dinks
What’s News in Pickleball
Indian Wells Tennis Garden
to Host 2018 USA Pickleball
National Championships
Margaritaville Signs on as Title Sponsor
of the Tournament November 3-11. Event
to Showcase One of the Country’s Fastest-
Growing Sports.
T
he 2018 USA
Pickleball National
Championships—
expected to draw
approximately 2,500
players of all ages and
skill levels—will be held
at the Indian Wells Tennis
Garden from November
3-11, 2018, in partnership
with sports and entertainment management company Desert
Champions and the United States Pickleball Association (USAPA).
Margaritaville, the global lifestyle brand synonymous with fun and
escapism, has been announced as the title sponsor of the event,
which is the premier sanctioned tournament of the USAPA.
“We are excited to partner with the team at Margaritaville
and the USAPA to add this championship to our growing
portfolio of events,” said Steve Birdwell, Chief Operating
Officer of Desert Champions. “We cannot wait to welcome the
entire pickleball community to the world-renowned Indian
Wells Tennis Garden in November.”
The tournament will feature nine days of events
incorporating all ages and skill levels including singles,
doubles, mixed doubles and professional divisions. The Indian
Wells Tennis Garden—which hosts the BNP Paribas Open
each March, one of the most prestigious men’s and women’s
professional tennis events in the world—will feature 44
match courts as well as a Championship Court, all of which
will showcase Margaritaville branding, as will the on-site
Shade Pavilion and Bar. Live music, the centerpiece of the
Margaritaville brand, will take place each day, along with
14
exciting Margaritaville-inspired activities and promotions.
“Pickleball and Margaritaville are both synonymous with fun,
so we are excited to bring our state of mind to one of the fastest
growing sports in the U.S.,” said Tamara Baldanza-Dekker,
Margaritaville’s Chief Marketing Officer. “From the party that
surrounds the USA Pickleball National Championships to the
palm trees and natural beauty of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden,
Margaritaville’s partnership with Desert Champions and the
USAPA is truly a match made in paradise.”
Admission to the grounds and to the 44 field courts is free.
Tickets to the Championship Court are now available for
purchase at USAPickleballNationals.com.
Salt Lake USA
Transplant
Games Wins
Guinness World
Record
A
Guinness World
Record was set
in August at the
Donate Life USA Transplant
Games in Salt Lake City,
where 540 transplant
recipients played pickleblall in one place. The Transplant
Life Foundation produces the event for individuals who have
undergone lifesaving transplant surgeries. Pickleball was
offered to transplant recipients, living donors, corneal and
tissue recipients, bone marrow recipients and international
recipients (India, Brazil and Australia had representation at
the games).
Team Wisconsin took silver in the Men’s 20-29 category.
Player Josh Bergeron, 33, received a heart transplant 19
years ago and Josh Gerrits, 16, received a heart transplant in
October 2017.
One player for Team Michigan (they took the bronze) said,
“This is the very first time I’ve ever played. I bought my
racquet at 9:20 p.m., and Dick’s closes at 9:30 p.m., the day
before my flight left.”
Continued on page 16 >
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