Pickleball Magazine 4-5 WD | Page 40

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS DOESN’T DISAPPOINT! By Andrea Chiodo T he Tournament of Champions (TOC) is one of the most pres- tigious tournaments among top pickleball professionals. It’s held in Brigham City, UT, a small, quaint town nestled in the magnificent Westville Mountains. Here you’ll find a pickleball mecca consisting of 17 pristine, dedi- cated pickleball courts. The city recently purchased the tournament from John Gullo and has worked closely with the USAPA to make TOC the first Tier One pickleball tournament outside of the USAPA Margaritaville National Championships. 38 What makes the TOC so attractive to players of all levels is the large prize pool—and the best smalltown hospitality around. The tournament drew 550 participants, 12 vendors and nine media outlets. This year, top pros vied for $57,500 over four days of competition. Tournament Director Kyle Klein and Tournament Manager Kristy Wolford produced a first-class event. They created an intimate and comfortable atmosphere for athletes to be successful on the courts. Under a large shaded canopy, the athletes could escape the desert heat to rest and relax with other players and enjoy many amenities, including snacks, cold water, sunscreen dispensers and cooling misters. There were plenty of top pro players on the podium— Tyson McGuffin, Simone Jardim, Scott Moore, Daniel TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 888.308.3720 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG.COM