78 I SALAMANDER 2024
A strict regimen of leisure and relaxation used to be the hallmark of the perfect vacation . Now it seems that in the wake of the pandemic , travelers are finding themselves gravitating toward exploring new experiences and skills to add to their quiver . And for many who visit Salamander Collection properties , this arrow points to the fastestgrowing sport in the nation : pickleball .
Millions of players have been swept up in the torrent of this fun and rewarding new activity , and that ’ s just after a few years of mainstream popularity . How did a sport over 50 years old suddenly accelerate to a crescendo ? Many pickleball aficionados and newcomers alike have attributed its rise to a simple factor : wide accessibility . That is , soft physical demands , modest equipment needs , a short learning curve , and an emphasis on lighthearted competition within a funloving community . And so , with guests of all types checking in , it comes as no surprise that pickleball has become a Salamander marquee activity .
Alex Rebeiz , owner of Cascades Tennis , which operates its tennis and pickleball programs at Aspen Meadows Resort , says the game ’ s growth really sped up when , “ everybody was restricted at the peak of COVID and pickleball was considered a safe sport like golf and tennis . The court is so small that you could set it up on your driveway with a small net and tape . Access to it is easy . The learning curve is easy , and once you start to get to a higher level , it ’ s still a physical activity .”
Pickleball travel
THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN THE NATION IS ON THE TRAVEL FAST TRACK .
By DANTE AMODEO