FROM THE USAPA
USAPA BOARD MEMBER PROFILE
Phil
Mortenson
Area you grew up: Grade school and
high school in Arcadia, Calif. (suburb of
Los Angeles).
Current city (and with whom): Have
lived in Seattle since 1968. Married, with
one son.
Career outside of pickleball: Lawyer,
admitted in California and Washington.
I’m on several nonprofit boards and a
legal advisor in the fields of learning
disabilities, symphonies, elder law, and
church.
Working status (Retired?): Working
half time for a large technology company
in Seattle doing employment law and
contracts law. When I worked full time,
I did litigation and banking law. Started
out in poverty law with Vista (domestic
Peace Corps) in the late ‘60s.
Years you’ve been involved with
pickleball: Since about 2000. Drew up
the incorporation documents for USAPA
in 2005 and was part of the original
Board of Directors that gave birth to
USAPA.
First paddle you used: First and only
paddle brand I’ve used is Pickle-ball Pro II
(wood). It was the heaviest paddle I could
find. It gave me the most ball speed with
the shortest stroke. Cost: $1 at Goodwill.
Current skill level: Uncertain. I
haven’t played in the past two years
because of two hip replacements.
I won the National Men’s Doubles
Championship in 2009, Legends Division,
which I believe equates now to 65+.
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USAPA, you receive exclusive benefits for your membership.
What was the best teaching
advice you’ve received? Learn the
fundamentals correctly when you start
the sport; it’s much easier to learn
something than unlearn it.
Why did you get involved with the
USAPA? Pickleball seemed like a natural
progression from my previous racket
sports play. I taught tennis at a private
girls’ school in San Francisco when
in college and law school. Then added
squash, then badminton (made it to the
finals in doubles in the Nationals 65+
age division). Started racquetball in the
1980s and made it to the finals in the
National Doubles Championships 45+
age division. I played pickleball regularly
in the early 2000s with a group in Seattle
that started talking about making a
national organization. The group of
about seven soon started meeting in
Mark Friedenberg’s living room to create
committees, rules, bylaws and set the
USAPA in motion. By June 2005 the
USAPA was incorporated, and since that
date it has grown exponentially each year.
What playing advice would you
give new players? 1) Watch how the
best players play. See how they str ike
the ball, how they move, where they
place their shots, and then try to mimic
those examples. 2) Make your opponent
win the point with a good shot; don’t
make silly mistakes. 3) Here’s a secret
tip: pickleball is fundamentally a finesse
sport. Be patient and strategic; the sport
is just as much mental as it is physical. •
In addition, your membership supports
USAPA initiatives such as:
• Maintaining rules and equipment standards
• Introductory and developmental programs
for all ages
• Providing competitive play through USAPA
sanctioned events and tournaments
• Providing and maintaining a Places to Play
database (by country and state)
Go to usapa.org
MARCH 2016 |
MAGAZINE
9