so he established Pickleball Finland
and started promoting pickleball
through a Facebook page, launched a
website (pickleballfinland.fi) and—out
of necessity—became a supplier of
paddles and balls.
With his strong corporate
communications background, Tuomo
has no problem using Pickleball
Finland’s Facebook, Instagram and
Twitter accounts for promotion, or
reaching out to the media every chance
he gets.
Pickleball Finland will arrange to
showcase pickleball and invite the
press to see how America's fastest
growing sport is getting a foothold
in Finland. “So far, more than 30
news articles on national television,
radio, online and in major newspapers
This time, with support from
ProLite Sports, it was much more
international, with 110 players
participating from nine countries,
including famed top pros Gigi
LeMaster, Cookie Drake, Brian
Ashworth and Bill Ritchie.
In December 2017, the first
Pickleball Finland Xmas Games
were played in Espoo, and more
international and national
tournaments will follow. “It’s great
to see how local groups in Finland
are emerging, and some are having
their own local mini tournaments.
This looks promising for the growth
of pickleball. However, the core is the
ordinary people who faithfully come
to play several times each week, like
110 athletes from nine countries participated in Finland's 2nd
International Pickleball Tournament.
around the country have reached more
than 1.9 million people,” Tuomo says.
In 2015, 10 minutes after the
broadcast of its first spot on national
television, Pickleball Finland received
a call from a venue looking for paddles.
Today, several Olympic Training
Centers in the country offer pickleball!
Global Tournaments
Attracting Players
In November 2015, Pickleball
Finland held the first pickleball
tournament in Finland, hosting
some 40 players, including Ray and
two other Americans from Ukraine.
Naturally those players and many
others had clamored for another
tournament, which then took place in
June 2017.
Olympic training centers and rehab
centers—and the list is growing,” says
Tuomo. “Another breakthrough in
getting pickleball to a wider audience
has been municipalities. More
schools are also getting interested.
“The feedback from anyone who
tries pickleball is just fantastic—
seniors, teachers, students and sports
instructors—they all love it.”
“To support the growth, Pickleball
Finland will send demo equipment to
anyone who wants to organize a local
event. “Seeing people’s spontaneous
reactions and to get them off the couch
and onto the courts is the best reward
for the hours I’ve spent in promotion.
It simply feels good,” Tuomo says.
Tuomo Antikainen (red) and Ray Schiltz (yellow) meet the
local players in Southwest Finland.
in Espoo at our home venues,” says
Tuomo.
Pickleball’s Footprint
Growing in Finland
In the U.S., pickleball has been
around for more than 50 years and
often needs no introduction. However,
in the new territories, the growth
starts from scratch. “In Finland, it’s
taken us four years, hundreds of
volunteer hours and countless demos
around the country, and it’s slowly
starting to pay off,” says Tuomo, the
country’s first Pickleball Ambassador
and founder of Pickleball Finland.
“Our website includes a Places to Play
list in more than 40 towns. Pickleball
is already played by several hundred
people in leisure centers, sports halls,
Next stop: Finland?
When thinking of pickleball
destinations in Europe, you might
first think Spain, UK or Holland, but
few know Finland is among the first
European countries to start pickleball.
So when you’re planning your next
holiday overseas, pack your paddles
and head to Finland! Pickleball Finland
welcomes all international guests to
play. And don’t just go for pickleball.
Finland has so much to offer for those
who like the country’s pristine nature,
250,000 lakes, 3.2 million saunas or
perhaps the real Finnish Santa, Tuomo
Antikainen.
And, by the way, Santa likes
pickleball, too! •
MARCH/APRIL 2018 |
MAGAZINE
71