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