You Need Pickleball! Pickleball Needs You!

 — from Theresa Haynie —

Pickleball — Kim Lambie serves, and Kathy Wehle and Dane Streck are ready to return.

Pickleball. Even the name of this sport, a mashup of tennis and table tennis played on a court with a low net and within badminton court lines, with a paddle and whiffle ball, makes people laugh. What doesn’t make people laugh is that it’s one of the fastest growing court sports in the US and has people of all ages crowding courts from Seattle to Palm Springs and into Arizona.

Although pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island, the game has a long history on Orcas Island, thanks to Four Winds Camp, where pickleball has been played for decades. Showing no signs of dying off, pickleball is going strong on Orcas. A dedicated group has played several times a week for the past two summers on the asphalt pad at Buck Park, using a portable net and chalked lines. Last summer, Orcas Island Parks and Rec District (OIPRD) painted lines for two courts and erected fencing to contain stray whiffle balls.

With the onset of winter, OIPRD secured the use of the Orcas Middle school gym. The pickleball group that plays from 7 PM to 9 PM on Monday nights is looking to get more folks on the court. For just $2 for the gym use fee, you can dink, slam, spin and enjoy a fast-paced game with a happily competitive group of pickleball players ready to share the fun. The group will gladly introduce you to the game and its rules. If you’ve played other racket sports before, you’ll find pickleball easy to pick up. OIPRD provides the pickleball nets, paddles, and balls, while you supply your gym shoes, energy, and sportsmanship.