CARSTAIRS-DIDSBURY - On almost any day of the week in the area you can find a group of people playing a relatively new sport called pickleball.
Although pickleball has origins dating back over 50 years, it hasn't really become popular until recent years.
Pickleball is a racket sport consisting of two or four people batting a ball back and forth over a net using paddles. The sport is similar to tennis but with a smaller surface and shorter net.
Cindy Archer has played pickleball for several years and organizes the Monday night drop-in at Westglen School in Didsbury (from 6:30 until 9 p.m.) She told the Gazette the sport is growing slowly but surely.
There are also playing opportunities on multiple days and nights with Olds, Carstairs and Sundre all having drop-in pickleball as well, said Archer.
"The sport appeals to all ages," said Archer. "It can be a fast-moving sport, or it can be slowed down a lot when a person gets older. It's very social and it allows couples a chance to do a sport together as it is not gender specific, except maybe at the higher levels."
Archer said in addition to being a fun social outing, pickleball also offers good, low-impact exercise for all ages.
"It can be played as singles or doubles but is more popular as a doubles sport," said Archer. "Locally it's played mostly as doubles, but you don't need a partner to play."
For more serious players, there are pickleball tournaments throughout Alberta and North America. Visit pickleballalberta.org or any of the various Facebook groups (Didsbury Pickleball, Olds Pickleball, etc.) for more information on tournaments or drop-in nights.
