Pickleball Magazine 2-6 | Page 69

Little Valley Pickleball Complex The Fall Brawl had nearly 650 players this year, participating in 76 events over five days. Run by the City of St. George, the Fall Brawl gives many players, especially those from colder or wetter states, a chance to practice on dedicated outdoor pickleball courts before going to the USAPA Nationals in November. The tournament is themed, like many of the St. George city tournaments, around boxing, which can be felt in the way players are called to their courts, the look of the medal stand, and even the medals themselves. It gives the tournament a distinct flavor and is always a lot of fun. Plus, with 24 courts, there is a lot of recreational play as the brackets finish into the evening under courts that are lit until 10:30 p.m. In 1987, the World Senior Games came into existence, with the vision of having an international sports event for men and women in their golden years, encouraging good health and physical fitness as a way of life, not a hobby. Since then, it has grown at a staggering rate, and every year it brings in several thousand participants. This year’s pickleball participation numbered over 750. It is truly an amazing sight to see how many active adults participate in this tournament. The Huntsman Games offer a variety of sporting events, and many of the participants end up mingling and getting to know one another either on the courts or at a local restaurant. The tournament has become so popular over the years that registration closes within days, if not hours (this year it filled in under 10 minutes). With the popularity of the larger tournaments, this may become a more and more common occurrence. Nonetheless, it is an amazing event, bringing together many of the best players from around the world. The USAPA West Regional is held in late April and is intended to bring together the top competitors from the region.  • Bonnie Williams and Dave Weinbach NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 | MAGAZINE 67