Some people started it while they were on vacation.
Others noticed it in their neighbourhood, or had a friend who enjoyed it, so they started, too.
Pickleball, widely touted as the nation含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社� and North America含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社� fastest-growing sport, is more popular than ever, and with the weather getting warmer, players are hitting the courts in higher numbers than ever before.
Debbie Lawrance, a member of the Surrey Pickleball Club, White Rock Pickleball Association and Pickleball Canada, started playing seven years ago, after she went on a walk along North Bluff Road and noticed some people playing the game.
Having just retired, she was looking to get a little more active, and it looked like fun.
含羞草研究社淭hey said, 含羞草研究社楥ome back tomorrow and bring a paddle,含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 Lawrance remembered.
含羞草研究社淏asically, that was it.含羞草研究社�
After learning the basics, Lawrance embraced the sport wholeheartedly, and now plays it up to six hours a day, seven days a week.
She even represented Canada at the inaugural English Open event in England in 2019.
含羞草研究社淚t is so much fun! It含羞草研究社檚 awesome. It will change your life,含羞草研究社� she said, noting that beginners are always welcome, but for those who want some fierce competition, there are some pretty serious players as well.
含羞草研究社淚f you want really good competition, it含羞草研究社檚 there. But it含羞草研究社檚 also a very inclusive community and it含羞草研究社檚 an easy learning curve for beginners含羞草研究社� we all start somewhere,含羞草研究社� she said, adding that she volunteers her time to teach beginner含羞草研究社檚 lessons.
含羞草研究社淚 love it. It含羞草研究社檚 so rewarding.含羞草研究社�
In South Surrey, there are pickleball courts located at Crescent Park and in South Surrey Athletic Park, which features 12 dedicated courts.
In total, the City of Surrey has 73 pickleball courts, with 30 dedicated solely to pickleball (the remaining 43 are shared with other racquet sports).
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Lawrance also noted the power of the connections made through playing pickleball, with many players enjoying the social aspect and even planning social events or fundraisers together.
含羞草研究社淥ne of the most surprising things was the friendships that are made, just by playing pickleball,含羞草研究社� she said.
含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 something for everyone.含羞草研究社�
Gayle Boutilier, a White Rock Pickleball Association member, agreed.
She picked up the sport while vacationing with friends in Palm Springs in 2019, and noted that, while in the past, the sport has been associated mainly with seniors, that is now changing.
含羞草研究社淭he dynamic has changed from seniors含羞草研究社� now it含羞草研究社檚 in schools and YMCAs 含羞草研究社� everyone含羞草研究社檚 jumping on board and families are playing together,含羞草研究社� Boutilier said.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not only a huge social aspect, it gets people active.含羞草研究社�
According to Pickleball Canada, recent survey results show that there are one million Canadians playing pickleball at least once a month, with 45 per cent playing four or more times a month.
含羞草研究社淭he sport is now also attracting younger, working adults as facilities become available during evening hours and weekends,含羞草研究社� the organization含羞草研究社檚 website states.
含羞草研究社淭he age group showing the fastest rate of growth are players aged 18 to 34, with a 26 per cent increase over the number of players in this group (who played) at least once per month in 2020. This age group also reports a very high frequency of play, with 13 per cent playing 15 or more times/month.含羞草研究社�
Survey participants noted the sport is fun, with the second-highest response for playing being the social aspect, according to Pickleball Canada.
While many embrace the sport, there are those who disapprove 含羞草研究社� usually people who live near pickleball courts, who complain about the noise the sport creates.
含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 going to be people who complain, but it含羞草研究社檚 a non-issue as far as our local experiences have gone,含羞草研究社� said Lawrance.
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Players play on a badminton-sized court, most often as doubles, but singles can participate, too.
Players provide their own paddles, which can range from about $50 to more than $400, depending on the make and model.
Each side has a non-volley zone called the 含羞草研究社渒itchen,含羞草研究社� from which no players can hit volleys (unless an opponent hits a short shot landing in the kitchen, called a 含羞草研究社渄ink含羞草研究社�).
Each point begins with an underhand serve, and players play to a total of 11 points, with the winner having to win by two points, among other rules, but Boutilier noted it含羞草研究社檚 a quicker game than tennis.
含羞草研究社淚 had played a little tennis years ago but it didn含羞草研究社檛 resonate like pickleball did, I think because it was a smaller court 含羞草研究社� you can put four pickleball courts into one tennis court,含羞草研究社� she said.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a faster game 含羞草研究社� a combination of ping pong, Badminton and tennis all rolled into one in a smaller court 含羞草研究社� it just seemed a little more fun especially with doubles.含羞草研究社�
Nancy de Vink, who is also a White Rock Pickleball Association member, concurred.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not like tennis or golf, which can be hard to pick up right away,含羞草研究社� de Vink said, noting there is a motto posted at the courts encouraging players to treat beginners and veterans equally, as 含羞草研究社減eople are more important than the game.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a quick learn and it含羞草研究社檚 so much fun and a very welcoming sport. You get addicted.含羞草研究社�
With certain nights of the week dedicated to mixed doubles play, ladies含羞草研究社�, men含羞草研究社檚, and even Newbie Nights, the eight dedicated pickleball courts at Centennial Park in White Rock are often busy. Players do not need to become a Surrey Pickleball Club or White Rock Pickleball Association member; that is optional.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been a wonderful addition to our community 含羞草研究社� the City of White Rock has been so supportive to us,含羞草研究社� Boutilier said, recalling how her family surprised her at the courts for her 70th birthday, with the picnic tables decorated with balloons and other birthday accoutrements.
The association also likes to give back to the community, she said, and mentors Star of the Sea Grade 4-7 students in pickleball. It also donated $1,000 to the Sources South Surrey/White Rock food bank, and holds a Christmas poinsettia fundraiser for residents at Evergreen Care facility.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a great way to keep people happy and healthy,含羞草研究社� Boutilier said.
含羞草研究社淲e go out there in winter and play with our toques on. It含羞草研究社檚 fitness, and it含羞草研究社檚 fun.含羞草研究社�
tricia.weel@peacearchnews.com
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