In the months before COVID-19 shut down the world, I was trying to learn tennis to no avail. When the pandemic cancelled my tennis lessons, I was relieved. Instead, I learned how to play pickleball on makeshift driveway courts in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. It was one of many perfect sports during COVID-19 — it naturally keeps you distanced from others, it’s often played outside and it’s social. Similar to golf and tennis, pickleball kept me moving and socializing in a time that caused many to feel isolated. Since moving to the Vail Valley, pickleball games on summer afternoons have become a regular occurrence among my community. I’m not very good, but I love the friendly competition of the game and the ease with which anyone can play. Playing pickleball in the summer is always a reminder of why I love living in the Valley — it’s nearly impossible to stay anonymous. I always run into friends and acquaintances at the courts. Pickleball is more than a sport: it’s a community building social hotspot with courts, paddles and wiffle balls.
Holly Traut is the pickleball instructor at the Sonnenalp Club in Edwards and organizes winter pickleball play in Vail at Red Sandstone Elementary School through the Vail Recreation District. “The best thing about pickleball is how inclusive it is,” Traut says. “It brings people of all ages and athletic abilities together for a game. I mean, it’s the fastest growing sport in the United States — what else is there to know?” She sees individuals, families, wedding groups and corporate groups traveling to Vail looking for an open court. The game isn’t just growing among Vail locals, but tourists, too. Thankfully there are courts available across Eagle County.
Vail Recreation District Pickleball Camp
In 2023, my family spent Thanksgiving in Florida with access to pickleball courts at night. My mom enthusiastically promised to teach my aunt, uncle and cousins how to play. Little did anyone know that the biggest pickleball fanatic in our family was my grandmother. She served as the scorekeeper and referee after learning about the game by watching professional pickleball star Anna Leigh Waters. At 78 years old, my grandmother doesn’t play pickleball for fear of injury, but she loves watching the pros on TV. During our family match, she kept the score each round and settled our line debates with ease.
But what’s the “big dill” with pickleball anyway? Unlike golf and tennis, pickleball is exceptionally easy to pick up. The game was first created on Bainbridge Island in 1965 by Joel Pritchard on a slow summer afternoon when his family had nothing to do. After scrounging up ping pong paddles and a perforated ball, Pritchard, his family and friend Bill Bell created pickleball on an old badminton court. That’s the reason behind the name, too. The naming is attributed to Pritchard’s wife, Joan, who associated the new sport with a pickle crew in the sport of rowing. A pickle crew indicates a boat made up of left-over rowers, hence pickleball — a game made up of hodgepodge equipment. There is another story behind the name of the game: Pritchard’s dog, Pickles, stole the balls when they first played, thus the name pickleball. Another friend, Barney McCallum, soon joined to help create the rules. The trio stuck closely to badminton rules, but never lost sight of the game’s mission: easy, approachable, family-friendly play. The rules do seem complicated in the beginning, but after a few rounds of “dinking,” it’s easy to fall into the rhythm of the game. I like to think about it as a giant version of ping pong.
Robin and Jerry Santoro have been main players in the proliferation of pickleball courts and players in the Vail Valley. After picking up the sport on a trip to Florida, they traveled to the closest courts to continue playing at home. The only problem was that those courts were in Glenwood Springs. Tired of driving to Glenwood Springs multiple times a week, the couple reached out to the Gypsum Recreation Center to bring pickleball to the Valley. Interest spread rapidly with regular games occurring on the basketball courts. Soon enough, the community in Gypsum ranked pickleball the number one sport they wanted more of in a 2016 survey. Now, the Gypsum Recreation Center offers indoor pickleball seven days a week plus outdoor courts in the summer months. The Santoros are official ambassadors for the game through USA Pickleball, and they host workshops to all abilities and ages for those wanting to learn or just pick up some new pickleball friends. When asked why they love pickleball, they both immediately answered, “It’s fun! And it’s easy to learn.” The accessibility of the game sets it apart from other sports, and Jerry Santoro says with worldwide popularity growing, it is well on the way to becoming an Olympic sport. “We wanted to bring pickleball to the Valley because we wanted to help people’s physical health. What we didn’t realize was how much it would help people’s mental health, too. It fills a need for connection and friendly competition that creates a network of relationships,” he explains.
Pickleball is budget friendly, accessible, social and easy to pick up. So, what’s keeping you from dinking around and finding out the “big dill” with pickleball yourself? Lessons aren’t required to pick up the sport, but they certainly help. Thankfully, the Vail Valley has many professionals who offer clinics, lessons and drop-in play all year round.
Vail
Vail Recreation District Pickleball Open
Ben Moore at the Vail Recreation District offers opportunities to play pickleball throughout the year. In the summer, the outdoor courts are available for reservations, drop-in sessions, and weekly youth summer camps at the Golden Peak Pickleball Center. In the winter, indoor courts are available at Red Sandstone Elementary School. Both seasonal and annual passes are offered to Vail residents.
EagleVail
The courts at EagleVail are open in the summer months free for residents. There is a drop-in fee for non-residents or the option to purchase a season pass for both individuals and couples. Head pro, Vicky Keleske, offers private, semi-private or group lessons for both tennis and pickleball to residents and non-residents. Adult pickleball clinics for advanced and intermediate players are offered regularly during weekday mornings in addition to kid’s clinics for ages 9-14. Open play is available daily, too.
Avon
Avon Recreation Center
In 2022, the Town of Avon remodeled the tennis courts to include playing areas for tennis, basketball and pickleball. The courts are open May through October from dawn to dusk, and courts are available on a first-come basis. Avon offers organized drop-in play, lessons by Todd Anderson and Mindy Feldman, leagues and clinics. Memberships are available to adults, families, youth and seniors. Winter indoor leagues are available at the Avon Elementary School gymnasium on Saturday afternoons.
Edwards
Cordillera: For members and residents, Cordillera offers newly resurfaced courts in the summer months open for open play or reservations that can be made up to four days in advance. They boast of many events catering to all skill levels throughout the summer.
Sonnenalp Club
Sonnenalp Club: Holly Traut is the full-time pickleball instruct or at the Sonnenalp, offering various programming, clinics, camps, lessons and more to members. Guests may join some events for an additional fee.
Arrowhead: Residents and guests staying in Arrowhead can sign up online for clinics catering to all abilities as well as open play court times.
Mountain Recreation
Offers drop-in pickleball courts, leagues and clinics all year in Edwards, Eagle and Gypsum.
