Kamloops Pickleball Court Shortage: As pickleball grows quickly in Kamloops, British Columbia, some players are wondering if the city can keep up with the demand for courts and indoor spaces. Chris Ross, a 34-year-old local resident with a 5.0 rating, believes the sport is here to stay and will continue to grow.
A Fast Rise in Popularity
Chris Ross began playing pickleball casually in 2017. At first, he wasn’t sure if he enjoyed it. But with time, the game became an important part of his life.
“I don’t think I love loved it at first, but after a little bit of time I really, really started to enjoy it and it pretty much became an obsession for me,” said Chris Ross in an interview with Radio NL’s Jon Keen.
Ross compared learning pickleball to golf, saying it’s easier to pick up.
“Like if you’ve never played golf before it’s really hard to get better quickly. It wasn’t a big jump to play (pickleball) and be like hey I’m not terrible at this. Once I started playing tournaments the following year, the competition just became addictive.”
Growing Club, Limited Courts
Chris Ross is part of the Kamloops Pickleball Club, which now has over 500 members. The club held its annual open tournament a few weeks ago. Ross says the city doesn’t yet have enough places to play.
“I think it’s going to keep growing, I don’t think it’s a fad. It’s too easy, too accessible for people and it’s simply too much fun,” said Ross.
He believes the city should consider an indoor facility, especially for winter play. He mentioned the city of Vernon as an example of doing this well.
Call for City Support
Ross said that while the club can help raise money, they need the city’s help with land.
“If potentially the land is subsidized by the City, the Club is also able to raise funds to build a facility. The land plus the facility is too much for the Club alone.”
According to Pickleball Canada, the number of players in the country has grown by 57% over the past three years, showing the sport’s massive rise in popularity.
What’s Next for Kamloops Pickleball
With hundreds of members and rising interest, the Kamloops Pickleball Club may need city support to meet the demand. As more people of all ages join in, the sport is becoming a strong part of local recreation. Players like Chris Ross hope that indoor courts and more space will follow soon.
News in Brief: Kamloops Pickleball Court Shortage
Pickleball in Kamloops is growing fast, with player Chris Ross and over 500 club members calling for more courts and a winter facility. Ross says the game is “too easy, too accessible” not to keep growing. A recent report shows a 57% rise in Canadian pickleball players in three years.
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