ESTEVAN — Pickleball has been one of the fastest-growing sports in North America in recent years, and Estevan has witnessed that surge in growth.
The club meets Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30-9:30 p.m., and Thursday morning from 9-11 a.m. at the tennis courts at the Estevan Leisure Centre. Lines have been painted to accommodate the sport.
Estevan club president Taylor Herman said that when he started a couple of years ago, the club had about 20 members. Now it has close to 60.
"I think the sport is just getting recognized more, and it's getting some younger people out there to grow the sport, and everyone's becoming more involved with it," said Herman.
He recalls his introduction to pickleball came after his grandfather was in Mexico for a vacation. Herman's grandfather came back and found out there was a club in Estevan. Then Herman started playing the sport.
Pickleball has a reputation for being a sport for senior citizens, and there are a lot of older people in the game. When Herman first started, about 80 per cent of the local members were older, but now he believes it's about a 50-50 split.
"I just enjoy getting out and seeing all of the people, and seeing everyone improve, and seeing how much the sport improves," said Herman.
It's also a lot more physically demanding than one might think, he said. The level of exercise can be as much as one wants.
Often compared to tennis, Herman said they use a different ball and a different racquet. The play can be a little faster in close proximity to the net, and Herman says a lot of people say it's a lot better for the knees and elbows.
"A lot of people that have previously played tennis are transitioning to pickleball," said Herman.
The growth in the club has led to discussions about pickleball courts for Estevan. Early in the year, Estevan city council tabled a request from the club to have pickleball lines painted on the current tennis courts, or to construct new pickleball courts. The request was deferred to the 2025 budget deliberations.
"I think it would be beneficial to get our own courts," said Herman.
To play locally, a person has to get a membership with Pickleball Canada, which costs $32 per year. The club charges a membership of $40 to play throughout the summer.
During the winter months, they have sessions at the Estevan Church of God for a $3 drop-in fee. The club has paddles for people who are looking to try the sport for the first time. A paddle costs anywhere from $100-$300, and a player also has to purchase a pair of shoes.
A typical game takes about 10-15 minutes.
A clinic was held in June for club and Pickleball Saskatchewan members. Professional pickleball players came down to instruct.
"If anybody's wanting to try it, there's always people around that are willing to teach and lend a helping hand. Other than that, just enjoy the weather and have fun," said Herman.
