Sunday, September 29, 2013

Video CBC News PEI Pickleball

Video of CBC News, Pickleball in PEI, Garth Matthews, Pickleball Canada Provincial Ambassador:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/PEI/ID/2407768014/

Slamma Jamma Spokane, WA Tournament Sept 21-22

USAPA Ambassador Spokane Valley wrote:

I want to thank the three brave Canadian Pickleballers who joined us here in Spokane for the Regional Tournament called the Slamma Jamma.  We had 82 players who played round robin format with eight games guaranteed and several played 18 games. We started at 8:00 A.M. and finished by 2:30 P.M.  Most players were very very tired.

I want to especially thank Mike Carter and Carol who worked tirelessly to help bring off a very successful tournament.  Mike sang the National Anthems of both Canada and America.  Mike practiced for months and his voice was beautiful.  Thank you Mike!

My dream is to have a large contingency from our Canadian friends and neighbors at next years Slamma Jamma.  Please put it on you schedule as a stop on your way south for the winter.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Places to Play Pickleball — Player Estimates

Places to Play Pickleball — Player Estimates  Sep. 16, 2013  http://usapa.org/memberlist/ptp_player_estimate_amb.php
Estimated Players Canada West (B.C. and AB)   5991
Number of Indoor courts  206
Number of Outdoor courts  95
Total courts 301
Number of Places to Play 79
Pickleball growth in North America  from Mar/10 to Mar/13:
Pickleball Places to Play                      800 to 2000
Total Number of pickleball courts   2000 to 6000
Estimated number of players   60,000 to 105,000

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Results of Vernon Outdoor Pickleball Tournament

Results of Vernon Outdoor Pickleball Tournament September 14
Level 3.0
1. Jack Carriou, Vernon
2. Jackie Stakkestad, Vernon
3. Portia Dove, Kelowna
4. Pat Andrews, Vernon

Level 3.5 A Pool
1. Darrell Sherrin, Kelowna
2. Rob McDougal,Vernon
3. Helga Hepditch, Kelowna
4. Hans Skudelny,Kelowna

3.5 B
1. Tim Mah, Kamloops
2. Greg Thompson, Vernon
3. Bill Reid, Vernon
4. Carol Anderson, Vernon

3.5 C
1. Andy Bokogeorge, Kamloops
2. Hugh Gordon, Kelowna
3. Dave Schatz, Summerland
4. Graeme Neil, Kelowna

3.5 D
1. Manfred Wolf, Vernon
2. Jim Lissa, W.Kelowna
3. Michael Raulin, Kelowna
4. Susan Black, Kamloops

Level 4.0 A Pool
1 .Matt Stodola, Kamloops
2. David Clark, Surrey
3. June Lohner, Kelowna
4. Jill Jackson, Kelowna

4.0 B
1. Bryan Jackson, Kelowna
2. Eric Tyler, Kelowna
3. Wally Herrmann, Vernon
4. Ross Priebe, Surrey

4.0 C
1. Louis Lalonde, W.Kelowna
2. Ray Timbers, Kelowna
3. Chuck Barton, Peachland
4. Gilbert Guenette, Kelowna

Level 4.5
1. Michael Epp, Vernon
2. Jim Saunders, W.Kelowna
3. Grant Britton, Surrey
4. Doug Dimery, Kelowna

Overall Winners
1. Manfred Wolf, Vernon 92 points (a perfect score)
2. Bryan Jackson/Louis Lalonde, Kelowna 90 points
3. Michael Epp, Vernon 87 points
Top female-----June Lohner, Kelowna

The newly formed Vernon Pickleball Club held their first open invitational tournament this past Saturday at Paddlewheel Park A total of 72 players showed off their skills on a hot, beautiful Okanagan day. Many players came from out of town (Surrey, Abbotsford, Penticton, Kamloops, Kelowna, etc...). The courts were lined with spectators. Many had never witnessed the game of Pickleball. Vernon Pickleball Club members are already planning to repeat this years success. VPC would like to thank Royal Volkswagen for the use of their event tent.

