The name tells you nothing about what is being regarded as one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.
And no one seems exactly sure how pickleball got its name. But the game, played with a paddle and a plastic ball that combines elements of badminton, tennis and ping-pong, is taking Durango by storm, too, it would appear.
Dalton Ranch’s first pickleball tournament is scheduled Wednesday. Then, the Durango leg of the Alpine Bank Western Slope Pickleball Tournament Series is scheduled July 25-27 at the Durango Recreation Center. And if that’s not enough, pickleball is played regularly at the Durango Recreation Center and Dalton.
Call it pickleball-mania.
The Dalton event is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday. The tournament is being limited to the first 32 entrants, with registration forms available at the Dalton clubhouse. Cost is $28 for the tournament and social event that follows, or $14 for just the social.
Prior to the tournament, a pickleball clinic is scheduled at 11 a.m. Wednesday, led by several accomplished players, including Tony Lebron, a Utah state pickleball champion. Tom Wheeler, founder of Pickleball Now, will share his knowledge on equipment technology.
For the Durango leg of the Western Slope Pickleball Tournament Series, registration deadline is July 17 – no day-of registration will be accepted. Check-in is 8 a.m. both days of the tournament.
Play will include men’s and women’s doubles July 25 and mixed doubles July 26.
Entry fee is $25 and $12 for each additional division. Entrants are guaranteed three games and the tournament will be governed by United State of America Pickleball Association rules. Yup, the USAPA.
For more information on the tournament, contact Chris Clements at chris.clements@durangogov.org or 375-7324. To register online or for additional details, go to www.durangogov.org/register4rec, select “Adult Sports” and “Pickleball.”
Small to compete in men’s race
Durango’s Carmen Small didn’t let the recent cancellation of the North Star Grand Prix women’s race in St. Paul, Minnesota, get her down.
Well, maybe for a minute or two.
But come Wednesday, Small will be up and riding – in the men’s National Racing Calendar (NRC) event.
Small, 35, a two-time winner of the North Star women’s race (formerly known as the Nature Valley Grand Prix), got the nod from race organizers and USA Cycling to compete with the men this week.
A handful of women have reportedly participated in men’s NRC events over the years, but it’s still pretty special stuff for the 35-year-old Durango racing standout.
“It’s pretty wild, right?” the 2013 U.S. national time trial champion told VeloNews. “I’ve even bought a plane ticket. I’m definitely a little nervous, but ready to give it a shot.”
The event begins Wednesday morning with a time trial, then continues that same day with an evening criterium. The next four days alternate between road and criterium racing.
bpeterson@durangoherald.com
