FROM THE USAPA
USAPA BOARD MEMBER PROFILE
Laura
Patterson
Laura Patterson has been on the USAPA Board since 2010, after becoming an ambassador in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 2009. When Patterson moved to North Carolina in 2009 from Midland, Mich., the closest place to play was in Charlotte – 80 miles south of her home. As a passionate pickleball player, she would make the trip twice a week. Once the weather got bad, she decided it was time to expand pickleball in Winston-Salem by becoming an ambassador. Now she plays at many locations including High Point and the Gateway YWCA. Although most of her time is spent these days in North Carolina, Patterson has been to many places around the world. When she worked as an auditor for The Dow Chemical Company, she traveled to places like Japan, Indonesia, Germany, China, Australia, and Italy. She retired in 2008 – which was actually her second career retirement. Until 1995, Patterson was an auditor for the United States Air Force, from which she retired as a Captain. She’ s quick to point out that she started out as enlisted, earned her degree and then signed back up as an officer. These days, she works part time in the Recreation and Parks Department for the City of Winston Salem. She primarily works to develop programs for kids and adults; and spends time with individuals with special needs. She’ s also a Special Olympics coach for tennis, basketball, and softball. Patterson also teaches pickleball to children and older adults.“ When I teach a course, there are three things that I emphasize in the first class: balance, the dink shot, and the serve.”
She feels balance is the most important component of safe play in pickleball.“ With an older crowd, I want to make sure that they play safely,” she explains.“ I teach them how to go back for a deep shot – not to backpedal, and how to move around the court so they don’ t injure themselves. Then we talk about the dink, because in order to be competitive, you need to have that type of play mastered, and then we focus on the serve.”
Asked why she decided to move from Michigan to North Carolina when she retired, she simply replies,“ I love the hot weather.” She also mentions that her husband was very patient when they lived in Michigan, as both were not fans of the cold weather.
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JUNE 2016 | MAGAZINE 7