PickleballMEXICO
THE THRIVING POWER OF PICKLEBALL IN MEXICO — WOMEN
Everywhere I travel around the pickleball world , I find that the heart and soul of the game are the women of pickleball . It is the main reason that pickleball is such a “ human sport .” Women bring the good and tender side of the game . They not only play and organize extraordinarily , but they are the main force behind the volunteer and entrepreneur community of the sport .
I have found great women all over Mexico who are the thriving power behind the game . Aline Morales from Ixtapa and Georgette Ochoa from Los Barriles are two magnificent 11-year-old players who will certainly be top international players . They work and practice very hard and show tremendous discipline in their lives . Behind them are their incredible mothers who support them and travel with them for financial and emotional support .
Sammy Cota is also an amazing woman who teaches pickleball in Los Barriles to kids with limited resources and helps them stay off the street . Sally Bland and Gladys Jure are tenacious entrepreneurs investing and fighting hard to make
From left : Belem Garcia , Mariana Fortes , Leandra from Brazil , Andrea Arochi , and Natalia from Brazil . pickleball grow in Los Barriles and Mexico City respectively . Sally and her husband , Paul , are the founders and owners of the beautiful Tres Palapas Pickleball Resort . Tania Reyes from Pickleball Barra de Navidad at Hotel Cabo Blanco is also a thriving power along with her husband , Kike Casillas , in promoting pickleball in the zone . What can I say about Belem Garcia and Mariana Fortes , Mexico National Champions , who are great ambassadors of the game and role models to all players . They have fought great battles for equal payment and treatment for women . Also worth mentioning are Dalhia Garcia and Clarett Prat , who are great competitors from Guaymas , Mexico .
Celina Lopez from Las Vegas , Nevada , who is a USAP certified referee and has traveled down to Mexico helping to develop referees , is a great promoter of Mexico Pickleball in the U . S .
Andrea Arochi , who I had the honor of playing mixed doubles with and is a TV commentator , has become one of the great promoters of the sport in Mexico .
Alejandra Gomez has built a great community of people over age 60 in Guadalajara , and through pickleball she has brought them a new family and a new reason for excitement .
I want to make a special mention of a very special group of women who without their support we could not be doing what we are trying to accomplish . These are our wives . My
By Javier Regalado
Aline Morales with her mom , Miriam .
wife , Gaby , is my source of energy , ideas and love that is required to achieve whatever we are trying to accomplish . I want to also thank and mention other team members ’ wives , Bonnie , Marina , Au , Graciela , and Dolores , and the women of my team : Natalia , Paulette , Angelica , Fernanda , and Amalia . All women of exceptionally great talents and leadership .
My admiration goes to Jen Ramamurthy from PB Australia , Karen Rust from PB Canada and Lenka Misickova from PB Czech Republic whom I ’ ve had the honor of working together with in building a new global federation . Certainly , they are the thriving power behind the unification process .
Finally , I want to thank Smiley Riley and Danae Bass , pickleball social media influencers , whose energy and happiness made our Los Cabos Open tournament such a fun event . Also , Julie Talerico , editorial director of this amazing magazine , who has supported me in writing this column .
Obviously , there are many other women I have not mentioned — players , volunteers , entrepreneurs , wives , and leaders . If I have left you out , my apologies , but I know you are out there changing the face of communities and families , and certainly making this world a better place . You are the thriving power of pickleball , not only in Mexico , but the whole world ! •
PRESIDENT , LPPM