Who’s Up For Pickleball?

by Nathan Estes

I don’t like pickles. Never have. My boys can’t understand it.

I’m told by Nina Trainor that there are no pickles in pickleball, but she still wants to you come play with the new group that has formed in Council. I’m not sure I believe her though.

On to the next question you may be asking - Council has a pickleball court? Two actually. They are taped out on the concrete basketball court in the northwest corner of the city park.

I watched them play for a few minutes this past Monday morning and they are an easygoing, friendly bunch. I didn’t play (I don’t like pickles) so I didn’t get to see their competitive side up close. But, I did see a wide range of ages and skill levels. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.

The minimum equipment you would need is a pickleball paddle which you can find online at your favorite megacorp retailer or in person at a sporting goods store. Nina recommends going to a sporting goods store so you can see how the paddle feels in your hand before you purchase one. They have different grips and some size variation. I did a quick search online with a jungle themed bookstore that also happens to sell literally everything, where I saw a set of paddles and a few balls for about $30. The group also has some paddles to share if you just want to get a taste of things before purchasing.

This group meets on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 9-11:00 a.m., or until it gets too hot. Donations are accepted, but by no means mandatory. You can email Nina Trainor at blheron@peak.org for more info. You can also use WhatsApp and search for ‘Council Pickleball.’ After you link up with Nina, you can get access to the storage locker on site where some of the equipment is stored.

If you find out what a pickleball tastes like, please let me know. I’m willing to try new things every once in a while.

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