Winkler's Mayor is answering the challenge of Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman.

Martin Harder will be competing in Bowman's first International Crokicurl Tournaspiel at The Forks on Friday.

Harder not only answered the challenge, but city staff created an excellent training montage as well:

Harder says the invitation was encouraging, adding the connection with Winnipeg council has been strengthening in recent years. Winnipeg Councillors recently supported Winkler in taking back speed limit control from the Province.

"It's totally different now with Mayor Bowman, he's been very open to participating with AMM, so the communication has been very good," Harder says.

Bowman also attends AMM conferences as well.

"We have a lot more in common than we used to," Harder says, adding Winnipeg council has also campaigned together with communities like Winkler on the Fair Share, Fair Say initiative during the last election.

"It all of a sudden makes a bigger difference when you know you're united," he says.

The Crokicurl invitation is a great camaraderie building event, Harder says.

Winnipeg first introduced the new sport to the world in 2016, mashing together curling and crokinole. Winkler added its own crokicurl ice outside the local arena this winter.