The anticipation is building for both organizers and participants in the third annual Skookum World Curling Tour, which is set to kick off in less than three weeks.

Thanks to a couple of new major supporters, the cash spiel has increased its overall purse by $20,000.

"We're getting excited," said Suzanne Bertrand, chairperson of the cash spiel. "The buzz around the club is that we have grown. We are up to $50,000 (in total prize money) and people are starting to talk about it."

The Skookum cash spiel has increased its total purse every year since its inaugural competition in 2006. The first year the cash spiel awarded $20,000, while in 2007 that total went up to $30,000.

This year's event will be held from Nov. 20 to 23 and the curling club is hoping to attract 24 teams in total. Currently there are 20 teams registered to compete, while two more Whitehorse rinks are on the waiting list.

The format will either include 24 teams or 20 this year, which either way is an increase from the total in 2007.

There is also the possibility that three-time Canada Cup winner Randy Ferbey will compete for the third straight year at the Yukon cash spiel. Ferbey won the event in 2006 and finished in the prize money last year.

The Ferbey rink is currently deciding whether to participate in an Alberta cash spiel, which is being held on the same weekend as the one in the Yukon.

The Alberta cash spiel awards points for the competing teams that are needed to secure a spot for the provincials.

The Whitehorse Curling Club expects to hear back from Ferbey sometime this week, regarding his decision.

Some of the 20 teams that are registered include Team Cowan, Whitehorse; Team Solberg, Whitehorse; Team Scoffin, Whitehorse; Team Larway, Seattle; Team Schille, Calgary; Team Johnson, Seattle; Team Clark, Seattle; Team Graber, Kamloops; Team Gessner, Vancouver; Team Peachey, Vancouver; Team Saturnino, Inuvik; Team Koe, Yellowknife; and defending champion Team Waatainen from Nanaimo, B.C.

If 24 teams are included, a four pool round robin format will be used that will qualify the top two teams in each pool. The top eight teams will be subject to a single elimination format in the playoff round.

The $50,000 will be divided up among the top eight teams, which will include $15,000 being awarded to the winner, while second place will be given $9,000.

The third and fourth place rinks will be given $6,000, while the fifth to eight spots will each be given $3,500.

Other supporters of the cash spiel, besides Skookum Asphalt Ltd., include Air North and the Best Western Gold Rush Inn.

Bertrand said the cash spiel is special for more than just the high amount of prize money that is awarded.

"For us, I think we are just very pleased about being part of the world circuit," she said. "It's a big event for the Whitehorse Curling Club."

Darrell Stone, the division manager of Skookum Asphalt Ltd., said curling is near and dear in the hearts of a lot people in Whitehorse and that it's important to put on events like the world curling tour cash spiel.

"(The world curling tour) draws some of the biggest curlers to it," he said. "There is a certain prestige to that."

Stone said Skookum Asphalt made a long term commitment to the cash spiel, which will include being a major sponsor in 2009.

"I think that this event is going to do nothing but get bigger and better," he said. "This year is an example of that."

Yukon curler Chad Cowan is participating in the cash spiel for the second straight year.

In 2007, Cowan's rink qualified for the single elimination round, but was knocked out in the quarter finals. He said he expects the competition to be even tougher this year.

"The total purse is a lot higher, so I expect the teams to be stronger and hungrier to win this."

Cowan, who has competed at the Brier on multiple occasions, including this year, said it would mean a lot to do well on home ice.

"We would love to have a good showing here," he said. "It's always good to do well at anything that you go into."

Other members on Cowan's team include Wade Scoffin, Clint Ireland and James Buyck. The team hasn't competed in any bonspiels this year, but are currently 5-1 in the Tuesday Skookum Super League.