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Hosts Ann
hat do you get when 200
pickleball enthusiasts
gather at one of the
country’s finest recreational
resorts? A CJ Jermstad
party and celebration? Not
quite. That would be a small
turnout for one of the sport’s most popular figures. No,
it was the annual USAPA East Coast Ambassador Retreat
recently held at the spectacular Club Med in Port St. Lucie, FL.
While play on the pickleball courts was one of the most
sought-after highlights for the ambassadors who made
their way to sunny Florida, the retreat provided a broad
overview of one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.
From detailed discussions with USAPA board members
on major goals and programs for 2019, to question-
and-answer sessions on ratings, pickleball history
lessons, youth programs, legal/insurance issues, and
pain management as well as a seminar of the USAPA/
PPR affiliation, the Ambassador Retreat afforded those in
attendance a little bit of everything about the sport. It was
both informative and often entertaining.
54
A Sponsors Showcase featuring new equipment and
apparel from the numerous companies that were at Club
Med was a big hit with the ambassadors. Sponsors for
this year’s Ambassador Retreat included California Sports
Surfaces, Engage Pickleball, Franklin Pickleball, Gamma
Pickleball, Head, Mueller Sports Medicine, Onix, Paddletek,
Prince and Selkirk Sport.
Of course an Ambassador Retreat wouldn’t be complete
without some action on the pickleball courts. Professional
Brian Staub loaned his expertise and helpful hints to assist
players with their game. And with the many water-filled
activities available to everyone, as well as the delectable
meals, it was another glorious time for the USAPA
Ambassadors.
Throughout the nearly week long event, raffle tickets
were sold during the cocktail hours, which made their way
long into the night. The grand prize was a trip to any Club
Med in the U.S. At the end of the Ambassador Retreat,
a little over $5,400 was collected. That money will now
be donated to the USAPA’s main beneficiary—St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital.
Since 2016, the USAPA has donated more than $55,000 to
the Memphis-based facility. •
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