Pickleball Craze | National Geographic
-
Daye Bjornholm, 7, and her dog Sky wait alongside Daniel DeBellis while people play pickleball at the Founders Courts on Bainbridge Island, Washington July 19, 2022. It was only Daniel’s second time playing the sport and he was icing his ankle after playing and hearing an ominous pop in his ankle. Clay Roberts and Bill Walker raised the funds for the courts. “We put out the word and raised about $200,000 to build these courts,” Roberts said. “This is such a generous community.” About 1500 people play there every month. “I thought we were building pickleball courts but we were building community.” -
Clay Hess poses for a portrait between matches at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington. -
Members of the Sun City Pickleball Club are silhouetted as the morning sun peaks through the shades while they play pickleball at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 30, 2022. -
J “Gizmo” Hall is a professional pickleball player and also owns a 10 acre farm he runs with his family in rural Goldvein, Virginia. Gizmo’s wife Laine and their children Evalyn, 11, and David, 9, all play pickleball and help run the farm, as well. -
Members of the Sun City Pickleball Club play pickleball at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 30, 2022. -
A woman watches a pickleball game at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 21, 2022. -
Kevin Pates, 71, didn’t know about pickleball before he moved to Sun City nine years ago. “We only play doubles and, again, the courts are half the size so it’s a little bit nicer for the seniors,” he said. The Sun City, Arizona Pickleball Club has grown by more than 200 members since January. -
Players compete at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 21, 2022. This tournament is the largest outdoor tournament in the state with 652 competing. The tennis courts are taped into pickleball courts and nets are added. -
-
A man watches pickleball players at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 21, 2022. -
The Sun City, Arizona Pickleball Club has grown by more than 200 members since January. -
Members of the Sun City Pickleball Club play round robin pickleball every Tuesday morning at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 31, 2022. -
Currently, in this 55 and up community, there are three players in their 90s and 23 members in their 80s. Jim Rabbot is one of the oldest pickleball players in Sun City at 90 years old. He picked up the sport when he was 85 and plays two to four hours three times a week. “Most people my age are sitting in a nursing home,” he said. -
The Founders Courts were built in 2019 and offer six pickleball courts that are open to the public seven days week on Bainbridge Island, Washington where the sport of pickleball was first created. -
Maddy Booster watches people she coaches as they play a pickleball game at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 20, 2022. She coaches 40 different people who were competing in the tournament with 652 competing. -
The Founders Courts were built in 2019 and offer six pickleball courts that are open to the public seven days week on Bainbridge Island, Washington where the sport of pickleball was first created, seen July 19, 2022. -
Chairs for fans at the Gold Medal Match Men’s Senior Open game at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 20, 2022. -
People watch players compete in the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 21, 2022. This tournament is the largest outdoor tournament in the state with 652 competing. -
Jim Rabbot, 90, plays a pickleball game with Frank Johnson, 71, at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 30, 2022. -
-
A group of pickleball players play a modified game of three on three after one of the couples they play regularly had to head home at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 29, 2022. This group’s ages range from 59-70 and they play as a group of 8 three times a week. -
J “Gizmo” Hall is a professional pickleball player and also owns a 10 acre farm he runs with his family in rural Goldvein, Virginia. He poses on the court next to their home. -
Members of the Sun City Pickleball Club rest between games of playing a modified game of 3 on 3 pickleball against their spouses at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 30, 2022. -
Russ Toman, 70, cools off at a fan between pickleball round robin games at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 31, 2022.
Russ Toman, 70, cools off at a fan between pickleball round robin games at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 31, 2022.
-
A woman kicked off her shoes in the heat while watching players compete in the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic. -
Pickleballs await their players at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington. -
The Founders Courts were built in 2019 and offer six pickleball courts that are open to the public seven days week on Bainbridge Island, Washington where the sport of pickleball was first created. -
Pickleball players are reflected in a sign next to pickleball courts at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 29, 2022. -
Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic details -
Players compete at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 21, 2022. This tournament is the largest outdoor tournament in the state with 652 competing.
