Ambassador’s
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Puerto Rico — A Caribbean Pickleball Mecca!
BY SCOTT NELSON, FLORIDA DISTRICT AMBASSADOR
uerto Rico is a beautiful island—
an unincorporated U.S. territory
with a stunning landscape of
mountains. And, despite Hurricane
Maria’s impact, it is becoming a Caribbean
pickleball mecca!
With the sport just 18 months old on the
island, Puerto Rican USAPA Ambassadors
Willie Sabina and Carlos Soto-Busigo have
not only grown pickleball in this tropical
paradise, they have more than 120 people
participating on a regular basis in three
permanent locations and 11 total courts.
Not being seasoned or exposed to a wide
range of players, Willie and Carlos decided
it was time for their group to be tested
in Florida at the popular Winter Garden
tournament that District Ambassador Dave
Vander Weide has held in November the
past few years. This is a wildly popular
tournament that attracts several hundred
®
people from the Central Florida area. This
would be a true test for the friendly and
humble folk from Puerto Rico.
The result was remarkable! Instead
of Puerto Rico being announced to
Central Florida, it was Central Florida
being introduced to Puerto Rico. Well-
represented with 20 players and 30
supporters, the group brought tremendous
energy, excitement, enthusiasm and fun
to the tournament and returned to the
Caribbean island a bit heavier, with 21
medals including nine gold ones.
In retrospect, the true “gold medal” was
getting to meet this wonderful group of
people who invested their time and effort
to travel hundreds of miles to participate
in the tournament.
If you’re looking to play a little pickleball
on a Caribbean island, make sure Puerto
Rico is on your must-play list—it will be on
mine! •
• Willie Sabina (Puerto Rico Ambassador)
• Scott Nelson (Florida District Ambassador)
• Carlos Soto-Busigo (Puerto Rico
Ambassador)
If you plan to be in Puerto Rico, contact
Willie at [email protected] for a
pickleball game.
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MARCH/APRIL 2019 |
MAGAZINE
55