(CCA) For the 17th consecutive season, the Ford Hot Shots curling skills competition will be contested at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

The popular pre-event shot-making competition requires the curlers to execute six shots: Hit and Stay, Draw the Button, Draw the Port, The Raise, Hit and Roll and Double Takeout. Each shot is awarded points on a scale from 0-5, rating the success of each. The Ford Hot Shots consists of a preliminary round, final eight, final four and final. Four curlers per team will compete, with sweeping allowed.

Ford of Canada will provide the winner of the Ford Hot Shots with a two-year lease on a 2011 Ford Edge SEL FWD, an approximate retail value of $22,000. In addition to a two-year lease on a 2011 Ford Edge SEL FWD for each winner, the second place finisher will be presented with a cheque for $2,000, while the third place finisher receives $1,000.

For the Scotties Tournament of Hearts at the Charlottetown Civic Centre, the Ford Hot Shots preliminary round is scheduled for 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm AT on Friday, February 18. This is a FREE event and everyone is welcome to watch the world’s best women curlers compete in an extraordinary skills competition.

The playoffs (Final Eight, Final Four, Final) begin at 12:30 pm AT on Saturday, February 19, following the Opening Ceremonies. A ticket to the opening draw will be needed for this event.

The Ford Hot Shots  has provided not only an exciting beginning to each championship but has proven to be an extremely popular competition for curlers and fans alike. PEI’s Suzanne Birt was a previous Ford Hot Shots winner (in 2003) and she will be back with her team of Shelly Bradley, Robyn MacPhee and Leslie MacDougall to do their best to win the competition.