Monday, September 16, 2013

USAPA National V November 10-18, 2013

USAPA National V  November 10-18, 2013
Sun City Festival, Buckeye, AZ
Website: http://nationals.usapa.org
Registration:  http://www.pickleballtournaments.com/welcome.pl?tid=162
Registration Information
Final Registration Deadline 10/12/13
Tournament Sanctioning: USAPA Tier 1
Registration Fees
      Early Registration, Ages: 19-100 - Deadline: 09/14/13 - $35.00.  Each Event fee: $10.00
      Late Registration (after 09/14/13), Ages: 19-100 - $50.00  Each Event fee: $10.00
      Early Junior Registration, Ages: 8-18 - Deadline: 09/14/13 - $5.00  Event fee: $5.00
      Late Junior Registration (after 09/14/13), Ages: 8-18 - $10.00  Event fee: $5.00
When registering online, online waiver signature is used.
Online payment via PayPal is available.
Event Schedule:  

Mon, Nov. 11Men's Doubles: Ages 19+, 35+, 50+, 55+, 60+, & 65+
Tue, Nov. 12Women's Doubles: Ages 19+, 35+, 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+, & 85+
Senior Division Men's Doubles: Ages 70+, 75+, 80+, & 85+
Wed, Nov. 13Mixed Doubles: Ages 19+, 35+, 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+, & 85+
Thu, Nov. 14
Singles: Ages 19+, 35+, 50+,  55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+, & 85+
6PM Ambassador Dinner, Sage Center Ballroom at Sun City Festival
Fri, Nov. 15Open Division (4.0 and Above) Men's & Women's Doubles
Sat, Nov. 16
Open Division (4.0 and Above) Mixed Doubles
Junior Division Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Singles
Sun, Nov. 17Open Division (4.0 and Above) Men's and Women's Singles
Mon, Nov. 18
Rain Day for Any Matches Delayed due to Rain
The Open Division Winners (each participant) will Receive the following:
Gold - $500.00 USD
Silver - $250.00 USD
Bronze - $125.00 USD
NOTE: This is only for OPEN DIVISION and NOT age Divisions.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

2013 SeaTac Fall Open Doubles Skill Tournament

2013 SeaTac Fall Open Doubles Skill  09/14/13 - 09/15/13
SeaTac Community Center, SeaTac, WA
Congratulations to the Canadian Medalists:
Marco Jankowiak (Langley, BC) - Men's Doubles 4.0  Gold and Mixed Doubles 4.0  Gold
Andrew McKimmon (Abbotsford, BC) - Men's Doubles 4.0  Gold 
Magdalene Choy (Richmond, BC) - Women's Doubles 3.5 Gold and Mixed Doubles 4.0 Bronze 
Laura Schwarz (Kelowna, BC) - Women's Doubles 4.5 Gold and Mixed Doubles 4.5 Silver
Sue Fosbery (Kelowna, BC) - Women's Doubles 4.5 Gold 
Mike Schwarz (Kelowna, BC) -  Mixed Doubles 4.5 Silver
Geof Kraemer (Delta, BC) - Mixed Doubles 4.0 Bronze
Sharon Kraemer (Delta, BC) - Women's Doubles 3.5 Gold

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Voila le Pickleball

Voila le Pickleball!!!   USAPA 2013 August newsletter.  Submitted by Arlene Knudsen:
When Ken and Mimi Knudsen moved to France last year, they took clothes, photographs, books and their pickleball paddles. As Ken’s mother, I had introduced the couple to the game of pickleball and supplied the basic equipment. “One of the first things we did when we got to Lauzun was to join the tennis club,” Ken said. “Since we live just a short walk from the courts, we can play pickleball whenever there was a break in the rain.”

