Forty-six teams will hit the ice this morning as the Valley First Crown of Curling opens at the Kamloops Curling Club.

The Crown, in its 39th year, is the second-longest running sporting event in Kamloops. This year, 22 men’s and 24 women’s teams will compete in the four-day cashspiel.

The action starts at 8 a.m., with draws also scheduled for 11:15 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m., and 9 p.m. Saturday’s draws follow a similar schedule, while Sunday’s draws are scheduled for 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., and 7 p.m.

The playoffs are scheduled for Monday — the quarterfinals will run at 9 a.m., followed by semifinals at 12:15 p.m. Both the men’s and women’s finals are scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

There are four Kamloops rinks in the women’s event.

Brandi Tinkler’s Kamloops rink will open against New Westminster’s Adina Tasaka at 8 a.m., while Kamloops’ Allison MacInnes will open against Castlegar’s Desiree Schmidt at the same time.

Lori Olsen of Kamloops also opens at 8 a.m., against Japan’s Ayumi Ogasawara. Corryn Brown’s Kamloops crew will take on Kristie Moore of Grande Prairie, Alta., at 2:30 p.m.

On the men’s side, Kamloops’ hopes rest on rinks skipped by Mike Smith, Brent Yamada and Scott DeCap.

Yamada will open at 8 a.m., against New Westminster’s Ken McArdle, while DeCap and Brady Clark of Seattle will tangle at 11:15 a.m. Smith’s first game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., against Vernon’s Trevor Perepolkin.

The Crown is a triple-knockout — three rinks in each gender will qualify from the A event, along with three from the B event, and two from C.