AU NATUREL PICKLEBALL
Nude pickleball is taking off . Clothing-optional resorts around the country are adding courts and holding tournaments .
By Alice Tym
Pickleball appeals to everyone , including seniors at Cypress Cove Nudist Resort in Kissimmee , Florida . Not only are there a lot of happy nudist pickleball players , but pickleball has also been good for business . Tournament Director Mike Sullivan explains , “ Pickleball has been a big shot-in-the-arm for the resort . Thirty years ago , 300 tennis players would come and stay a week playing a tournament complete with USTA referees . But then tennis declined . Now pickleball has seen a 200-percent increase since the pandemic . Cypress Cove has invested a lot of money in pickleball . Perhaps in another five years we might have eight courts . In the winter months we could really use 10 courts ; in the summer , four is plenty , so six courts make for a good balance .”
And it ’ s not just happening at Cypress Cove . The trade association for nudist resorts , American Association for Nude Recreation ( AANR ), has more than 100,000 members and 200 resort members . There are six large resorts in Florida and several in California and Arizona . Glen Eden is halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego , Shangri La Ranch is in Phoenix , and Rock Haven is in Murfreesboro , Tennessee — all have pickleball courts .
Cypress Cove resident Linda Bordner has been a nudist for 37 years and she is addicted to pickleball . “ People come to Cypress Cove specifically to play pickleball . People here are friendly , and we give free lessons . We are nudists . The socialization keeps me young ,” she says .
Matching pickleball with nudism seems to be working in everyone ’ s favor . It has given an economic
boost to nudist resorts and adds more places to enjoy pickleball around the U . S . The AANR website lists places to play around the country and whether they are nudist only or clothing optional . One player told me , “ Just jump in . Have the full experience .” That seems to fit right into pickleball ’ s philosophy , too .
So why do some picklers want to play nude ? Some say it helps with their body image . The people at Cypress Cove don ’ t judge — they see people of all shapes and sizes and accept them . Players say they feel “ free ” and that it feels natural . Even if you are a “ textile ” ( wearing clothing ), the others are exceedingly kind and welcoming . Many of the tournament players live at the resort , some year-round , and the resort offers several sports , dances and activities . •
Players taking a break at the Cypress Cove Spring Pickleball Tournament . From left to right : J . Moore , Robert Ann Lewis , Terry Medovitch , Tournament Director Mike Sullivan , Ron Chapman , Linda Bordner and Ed Hawkins . The tournament welcomed residents , snowbirds , and out-of-state visitors . Play took place on six dedicated lakeside pickleball courts . Clothing was optional , but most of the players were there to enjoy the freedom of being nude . Photo by Alice Tym .
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