Pickleball Magazine 2-2 | Page 13

FROM THE USAPA USAPA West Regional Tournament F or the second consecutive year, St. George, Utah, will be hosting the USAPA West Regional Tournament. This age/skill-based tournament is being held April 20-22, 2017, at the beautiful Little Valley Pickleball Complex. If you haven’t seen these public courts, with all 24 lit like a stadium, you need to check them out. Skill levels will be divided into three age groups, 19+, 50+ and 65+. Youth players 12 years old and above will be placed in the 19+ age groups. This is a Tier 2 USAPA-sanctioned event with more than 500 players. St. George has been a major pickleball town over the last 10 years with almost 100 public and private courts in the city of 100,000. The Little Valley courts are the largest facility in St. George, and the largest PUBLIC pickleball facility in the country. Bringing this dream facility to fruition is the topic of a special event on Thursday, April 20, after the completion of the Women's Doubles competition. In addition to a free players party, guest speakers who have unique insight into getting private and public courts built will talk about how they were able to get courts in their area and the role of private funding. Speakers include Kyle Klein, Mike Nielsen, Tammy Wursten, Di Shanklin, and Bob Klarich. • MARCH/APRIL 2017 | MAGAZINE 11