On several occasions, we have told our readers that the sport of Pickleball is arguably the world’s fastest growing sport.
Now following requests for more information, here is a flyer that gives great insight. What is it that makes the sport so popular?
Well for one it is easy to play: a five-minute introduction, is enough for people to start playing the game. It caters for all ages. Grandparents can play with grandchildren and enjoy. The courts are small, in fact four courts fit into one tennis court. The sport can be easy on the body, with under arm serves followed by exciting fast paced volleys at the net.
It is great for your coordination and concentration and can be highly competitive.
But here is the disclaimer – it can be highly addictive. For a bit of advice, you need to ease into the sport.
Clubs are popping up all over Australia and it is estimated that there are over 15,000 people currently playing Pickleball on a regular basis. As a result, one of the issues currently is the lack of Pickleball courts.
This can partially be resolved by using and sharing tennis courts. Tennis Australia and their state boards are seeing the mutual benefits of both sports being played at tennis clubs as the number of pickleball players keep on increasing.
Here on the Sunshine Coast, we currently have over 1000 players, so the pressure is on for local councils to provide more venues. Currently Noosa Shire Council in conjunction with Noosa Pickleball club, is building some indoor courts at the Noosa Tewantin Sports Complex and completion is expected in August.
However this will not fully resolve the problem.
In Caloundra, which now has 12 pickleball courts, all are in constant demand. The Sunshine Pickleball Club has currently over 400 financial members, and with pickleball being introduced into schools we can expect many more future pickleball enthusiasts.
The sport is also very popular with travellers, both domestically and internationally. With the emergence of clubs all over Australia from northern Queensland to southern Tasmania, travellers are welcomed with open arms. Not only do you get a chance to play the game with like-minded people, you get to make fast friends.
If you are planning a trip overseas, pack your paddle in your luggage, as many of our friends did last year. Not only did they get exercise and local information, but also made many friends in the process.
Pickleball, which originated in the United States, is now huge and is also going gangbusters in Europe. Asia and the United Kingdom are all following suit, hosting tournaments all over the world.
If you are interested in learning more about the sport contact Ron Gatliff at the Noosa Pickleball Club on 0411209197. This happy soul will be only too pleased to start you on your journey of fun and friendship. New game, new friends and lots of fun. You can’t go wrong.
Junior Outriggers
From Colin Jones spokesman for the Juniors Outriggers Club comes this report of a successful season. The results are very pleasing.
This club has in-fact grown to be one of largest junior groups in the sport of outrigger canoe racing.
It is only fitting due to Nooses having the largest membership in Australia. The juniors embraced the latest South Queensland Zone series, and were a huge help towards Noosa Outriggers being named Zone 2023 Premier Club: and the OC6 Marathon Series winning club.
They capped it off by being the Club Overall Points winners at the inaugural SQ Zone Championships recently held at Rainbow Beach.
One of their highlights also saw 25, 7-13 yr olds challenge themselves by paddling out and back through a surf break. As they train on the Noosa River, for many it was the first time.
Coach Flea White is delighted with the commitment and enthusiasm that the juniors bring to training and competition. Also, the great support of the parents.
As the 2023 summer season ends, they started their winter break by attending their trophy presentation celebrations. Stand outs were the U/14s who, competing in single and team races, finished the season with a good tally of wins and places across the board.
The zone championships also saw a large contingent of U/12s successful in single crew races and three crews entering the team events, winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Every team braved it out with adults steerers, a great support for these many first- time rookies. The youngest division of Minnows, aged from seven up, had two crews. Their first row through breaking surf was a great learning curve, that saw them finish 1st and 2nd.
However, for these young warriors their highlight was being ferried back safely to the beach in the rubber duckies, courtesy of the Rainbow Beach surf club IRB crew.
Another highlight was the presentation of medals to junior members who have been in the sport for four to five years.
Speaking to the recipients, Coach Flea said, ‘’We hope you will stick with the sport it can take you, interstate and overseas to such places as Hawaii and Tahiti.”
“Our club president Bodo, who is also a junior parent, has just raced in the South of France and the Baltic Sea. We would love to see our Noosa Juniors reach these goals in their years ahead.” Noosa juniors will return to the river in August to train for the October season.
Parents interested in their siblings visiting the club for a come and try starting October are most welcome. Visit noosaoutriggers.com.au
Body surfing
There is a gentleman who has spent many years patrolling between the flags, and presently is devoting hours in an endeavour to revive what in Noosa, has become something of a forgotten art. The exciting world of body surfing.
His name is Jack Lewis and at age 39 he and some close mates, have started to get people talking body surfing. After a lapse of several seasons, the once heavily populated area of Nooses First Point, where the beautiful green wave was a haven for body surfing, we are now starting to see the occasional body board arrive on the scene.
Just recently Jack won a prestigious event on the body at Coolum Beach.
For Jack it all started when at the ripe old age of two years his father took him under his wing, and the art became part of his life. His venture into the world of surf lifesaving started at Northcliff. Now his journey has landed him at Noosa.
Now Jack and his mates are working to promote the sport. His present goal is to travel to Hawaii with an Australian team of six men and four women to take part in the World Body Surfing Championship at the Pipeline.
The Pipeline, until 1961 was considered unrideable, but then a body surfer named Phil Edwards arrived and started a new chapter in the annals of the sport.
Local trivia
Sad to hear, Pirates Rugby League marketing and events manager Deborah-Jane Gillard is leaving after several years of hard dedicated work. We wish this gracious lady every success in her future years. Also, from Pirates comes the news that long serving support member Ray Travers is having a sojourn in the Nambour General Hospital. A quick recovery and back to the Pirates sideline is what we want.
This week we lost Julie Williams a Tewantin lady, who passed away after a long battle with cancer. Julie with a family of three, daughters Leah, Kerri and son Brendon, was a fundraising extraordinaire for clubs such as Noosa Heads SLSC, Noosa Pirates and many others. Her work for the Noosa Surf Club knew no boundries.
To her family, the Surf Club is just and always will be, a phone call away. Vaya con Dios dear friend, Vaya con Dios
