Sudbury's pickleball enthusiasts aren't wasting time when it comes to getting out on the court.
Local pickler Bobby Miller put together an invitational event on May 4, with pickleball players from North Bay, Little Current, and Manitoulin all making their way to Sudbury to get a head start on the pickleball season.
Sudbury's first outdoor courts dedicated to pickleball opened last year at O'Connor Playground, but that was in September and the season was short.
"The diehards were still out there playing into November," said Miller. "This year we've got a full season so we want to make the most of it."
Interest around the game is picking up, says Miller, as people in the neighbourhood where the pickleball courts are located have been stopping by to see what it's all about. If you're not familiar with the sport, check out this video Sudbury.com put together in the summer of 2017.
"Word is getting out about this, and the community has been coming by to check it out," said Miller, who had more than 40 players show up to the Sudbury courts on May 4.
"We had players as young as seven, up to 85, we really want to get the kids involved and playing."
The event also got a visit from John Halliday, tournament director for the 2019 Provincial Championships in Pickleball, which will be held in North Bay from June 21-23.
Miller is hoping that Sudbury will be able to host the event in the not too distant future.
"North Bay has 50,000 people, we've got 150,000 here in Greater Sudbury, so there's room to grow for us," said Miller. "We're going to keep building and hopefully one day we're hosting this event."
