OFF THE COUCH

Pickleball Town USA? Pickleballing in the ‘Boat

Is it just us, or have you also noticed a new cult in town, one taking your playmates away from trails and the river to someplace else? Yep, pickleball is taking over, drawing singles and couples to tiny courts throughout the valley, from the newly recoined Steamboat Tennis and Pickleball Center to homemade courts on cul de sacs, drawing the whole neighborhood.

What is it, exactly? Invented in 1965 by three middle-aged fathers in Washington— who named it after family dog Pickles—it’s a cross between tennis, ping pong and badminton, played with a paddle and a perforated plastic ball. The reason for its uptick is it’s fun, easy on the body (especially compared to running down tennis lobs), requires little gear, and can be set up virtually anywhere. In fact, it’s the country’s fastest-growing sport, with nearly 9 million active players in 2022, and over 36 million people trying it. It also has two pro tournaments and is bidding for the Olympics. And Steamboat is becoming pickle-central.

“The trend is spot on here,” says the Center’s Meg Tully, whose facility has eight indoor courts, eight outdoor and is adding 12 more. “Our courts, clinics, league and open play sessions were packed all winter, with many events having a waiting list. And now that the sun is out, all of our outdoor courts are bustling.”

Poking Fun at Pickleball

Of course, pickleball does has its, uh…stigma. First comes the name, which is a little hard to get over. Couldn’t they have come up with something more gritty sounding, with a little more…vinegar? Names we’ve also heard include “E-tennis” and “marinated cucumber sphere,” but the latter doesn’t really roll off the tongue that well. Still, while it might have once been chided as the official sport of the AARP, or at least the Association of Former Tennis Players (AAFTP), it is gaining steam amongst the youngsters, with the world’s top player, Anna Leigh Waters, only 16 and pulling in six figures. And we all know what players like her drink to rehydrate: pickle juice! Our only other gripes: the rules are kind of wonky, the scoring requires classroom time to figure out, and what’s with the whole “kitchen” thing, and why is it called that? (And aren’t kitchens where everyone is supposed to hang out?)