The local pickleball community recently held tournaments with divisions for men, women, and mixed doubles across 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 skill levels, highlighting emerging players such as Sally Morten, who won two gold medals in the 3.5 division. The events provide opportunities for lower-division players to shine, with many first-time competitors from Nanaimo making the podium. Upcoming key events include the popular outdoor “Paddles in the Park” tournament at Beban Park in early September, serving as a warm-up for the 55+ BC Games, which will also be hosted in Nanaimo later that month.
The local pickleball club, with about 200 members registered for 2025, is actively working to grow the sport among younger players by donating equipment to high schools and introducing the game to elementary schools through sessions with parents and teachers. The club also offers orientation sessions for new players of all ages, emphasizing pickleball’s accessibility as an affordable and low-equipment sport that promotes both competition and exercise.
