How the Barnes Family Revolutionized Pickleball: In 2009, the Barnes family—Jim Barnes and his teenage sons Mike, Tom, and Ryan—had no grand business ambitions when they stepped into the Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene. They were simply there to shoot some basketball. But on that day, pickleball was being introduced, and a chance encounter with another player changed their lives.
“We were playing [basketball], and they just put up pickleball for the first time that day. And we had someone come over and say, ‘Hey, you want to play with me?’ And us boys, we’re kind of looking at it like, ‘Oh, that looks kind of like a weird game.’ And our dad had previously played it. He’s a retired fireman, and he had played at a station once. And he was like, ‘Hey, we need to go try this.’ So we tried it, and we were kind of hooked ever since.” – (Ryan)
Founding Selkirk
The Barnes family’s newfound passion for pickleball led to the creation of Selkirk in 2014. At that time, pickleball was still a niche sport, and quality equipment was scarce. Despite the sport’s rising popularity—pickleball has seen a 223.5% increase in players over the past three years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s Topline Participation Report—the market lacked performance brands.
“There weren’t any true performance brands that actually spoke to us. And we just all felt that it was a massive gap at the time. We loved the sport, and it was starting to grow, but still you could ask 10 people and one person maybe knew what pickleball was. And now it’s literally the opposite—nine out of 10 will know. And so we just felt like it was a fun game that really turned into a sport. And we wanted to build a real authentic brand in the space.” – (Ryan)
Growth and Innovation
As the sport’s popularity surged during the COVID pandemic, Selkirk flourished. What started as a small, family-run business has grown into the leading name in pickleball equipment. From its humble beginnings, Selkirk has expanded its operations to include around 150 employees and a design and manufacturing facility in Hayden, Idaho. The company’s products are now available at major retailers like Target and Costco.
“Because we were born in the sport, we had a lot of time to kind of figure it out. So we’ve really pushed the limits of performance in the space. I mean, when we first entered the space, the most expensive paddle you could get was $100, and that was pretty rare. Now we have Selkirk Labs models that are up to $333. We really knew if we could bring performance, if we could bring better technology, we could pay for that technology with a higher price point.” – (Ryan)
Looking Ahead
Selkirk currently offers 18 models of performance pickleball paddles, along with nets, balls, and other gear. Prices range from $50 to $250. The Barnes family is now exploring plans to open their first retail stores in Idaho. Additionally, they continue to support the local pickleball community by offering free Pickleball 101 lessons at their facility in Hayden.
“This is our 10-year anniversary. So we’re just pretty excited to continue the journey. We’re the largest brand in the space right now, and we’re just hoping to continue that growth and build the sport across the world, not just in the Inland Northwest.” – (Ryan)
News in Brief: How the Barnes Family Revolutionized Pickleball
The Barnes family, initially basketball enthusiasts, discovered pickleball at the Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene in 2009, sparking their passion for the sport. In 2014, they founded Selkirk, which has since become a leading name in pickleball equipment. As the sport grew, Selkirk expanded significantly, now offering a wide range of high-performance paddles and equipment. The company is also actively supporting the local pickleball community with free lessons and plans for retail expansion.
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