In addition to two outdoor courts, Lauzun Tennis Club members can use an indoor court in the Salle de FĂȘtes, but it must be scheduled through the village town hall, with consideration to the other groups that use the building. The courts are marked, but Ken usually adds a kitchen line with masking tape.
It wasn’t long before Ken and Mimi’s new friends, both French and British, joined in the game. “Some of our friends had played tennis or badminton before, but others had never picked up a racket or paddle,” Mimi said. “It’s amazing how quickly everyone caught on. I usually end up being the weakest player, but I  keep trying because pickleball is so fun.”

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Dennis Forbes Memorial Tournament, Ogden, Utah Prize Money

Dennis Forbes Memorial Tournament, Ogden, Utah   07/18/13 - 07/20/13 Thirty-nine of the best players in the US and Canada, 25 men and 14 women, were invited by the Ogden Pickleball Association to Ogden, Utah last week for the first Tournament of Champions event. This was the first big money tournament in USAPA history, with $18,000 in total prize money.

Three thousand dollars was awarded to the first place teams in men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles; $2,000 to each second place team and $1,000 for the teams that finished third. Wow, women rule! Gigi LeMaster was the top money winner ($3,000) with first place finishes in both women’s and mixed doubles. Alex Hamner went away with $2,000 by taking second place in women’s and mixed doubles.

This event was a test and it went great; all players commented on how smoothly it ran. We are reviewing and making plans for how in 2014 we can expand and open the event to all players who are USAPA rated 4.5 and 5.0, but it will not be in July -- too hot.

Our goal is to create a professional stand alone US Pickleball Open Tournament in Ogden. Stay tuned.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Alberta 55+ Provincial Pickleball Playoffs

The inaugural Alberta 55+ Provincial Pickleball Playoffs in Sherwood Park on Aug 22 for the Canada 55+ Games in 2014:  Pickleball barrels into Games
By Shane Jones, Sherwood Park News
Event organizer Linda Dane wasn’t gherkin around when she indicated that pickleball has really grown in recent years.

“Pickleball might be the fastest-growing sport in North America,” she said. “It’s very easy for people to learn and for people of all ages to play. People from eight to 80 are playing it, as we all saw at the upper age range of seniors for our tournament. It’s something that is now being included in the curriculum at schools. It can be played indoors in any gym or outdoors on tennis courts. We used tape and made temporary courts for our tournament and fit two pickleball courts on each tennis court.
“It’s just growing exponentially. In 2009 there was virtually no pickleball in Alberta and now I would hazard a guess that there are 1,000 to 1,500 players. It’s just gone crazy. In the Edmonton area I would say we have 300 to 400 players alone.”
Dane was thrilled with the turnout and how the recent Pickleball Provincials in the Park came off in general.  “We were very happy,” she said. “It has taken three years to get pickleball into the Canada 55+ Games, but now that it is we had just a fantastic turnout.”
“We weren’t included in the recent Alberta 55+ Games because we are considered a brand new sport, so we had to do our own thing to make sure Alberta would be in the national games next year,” Dane added. “Everything just went perfectly, and it was a nice way to kind of kick off next year’s games by having the provincials in Strathcona County.”
The Canada 55+ Games will take place from Aug. 27 to 30, 2014 in Strathcona County, AB.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) Member Countries

The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) was organized to perpetuate the growth and advancement of Pickleball throughout the world. The member organizations representing their respective countries have agreed to conduct the business of the IFP in conformance to the Constitution and Bylaws of the IFP. Member organizations also support the International Rules of Pickleball. The IFP Member Countries are Canada, India, Spain and USADid you know that the IFP Rules are now available in Spanish? Visit http://ipickleball.org/

India National Tournament December 2013

India National Tournament December 2013
Pickleball is alive and well in India...the game is gaining a much wider acceptance and in December 2013 a first ever national tournament will be held. It is expected that players from 12 States of India will attend. It would add glory and sanctity to our event if we had guests from Canada and also give a great boost to the international movement of pickleball. For further information please contact: Sunil Valavalkar, Founder General Secretary, All India Pickleball Association.