Pickleball expanding throughout Skagit County

Pickleball started nearby on Bainbridge Island as a sport for kids in 1965. It has evolved into an extremely popular sport that bridges the generation gap, with many older participants. Last year the state legislature made it the official sport of Washington.

Shelter Bay has tennis courts across from its administration building on Shoshone Drive that can be tightened up with a lower net and lines moved so there is less ground to cover. The tennis court further south on Shelter Bay Drive is being converted into four pickleball courts and will be in early August.

It appeals to older players because there is less ground to cover with sets almost always double matches. The balls are light plastic. It is also a very nice social event and very often you can see the players schmoozing on the bench before and after they play.

Charlotte Decker is a regular player at Shelter Bay and is often playing when she is not running her Amaryllis Women's Boutique and Art Gallery in La Conner. "It's super fun and very addictive to play at whatever level you want," she said.

Pickleball is exploding in Skagit County and one of its hotspots is Hillcrest Park in Mount Vernon where you can drive by and see a cluster of players of all ages. John Erbstoeszer is a retired Family Practice physician in Mount Vernon and a big supporter of pickleball. "It's a great outlet and fun to play in a social way with minimal risks. It's not that hard to learn the sport and you can select who you want to play with," he noted.

Blackburn Pickleball Pavillion at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon is named after Claude Blackburn for his donation of $1.7 million to build the facility. It has 10 courts. A big tournament is scheduled there Aug. 4-6.

"The new Blackburn Pickleball Pavillion will give students, employees and the community a place to gather, foster friendships and build relationships", said Dr. Tom Keegan, SVC president.

Rusty Kuntze is a retired judge for the Swinomish Tribe who lives in Bay View. He plays regularly with his wife, Libby Mills, at Hillcrest Park. "Truly a sport for everybody," he said. "Grandparents can play with their grandchildren. Teenagers can play with their parents. I love the social aspect of competing with friends and having fun. You don't realize that you are actually getting a good workout, amongst all the laughter and fun."

If you have never played pickleball, the good news is that it's never too late to give it a try.