profile: Pickleball
Pickleball Travel
By DANTE AMODEO
The fastest growing sport in the nation is on the travel fast track.
A strict regimen of leisure and relaxation used to be the hallmark of the perfect vacation. Now it seems that in the wake of the pandemic, travelers are finding themselves gravitating toward exploring new experiences and skills to add to their quiver. And for many who visit Salamander Collection. properties, this arrow points to the fastest-growing sport in the nation: pickleball.
Millions of players have been swept up in the torrent of this fun and rewarding new activity, and that's just after a few years of mainstream popularity. How did a sport over 50 years old suddenly accelerate to a crescendo? Many pickleball aficionados and newcomers alike have attributed its rise to a simple factor: wide accessibility. That is, soft physical demands, modest equipment needs, a short learning curve, and an emphasis on lighthearted competition within a fun loving community. And so, with guests of all types checking in, it comes as no surprise that pickleball has become a Salamander marquee activity.
Alex Rebeiz, owner of Cascades Tennis, which operates its tennis and pickleball programs at Aspen Meadows Resort, says the game's growth really sped up when, "everybody was restricted at the peak of COVID and pickleball was considered a safe sport like golf and tennis. The court is so small that you could set it up on your driveway with a small net and tape. Access to it is easy. The learning curve is easy, and once you start to get to a higher level, it's still a physical activity."
PICKLEBALL ENTHUSIAST
Often, pickleball's small-sided arena inspires more camaraderie than cut-throat competition, so even the more timid or self-proclaimed "unsthletic players can find great enjoyment.
Bryan Fox, director of racquet sports at Innisbrook Resort, adds, "Pickleball is approachable and not as intimidating as other sports. Shorter games allow for fast rotations and a more social experience. The smaller court and simple-to-learn wing path allows players to start playing almost immediately."
Many have also picked up on the social allure of the game. The wide net of pickleball seems to catch everybody and to not embrace it creates a sense of FOMO. "It doesn't matter if someone's never played a racket sport or it's Roger Federer, everybody from all walks of life, age groups, backgrounds and demo graphics want to play and try it," says Rebeis, "and everybody knows somebody who's playing it and they don't want to be left behind."
The evidence shows that this isn't merely a domestic fad. Notably, there are talks of broadcasting exhibition games at the upcoming Olympics to christen the sport on the world stage.
The numbers only indicate further growth, Rebeiz says. "Of all the classes 1 run, our Learn to Play Pickleball clinics have been the most popular. I don't know where it'll end up at the end of this calen dar year, but the trajectory is straight up and we're seeing it. I mean, we've had to build and convert 10 courts in our resort to meet the demand of our clients."
Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a sparkly eyed newcomer, the experts who run pickleball at various Salamander properties have invaluable knowledge to share. And for those who don't have a clinic planned in the very near future, here is a sample from their arsenal of tips.
TIPS FROM PICKLEBALL EXPERTS
ALEX REBEIZ (ASPEN MEADOWS RESORT)
FOR THE BEGINNER:
"The beginner needs to learn the kitchen [the soft game] first, because that's where the game is won. You're not going to win a match of doubles from the base-line. It's just not going to happen."
FOR THE ADVANCED:
"Spend time mastering the transition. zone. That's the transition between the baseline and the kitchen. Spend a lot of your time in that space, which, in tennis, we call 'no man's land! You're not supposed to spend time there in tennis, but in pickleball, you need to master it. You have to be able to handle incoming balls in this position, whether they're hit at you soft or hard. So, you need to practice volleys, half-volleys as well as the drops into the kitchen."
BRYAN FOX (INNISBROOK RESORT)
FOR THE BEGINNER:
"Don't get overwhelmed with scoring rules. Just remember: Don't volley in the kitchen [the painted, non-volley zone]."
FOR THE ADVANCED:
"Do not speed up the ball unless the shot is truly there. This requires a lot of patience. But remember, more points are lost on errors than won on winners! Also, instead of going for the obvious shot where space is open on the court, think about what shot is going to be most challenging for your opponent to hit. Usually this is a body shot or at the feet."
BRYCE SLICK (SALAMANDER MIDDLEBURG)
FOR THE BEGINNER:
"Stay out of the kitchen!"
FOR THE ADVANCED:
"Instead of looking for the 'kill' shot, just keep volleying and let the opponent make the mistakes."
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