FROM THE USAPA
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Spring is a great time of year
with the rebirth of nature and all
the beautiful colors that come
with it. Many are heading home
from their winter residences and
others are preparing for spring
and summer travels. It is also
a time when we reflect on the
first quarter of the year and the
excitement we experienced while
playing in tournaments and on
the local courts with our friends
and neighbors.
As Nancy and I just finished
helping with and playing in the
West Regional, it is a good time to
reflect on tournament play and
DAVID JORDAN
the impact tournaments have
on the sport. To us, tournaments are a time for challenging competition
that gets our juices going and our hearts pumping, not to mention the
aches and pains it causes the next day. Ten years ago we could go for
three or four days at a tournament and be ready to play at our home
courts the next day. But as age has creeped up on us, a little more rest is
required. But tournaments, to us, mean much more than a competitive
atmosphere with medals and long days; we go more for the social
interaction with our friends from all over the country (and the world for
that matter). It means a time to welcome new friends and reunite with
old ones.
Last year we were lucky enough to be able to travel to Spain to play in
an IFP tournament headed up by Mike Hess, VP of the IFP. What a great
experience we all had. Most amazing was the new friends that we met,
not only from the U.S. but from all across the globe. Pickleball has spread
its wings and has gone international in a big way. One of the greatest
things we found in Spain was the same thing we find here in the U.S.
— pickleball players are competitive but also great folks to be around.
This is true not only for tournaments but also on the recreational courts
throughout the world. So tournaments not only give you a competitive
venue but also a venue for meeting and playing with new and old friends
alike. We are so glad you all have joined this great movement and hope
to see you on a pickleball court soon.
It is not only one of the fastest growing sports but one of the friendliest
sports.
From our court to yours, safe travels and happy pickling,
David & Nancy
6
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NEW USAPA
AMBASSADORS
DISTRICT AMBASSADOR:
Karen Spaulding - Montana
NEW AMBASSADORS:
Jorge Aguilar . . . . . . . . Venice FL
Tam Ambrose . . . . . . . North Fork ID
Bob/Pat Bauerle . . . . . Big Arm MT
Colette Berney . . . . . . Westlake Village CA
Maxine Behrman . . . . Delta CO
Mike Braatz . . . . . . . . . Bullhead City AZ
Brent Brantman . . . . . Sitka AK
Toby Brown . . . . . . . . . Columbus No., OH
Terri Clements . . . . . . . Cottonwood AZ
Mark Del Vecchio . . . . Park City UT
Joan Duthler . . . . . . . . Imlay City MI
Mindy Feldman . . . . . . Avon CO
Elinor Fibel . . . . . . . . . . Columbia SC
Steve Forsell . . . . . . . . Santa Barbara CA
Michael Hargett . . . . . Atlantic Beach NC
Chip Hullander . . . . . . Canton GA
Doug Kennedy . . . . . . . Reading PA
Jane Klippel . . . . . . . . . Wilmington NC
Don/Debbie Ludwig . . Burbank CA
Bill Masciangelo . . . . . Currituck County NC
Coach Mo Movsessian The Villages FL
Alex Neumann . . . . . . San Mateo CA
Rudy Patterson . . . . . . Raleigh NC
Carolyn Reinen . . . . . . Bakersfield CA
Vernon Rodrigues . . . . Coeur D’Alene ID
Kylee Santos . . . . . . . . Redwood City CA
Karen/Jim Sartoris . . . Burbank CA
Justin Stephens . . . . . . Morgantown WV
Alice Stevens . . . . . . . . Rome GA
Yvonne Ting . . . . . . . . . Northampton MA
Eric Tuten . . . . . . . . . . . Slippery Rock PA
Bob White . . . . . . . . . . North Port FL
Don Wilson . . . . . . . . . Chapin SC
Donna Yount . . . . . . . . Ford City PA
If you are interested in being an
ambassador to help promote
pickleball in your region, visit
usapa.org.