The Battlefords Pickleball Club in action. (Submitted photo/Debbie Iwanchuk)

By Martin Martinson

Most Dill-lightful game

Pickleball season underway in the Battlefords

Jun 25, 2021 | 10:00 AM

After nearly a full seven months away from the game, the Battlefords Pickleball Club is back in action at the NationsWEST Field House this summer.

With Provincial restrictions opening to allow for indoor sports to begin play earlier this week (June 20), the local pickleball club has been busy, setting up court times and brushing up on their skills after an extended winter leave.

This week marked the first time since late-November the sport was able to be played indoors in the community, due to provincial COVID restrictions on all indoor sports.

However, as president of the Battlefords Pickleball Club, Debbie Iwanchuk said it was well worth the wait to get back on the floor this spring.

“Many members were anxious for the indoor facility to reopen, so it’s been really nice to be able to return to indoor play this week,” she said. “There was always play going on over the summer, just restricted to outdoors on the local tennis courts, but that can be tough with the wind and things.”

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One of the rare sports to not really have an ‘off-season,’ prior to the pandemic, the pickleball season ran for the most part year-round.

While numbers would tend to fluctuate a bit depending on the season, that year-round accessibility coupled with the local club’s efforts in growing the game were key in helping gain the sport a real following in the community and surrounding area.

“Drop-in play is for anyone, and we never turn anyone away,” Iwanchuk said. “It’s not limited to club membership to play, it’s just that the club works to try to increase playing opportunities in the community for everyone.”

Prior to the pandemic, pickleball was gaining real traction in popularity. Offering introductory classes to the sport, the club saw between 30 and 40 people join. To date, the Battlefords Pickleball Club is about 125 members-strong, though not all members attend every event.

Iwanchuk said they’re looking forward to hosting more, similar introductory programing and events in the near future to continue to grow the game in the area.

The NationsWEST Field House is open Wednesday to Sunday 12-8 p.m., with pickleball games frequently happening during the week. For more information on the local pickleball club, or to become a member, visit their website.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1