Daye Bjornholm, 7, and her dog Sky wait alongside Daniel DeBellis while people play pickleball at the Founders Courts on Bainbridge Island, Washington July 19, 2022. It was only Daniel’s second time playing the sport and he was icing his ankle after playing and hearing an ominous pop in his ankle. Clay Roberts and Bill Walker raised the funds for the courts. “We put out the word and raised about $200,000 to build these courts,” Roberts said. “This is such a generous community.” About 1500 people play there every month. “I thought we were building pickleball courts but we were building community.” Clay Hess poses for a portrait between matches at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington. Members of the Sun City Pickleball Club are silhouetted as the morning sun peaks through the shades while they play pickleball at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 30, 2022. J “Gizmo” Hall is a professional pickleball player and also owns a 10 acre farm he runs with his family in rural Goldvein, Virginia. Gizmo’s wife Laine and their children Evalyn, 11, and David, 9, all play pickleball and help run the farm, as well. Members of the Sun City Pickleball Club play pickleball at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 30, 2022. A woman watches a pickleball game at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 21, 2022. Kevin Pates, 71, didn’t know about pickleball before he moved to Sun City nine years ago. “We only play doubles and, again, the courts are half the size so it’s a little bit nicer for the seniors,” he said. The Sun City, Arizona Pickleball Club has grown by more than 200 members since January. Players compete at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 21, 2022. This tournament is the largest outdoor tournament in the state with 652 competing. The tennis courts are taped into pickleball courts and nets are added. A man watches pickleball players at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 21, 2022. The Sun City, Arizona Pickleball Club has grown by more than 200 members since January. Members of the Sun City Pickleball Club play round robin pickleball every Tuesday morning at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 31, 2022. Currently, in this 55 and up community, there are three players in their 90s and 23 members in their 80s. Jim Rabbot is one of the oldest pickleball players in Sun City at 90 years old. He picked up the sport when he was 85 and plays two to four hours three times a week. “Most people my age are sitting in a nursing home,” he said. The Founders Courts were built in 2019 and offer six pickleball courts that are open to the public seven days week on Bainbridge Island, Washington where the sport of pickleball was first created. Maddy Booster watches people she coaches as they play a pickleball game at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 20, 2022. She coaches 40 different people who were competing in the tournament with 652 competing. The Founders Courts were built in 2019 and offer six pickleball courts that are open to the public seven days week on Bainbridge Island, Washington where the sport of pickleball was first created, seen July 19, 2022. Chairs for fans at the Gold Medal Match Men’s Senior Open game at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 20, 2022. People watch players compete in the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 21, 2022. This tournament is the largest outdoor tournament in the state with 652 competing. Jim Rabbot, 90, plays a pickleball game with Frank Johnson, 71, at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 30, 2022. A group of pickleball players play a modified game of three on three after one of the couples they play regularly had to head home at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 29, 2022. This group’s ages range from 59-70 and they play as a group of 8 three times a week. J “Gizmo” Hall is a professional pickleball player and also owns a 10 acre farm he runs with his family in rural Goldvein, Virginia. He poses on the court next to their home. Members of the Sun City Pickleball Club rest between games of playing a modified game of 3 on 3 pickleball against their spouses at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 30, 2022. Russ Toman, 70, cools off at a fan between pickleball round robin games at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 31, 2022.
Russ Toman, 70, cools off at a fan between pickleball round robin games at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 31, 2022.
A woman kicked off her shoes in the heat while watching players compete in the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic. Pickleballs await their players at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington. The Founders Courts were built in 2019 and offer six pickleball courts that are open to the public seven days week on Bainbridge Island, Washington where the sport of pickleball was first created. Pickleball players are reflected in a sign next to pickleball courts at the Marinette Recreation Center in Sun City Arizona May 29, 2022. Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic details Players compete at the 2022 Humana Seattle Metro Pickleball Classic at Shoreview Park in Shoreline, Washington July 21, 2022. This tournament is the largest outdoor tournament in the state with 652 competing.