Booming, pickleball is gaining new fans in New Brunswick

Approximately 480 pickleball players are in Moncton, New Brunswick from June 13 to 16 for the Atlantic Regional Championship.

René Haché, from Dalhousie, is one of them. He is one of the founders of a club pickleball in the Restigouche region.

The Restigouche was a little behind in terms of organization. There weren’t really any structures, there were groups playinghe says. We started a club to start a structure, add training, do clinics.

A long-time fan of racquet sports, the rise of pickleball the height.

It’s a sport that is currently, obviously, growing so quickly. There are lots of opportunities to play, there are lots of tournaments, everywherehe said. Really, it keeps us busy.

Win or lose, René Haché always likes the social aspect of these tournaments. fun. You come see friends at every tournament.”,”text”:”At this point, after two or three years of playing, we know people all over New Brunswick. That’s really fun. You come to see friends at every tournament.”}}”>At this point, after two or three years of playing, we know people all over New Brunswick. This is really the fun. You come to see friends at every tournament.

Younger and younger fans

THE pickleball was founded in 1965 in the Pacific Northwest. It was only in the last decade that this hobby suddenly began to fascinate the masses.

It’s hard to describe why it’s become so popular.recognizes one of the followers, Maurice Belliveau.

Unlike tennis, the pickleball racket is smaller and lighter. The ball is plastic, with holes.

One of the players, Jo-Ann Haché, describes it as a game for everyone, fun, competitive and fast.

Sometimes described as a old man’s sportTHE pickleball now reaches a younger audience.

It’s getting younger and youngerobserves Maurice Belliveau.

The best athlete in pickleball, Anna Leigh Watersis a 17-year-old who made over $1 million last year.

It has become a real sport. It’s progressing, but it’s not over. It’s still growingsays Maurice Belliveau.

He sees this growth in his Moncton club, and also during this Atlantic Regional Championship. A record number of participants are competing for victory these days on the 23 courts at the Agrena and the Moncton Coliseum.

Easy to access, highly competitive

Maurice Belliveau praises the ease of approach of this leisure activity. The sport also attracts people who have never tried tennis or badminton in their lives.

We have people who have never played racket sportsdeclares the president of Pickleball Mocton. members, then about three-quarters are people who just want to have fun. “,”text”:”They come, they play, they have fun. In our club, there are 400 members, and about three-quarters of them are people who just want to have fun. “}}”>They come, they play, they have fun. In our club, there are 400 members, and about three-quarters of them are people who just want to have fun.

René Haché sees a lot of potential in the development of this sport.

pickleball, it’s true that it’s a sport that is much more accessible. It’s certain that at the beginning, it’s much less difficult”,”text”:”The advantage of pickleball is that it’s a sport that is much more accessible. Of course, at the beginning, it’s much less difficult”}}”>The advantage of pickleball, it’s true that it’s a sport that is much more accessible. Of course, at the beginning, it’s much less difficultadds René Haché.

But the more competitive you get, in any sport, it gets harder and harder. When you compete at a high level, at that point it starts to be similar to other sports, like table tennis, tennis and other racquet sports. he concludes.

According to the report by François Le White