South Cariboo Pickleball Community Growth: For most of July, the South Cariboo Rec Centre in 100 Mile House was filled with the sound of pickleball as local women gathered four days a week to play. Organized through the South Cariboo Pickleball Association, the games offered a fun way to stay active and social during the summer.
The sessions ran during the last weeks of June and throughout July. A group of female players from the South Cariboo Pickleball Association used the rec centre courts in the mornings, then played again in the afternoons at the Rolf Zeis Memorial Arena in Lac La Hache.
A Growing Group of Women Players
Marg Mitchell, a local pickleball coach and longtime player, said the idea started small.
“The last couple of weeks we’ve been playing (at the rec centre) in the morning and then playing out at the Rolf Zeis Memorial Arena in Lac La Hache in the afternoon, so that’s eight times in a week,”.
“It started out with just a couple of women wanting to play with a women’s group and it’s actually grown.”(Marg Mitchell)
She noted that around 12 women now play regularly. Mitchell believes these sessions are about more than just the sport.
Pickleball Builds Social Bonds
“Pickleball is a very social game. There’s a lot of joking and laughing and I think that’s probably the biggest thing, the social aspect of it where we all come and get together. Even with our mixed groups, it’s the same thing,”.
“I think that’s really what’s making pickleball a big thing. It’s not as serious as tennis and other racket sports.”(Marg Mitchell)
The group welcomes more members. The South Cariboo Pickleball Association currently has 95 members. Annual membership is $30, making it an affordable option for anyone interested in joining.
Fall Classes Open to Beginners
For those new to the sport, Marg Mitchell will lead beginner pickleball classes this fall. They will be held Tuesday evenings starting in early October, either at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School or 100 Mile Elementary School’s gym.
“If you’re an absolute non-player the best place to start is to do a few lessons. It gives you some idea of what to do,”.
“Some people advance way quicker than others, so you just play wherever you feel comfortable.”(Marg Mitchell)
A Sport for All Ages
The South Cariboo Rec Centre and local pickleball players have worked together to offer more opportunities for people to get involved. The recent summer sessions showed that there is a strong interest in the game—especially among women—and that pickleball is more than just exercise. It brings people together, builds friendships, and supports a healthy lifestyle for all ages.
News in Brief: South Cariboo Pickleball Community Growth
Women in the South Cariboo Pickleball Association played four times a week this July at the South Cariboo Rec Centre and the Rolf Zeis Memorial Arena. Coach Marg Mitchell says the sport is growing locally and invites beginners to join her fall classes at local schools starting in October.
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