is remembering to have fun. I
sometimes put pressure on myself
in tournaments, especially this
one. It’s difficult to stay in a happy
medium, between wanting to win and
remembering to have fun! Although
my partner, Jake, and I took second
this year, I am proud of myself for
making a conscious effort to have fun,
because in the end—it’s just a game.
Wow, there you have it. Great
lessons learned from Nationals
finalists. It doesn’t really matter if
you win or lose—it’s what you learn
along the way. •
Jennifer Lucore and Alex Hamner started
playing pickleball in 2010, and have competed in
tournaments across the USA (and internationally).
Between them, they have 28 National Titles,
including winning gold in the Women’s Open
Doubles at Nationals for four consecutive years
(2011 – 2014). For more pickleball fun see
Jennifer’s blog at www.allpickleball.com.
// Bonnie Williams
Silver, Senior Open Women’s Doubles
with Jennifer Dawson
Having enough gas in the tank to
play pickleball all day is paramount
to a successful day on the courts.
Make sure the meal you eat the night
before supplies you with all the fats,
proteins and carbs needed to carry
you through the next day. Bring a
well-stocked cooler with all sorts
of snacks with simple sugars, salts,
proteins and fats to keep you going.
Without proper fueling, you just may
come up short.
// Mike Gates
Silver, Senior Open Men’s Doubles
with Tony Tollenaar
In every match it’s essential to
be prepared to revise your strategy
and style of play before a match gets
out of hand. Adjusting quickly will
ultimately provide you with a chance
to prevail.
// Tony Tollenaar
Silver, Senior Open Men’s Doubles
with Mike Gates
When you make it to the gold
medal match—and have to wait
for several matches before you play
again—it’s critical to keep moving.
Also, remember to eat so you can stay
fueled and focus on finishing strong.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 |
MAGAZINE
33