Before we begin, just in case you don’t know what Pickleball is…  it’s essentially a racquet sport which combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. Players use solid paddles made of wood or other materials to hit a ball, similar to a wiffle ball, over a net.

Okay, now that you know what it is, here’s the exciting news- the Town of Sylvan Lake is hosting its first ever Pickleball Tournament – Battle of the Paddles, September 1 to September 3! This is your chance to get involved in one of Canada’s fastest growing sports, and whether you’re a total beginner or a pickleball pro, there’s loads of fun to be had!

Participants of all skill levels are encouraged to register in either the Singles or Groups Divisions; players and teams are guaranteed 20 games!

Registration is $40 and the cost includes a $10 voucher to the NexSource Centre’s concession. Visit http://recreation.sylvanlake.ca to register online, or call to register at 403 887 2199

And between now and the tournament you can read up on the interesting history of the game at Pickleball.com!

(L-R) Joel Pritchard – US Congressmen and Co-Inventor of Pickle-ball with Dan Evans- Governor for the state of Washington (from 1965 to 1977).

Barney McCallum (Co-Inventor) and Carol McCallum playing a game of Pickle-ball -Picture taken on one of the original Pickle-ball courts in Bainbridge Island, WA during the early 1970’s.

Pickle-ball was the first game ever played inside the King Dome — Seattle, WA (L-R) Project Manager – Name Unknown, Barney McCallum – Co-Inventor, Joel Pritchard US Congressmen and Co-Inventor, Bill Bell – Investor.