By Dana Zielke
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and the High River Pickleball Club has a fun Christmas themed tournament for its members happening this Sunday from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
“The sport of pickleball was first introduced to High River in 2015, and the High River Pickleball Club was formed the next year with about 60 charter members. For many years, the Club hosted ‘S.A.P.O.’, the Southern Alberta Pickleball Open, which was the largest indoor tournament in Western Canada at that time. After that we decided instead of hosting a big tournament, we’d host more interclub tournaments and give back to our members. We provide lessons and programs for them to attend,” said club president Brian Popowitch.
Over the years, their membership has increased due to the many clinics, open houses, tournaments, lessons and other fun events put on by the club for their members.
Pickleball in High River is played indoors at the Cargill Fieldhouse, and outdoors at the courts in Montrose in the summer.
“Most of our membership, both youth and adult, would be classified as ‘recreational level’ players.’ This is a socially, athletic group and one of our main goals as a club is we try to cover all ages. We have a junior program and we have adults and seniors. We currently have 182 members. We play Monday to Friday,” he said.
The club offers lessons in the Fall, Winter and Spring.
“There are certain days and times and the people that want to learn to play sign up for the lessons. If there are new people that show up when we are playing a drop in or scheduled times, the people in the club will go out of their way to help, but we must realize that the members are here to play and not just to coach someone new. That’s why it’s important to have lesson days. I just finished teaching beginner lessons on Monday to eight seniors. The nice thing about the sport of pickleball is it is very easy to pick up the game. Within an hour and a half of instruction, I can have you playing the game at a comfortable level. When I teach lessons and play, I want people to not just play the game but to think the game as well. Thinking the game is totally different than just going out on the court and whacking the ball,” he said.
On Friday night, they have their junior program.
“We have 10 to 12 juniors who come out from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.,” said Popowitch.
The Town of High River Parks and Recreation has scheduled intermediate play and beginner play times.
“In our club, 95 percent of the players are recreational players but then we have that five percent that are highly competitive and strive to win at provincial and national tournaments,” he said.
Many of the club’s members go to play in provincial tournaments and a couple of the club’s members have qualified for the Canada 55 and Over Games in Quebec City from August 27 to 30, 2024.
Gail Reiss and Carolyn Mulholland from High River are excited that they qualified.
“I’ve been playing for seven years. We qualified at a tournament in Cochrane in April and then at the Summer Games in August. We represented Alberta Zone 2. We expect some heavy competition so we are practicing three to five times a week,” said Reiss.
Mulholland says she is “obsessed” with Pickleball.
“Just ask my family,” she said with a smile, “I just love the physical aspect of the game and of course, the social aspect of it. Oh, and there’s the mental part, too. I have to remember the score. It’s a great game and I always encourage anybody and everybody to play. I used to play a lot of golf and now I have found a new love with Pickleball.”
Reiss and Mulholland just became partners this year and they “clicked”.
“Pickleball is my out. It’s about the social aspect of the game. It’s become my lifestyle. My husband passed away seven and a half years ago, and this sport got me out. It gave me a community. It gave me new friends. I have really appreciated the support I get with the club,” said Reiss.
Popowitch says the High River Legion is also a big part of their club. “We support the Legion because a number of our members are members there and we feel they need our support. They have good food and it’s a great place to meet after an afternoon of play,” he said.
“Brian is a great leader for the club. He ensures there are lots of fun activities and as he said before, it’s a social thing, it’s not just coming out and winning. It’s about improving yourself, and making it fun, and making it social,” said Bruce “Almighty” Stephenson, who has been a Pickleball Club member since 2017.
“We are a community-based club. We are one of the largest paddle groups in southern Alberta. We have members from all over the Foothills; Okotoks, Nanton, Blackie, Cayley, and DeWinton. Our membership is affordable. It’s a little over $30 for the year. The nice thing about that is the outdoor courts are free. If you come to the fieldhouse for drop in, you have to pay because it’s run by the town,” Popowitch said.
The annual cost for membership in the High River Pickleball Club (HRPB) is $32.07; this includes memberships in both Pickleball Alberta (PA) and Pickleball Canada (PCO).The fee breakdown is $32.07 = $15 HRPB club fee + $5 PA membership + $10 PCO membership + $2.07 processing fee. The membership year at HRPB begins on January 1 each year.
New and renewing memberships are handled through the Pickleball Canada National System (PCNS).
“Our Club’s motto tells it best, ‘Pickleball is more than a game, it’s a lifestyle!,” said Popowitch.