Thousands will compete in June in a sport that has seen much growth.
Pickleball Canada’s Atlantic Regional Championships will be played in Moncton from June 13 to 16.
“[The sport] has been around for 10 to 12 years, but it’s really taken off the last four or five years. I would say that in 2022, there were probably 90,000 people playing in Canada and at the end of 2023, there were around 1.5 million. It’s growing and growing and growing,” says Pickleball Moncton President Moe Belliveau.
The demographic of the game has also changed. Belliveau says it started with players who were a bit older, but now it’s getting younger and younger.
“The world champion now is a 17-year-old woman and her partner is a 22-year-old man, and they’re both from Florida. It’s becoming a sport where there’s a pro league in Canada, and there’s a pro league in the US. Some players are signing million-dollar contracts to play in these leagues,” Belliveau adds.
For those who have never played pickleball, the sport has been described as a cross between tennis and table tennis.
“It’s like playing table tennis except you’re standing on a table. It’s very simple to learn and easy to get better. People are doing it for recreational reasons, but they’re also getting more and more competitive,” Belliveau adds.
It’s not that expensive to get involved in either. Belliveau says a paddle will cost you around $50 and a ball around $5, and you’ll need to grab a pair of sneakers.
Players are coming from all four Atlantic Canadian provinces for the championships and will play in various divisions.
“Some divisions are more competitive. So singles and doubles and some mixed doubles. You can enter a more competitive division, you just have to be rated to be in those divisions. Other divisions are really competitive recreational, but it’s fun for all,” Belliveau says.
The championships will be held at the Moncton Coliseum/Agrena Complex, and if you’re not competing, it’s a great sport to watch.
“It’s actually quite dynamic. It starts off, each rally starts up a little calm and then it speeds up and then next thing you know, it’s a full explosion of back and forth,” Belliveau says.
