The first pickleball tournament in the Prince Albert area is coming up this weekend. (Rob Mahon/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

New Pickleball Tourney

Upcoming pickleball tournament highlights growth of sport in Prince Albert

Mar 22, 2023 | 8:00 AM

As one of the fastest growing sports in North America sinks its roots into Prince Albert, it’s now time for the first tournament of that sport in the city’s history.

The first annual Prince Albert Pickleball Club Winter Thaw is coming up this Saturday at the Alfred Jenkins Field House all through the day. It’s the first time the city has played host to a tournament, and the first of its kind in the area.

“Fifty people was our goal, but we opened it up to local area, Prince Albert and surrounding communities, for the first 30, which filled up in about two days,” said Devin Gorder, one of the organizers of the tournament. “We opened it up to an extended area, into Saskatoon, and now we’re at maximum with a waiting list that same week.”

Statistically, pickleball has been listed as one of the fastest growing sports in North America since last year. According to Sports and Fitness Industry Association, the number of players in the United States grew by 159 per cent in three years, and Prince Albert has seen gigantic growth of the sport on its own.

“Our club here has grown,” Gorder said. “I believe we started with about five, give or take a year ago, and now we’re sitting at, registered members on paper, over 50 already. Every week we’re seeing more people in there.”

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Gorder said he expected the number to grow still more in the summer, as many people travel in the winter and there aren’t as many places to play as there are in summer. He’s also noticing the start of a shift in demographics as younger people get more involved in the sport.

“There are school-aged kids that are coming when they can,” Gorder said. “There is a significant percentage which is retired people, people who do have that time free time in the middle of the day to play, but overall we’re seeing a huge growth in that younger age, even its 40 and under or 20 and under.”

The tournament on Saturday will be a culmination of the club’s efforts and expansion over the last couple of years. Gorder and other organizers can’t wait to get it started.

“There were local members here that wanted to play in a tournament,” Gorder said. “Of course there are people who could care less if they win a medal, but they’re excited to play in that type of format. These are people that maybe have never played a competitive sport or been part of a competitive aspect.”

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP