to be happening. So when we're practising on our own, it's nice that we're able to pair off two and two."

THIRD END: The new-look team played its first event at the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard. Epping almost advanced to the playoffs, but lost 4-3 to Joël Retornaz in the C-qualifiers.

Despite missing the cut, Epping took positives from Oakville that carried into Cornwall.

"We kind of kept building as the week went on," he said. "I think the first few games we were definitely trying to get to know each other. You always call it that kind of honeymoon stage. Then, I think, as the week went on, we started to open up more and have some great discussions. We only got better as the week went on.

"To be fair, we played seven games, we went 4-3, lost in the C-side, but we lost in the eighth end with hammer. You don't lose many of those games. For us, it felt like it was actually a very successful week."

FOURTH END: We can't ignore Epping's quarterfinal matchup at the AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic against Lukas Klima of Czechia. I mean, look at this ridiculous line score.

Epping opened with a three-ender. Not bad. Klima came back to tie it over the next two ends, then later added four points in the fifth to lead 7-4. After alternating singles, Epping knotted it up with another three-ender in the eighth, then stole the winning point in the extra end.

Simply bananas. We can only imagine what the end-by-end win probability graph looks like for this one, but it probably resembles AlpenFury at Canada's Wonderland.

"Yeah, it was a bit of a bit of a roller-coaster ride," Epping said. "We actually played quite well the first four ends, and they seemed to be hanging on by a thread. Then one little bad end by us, and they took a big one. Coming home down three with the five-rock rule, you're going to get your chances, and we did. Then, in the extra end, it's not often that when the other team goes to throw their last shot, they have no shot. We actually felt like we had the game won when we made my last one. The guys swept it perfectly to the spot where he could not get it out.

"That was awesome, but also just a testament again to, I think, the older, experienced side of the team where you just keep plugging away. You never quit, no give up on us and play until we can't play anymore."

FIFTH END: It seems fitting the AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic was the one that helped Epping get back into the Grand Slams.

The event is one of the longest-running on tour and pays tribute to co-founder Shorty Jenkins, the legendary ice maker known as the "King of Swing."

Originally held in Brockville and now taking place in Cornwall, Epping is a five-time AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic champion, winning the men's title more times than any other skip.

"It's one of the first events I played when I went to the men's circuit. I've played that event probably for over 20 years, so I feel very comfortable there," he said. "The spectators and fans, they're so gracious over the years I've been a part of the event. I think it's a special feeling when I go and compete there.

"I don't know what it is about the Shorty Jenkins Classic, but it tends to bring out the best in me."

SIXTH END: Wiebe will not be the only Grand Slam debutant at the GSOC Co-op Invitational.

Scotland’s Orrin Carson plus Takumi Maeda and Miyu Ueno of Japan will skip their squads in their first top-tier tournament.

All three teams also qualified through the Satellite Events series. Carson was a semifinalist at the Euro Super Series, Maeda finished runner-up at the Karuizawa International, and Ueno was a semifinalist on the women’s side at the AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic.

Consider Epping a fan of the new model.

“I think it's kind of a great avenue for, let's say, younger teams or teams that might not be ranked in the top 30 or 40 that think they have a chance at making a Grand Slam or major in the season. It gives them that chance to get a spot. I kind of like it," Epping said.

“It's kind of like tennis and golf. ... They have play-in games to get into the main event, so I think it's something neat. I'm glad that they're trying to explore this avenue, but also still making sure that the top teams are there through the rankings. There's a ranking system in place. It's there for us to see who the best teams are in the world, so you want to make sure you still have that, but it's also nice to have a few extra play-in spots."

SEVENTH END: Now that there's more on the line at Satellite Events, is Epping feeling more pressure while playing in them?

"I would say there's no extra pressure, but I think it just adds a bit of intensity to the weekend," Epping said. "It's definitely great. I think that the more that I play them, the more I’ll feel that. It's just so new right now that you're not used to that feeling."

EIGHTH END: There’s just one teeny, tiny problem for Epping, but it falls under the category of a good problem to have.

Epping is booked to play in the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard, Oct. 8-12. If Epping makes it into the playoffs, his team will have less than a day to jet across the country to the GSOC Co-op Invitational.

If that's how it plays out, at least it means Epping is having a great Thanksgiving long weekend and carrying momentum into Victoria.

"Yeah, that's a little tricky," Epping said. "We're going to have to fly out on Monday at some point, and I mean, I guess that's the only downside sometimes to Satellite Events, being so close to when you're trying to plan your schedule. You're not sure if you're in the Slams, and that's actually going to be the way it is for the next few Slams. It's really difficult to plan your schedule."