There could be pickleball pandemonium this weekend in Burnaby.
The Edmonds Community Centre hosts its annual Paddle Whack Pickleball tournament this weekend, beginning today (Fri., Oct. 21), and features a full slate of competitors.
The tourney offers competitions in single men’s, women’s, doubles and mixed doubles divisions in various skill-level groups.
The sport, which was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Wash., by a local state representative looking to encourage activity among his family and friends, has grown in popularity among adults in recent years.
Utilizing a badminton court with tennis nets and a polymer or whiffle ball, players serve and volley the ball until a point is scored.
The sport’s growth has been spurred on by interest from the baby boomer generation. The hybrid game offers a good cardio workout played both for fun and competition, with both indoor and outdoor options.
Due to its popularity, pickleball has become a popular drop-in sport at the Edmonds Community Centre, with six drop-in times during the week, including a family drop-in time on Saturdays.
According to PickleballBC, there are 134 programs encouraging the sport.
