AROUND THE WORLD
PICKLEBALL
Costa Rica
BY STEVEN DOUGLAS
According to Albert Einstein, insanity is
doing the same thing over and over again
and expecting different results, yet that is
exactly what people do when they take a
vacation. Whether it’s a Caribbean cruise,
a cross‑country excursion, or an expensive
timeshare ... traditional vacations often leave
you exhausted, financially drained, and in
need of vacation from your vacation. So why
opt for the same old thing when you can
experience one of the fastest-growing sports
(many have never even heard of) in one of
the happiest, most beautiful countries in the
world?
personalized lessons, intermediates develop
quickly by using our pickleball machine, and
the advanced players are very competitive.”
Pickleball Costa Rica is affiliated with the USA
Pickleball Association and Tony has recently
become an ambassador with the USAPA.
The couple discovered pickleball in Spokane,
Washington, in 2012 and, as their passion
grew for the game, they were determined
to continue playing in their new equatorial
home. Unable to find a pickleball presence
within the country, they resolved to pioneer
the effort to bring the game to Costa Rica.
Success took time, yet what began on a
Costa Rica is an alluring destination
complete with exotic and diverse wildlife,
vegetation, microclimates, and volcanoes.
With its unsurpassed tropical, primeval
beauty, is it any wonder this Central American
country was the chosen setting for Michael
Crichton’s novel “Jurassic Park”?
Pickleball Costa Rica, located within
Central Highlands’ stunning and tranquil
coffee region just southwest of San Ramon,
Alajuela, is a rapidly growing, multi cultural
club that began soon after Tony and Celeste
Horpel decided to leave the United States
in 2014. Presently, the group consists of
35 active players from the United States,
Canada, and Costa Rica. “We have room for
everyone here,” says Tony. “Beginners receive
dilapidated outdoor basketball court has
flourished into robust match play, four days
a week, on three dedicated indoor courts.
As Tony and Celeste actively seek to build
interest for the game through their pickleball
clinics, social media, and word-of-mouth,
curiosity seekers and avid players are quickly
joining the ranks.
Tony and Celeste also combine vocation
with recreation by conducting both photo
and pickleball tours to many divergent and
breathtaking locations throughout Costa
Rica. They not only cover the standard tourist
locales, they also have a knack for finding
those hidden gems only the locals know
about. Nearby areas host an array of ecological
wonders including lush rainforests, exquisite
waterfalls, therapeutic hot springs, and the
unmatched beauty of the Arenal volcano. To
the west, several of the world’s most beautiful
beaches are found where colorful macaws
congregate, or perhaps you might prefer to
hand-feed the adorable capuchin monkeys.
Closer to home, opulent coffee plantations
yield one of the country’s top exports, and
local farmers markets provide an abundance
of fresh produce.
For the uninitiated, pickleball is a
mishmash of tennis, badminton, and
ping‑pong. The game itself is fairly
inexpensive, simple to learn, and new players
of all ages and fitness categories are quickly
hooked. Besides being fun, competitive, and
a great way to exercise, pickleball challenges
every skill level with its fast-paced, shorter
duration, highly participatory style.
“Introducing pickleball to locals, tourists,
and expats is a great joy,” say Tony and
Celeste. “There’s great camaraderie, lasting
friendships, and playing in a tropical paradise
while promoting a healthier and serene
life style can’t be beat.”
Pura vida is Costa Rica’s trademark
expression which literally means “pure life,”
yet among its many other connotations, the
saying seems to embody an eternal optimism,
and that very enthusiasm is the driving force
behind Pickleball Costa Rica. So if you’re
ready for a smashing good time ... a bucket list
adventure awaits you in glorious Costa Rica! •
About Tony and
Celeste Horpel
Tony and Celeste Horpel
are avid pickleball players
from Spokane, WA, now
residing in beautiful Costa
Rica. Tony is the first and
still only USA Pickleball
Association ambassador
to Costa Rica. Tony and
Celeste met each other
while working as flight
attendants for Western Airlines in 1976 and they’ve
been together ever since.
Due to the popularity of pickleball in North America,
Tony assumed that Costa Rica had pickleball players
before he made the move. He was sadly mistaken
and realized that if he was going to play, he would
have to start a group on his own. The rest is history!
Contact Info: www.pickleballcostarica.com | [email protected] | facebook.com/pickleballcostarica | 1.509.214.2451 (Toll Free)
JANUARY 2016 |
MAGAZINE
37