YNCU Curling Centre Pickleball Courts: The YNCU Curling Centre in Sault Ste. Marie has launched indoor pickleball courts, now open from July 19 to mid-September. An open house was held Monday to celebrate the new courts at 124 Anita Boulevard. This move allows the centre to stay active during the curling off-season and welcome more players year-round.
A New Summer Sport at a Curling Venue
Jennifer Reid, general manager of the YNCU Curling Centre, said, “Next year we will be open from May 1 to around Sept. 15. It’s super exciting for us because typically in the off-season from curling we’re closed.”
By bringing pickleball to the facility from May to September, the centre hopes to keep the building, restaurant, and bar open all year.
“We have such a great facility here and it’s such a shame to see it closed during the summer months. It’s almost like a hidden gem in the middle of our city,” Jennifer Reid told SooToday.
Eight Courts Designed Just for Pickleball
The centre now has eight indoor courts that are built only for pickleball. These courts don’t have confusing lines from other sports like basketball or volleyball.
“A lot of the indoor facilities here in the Sault have many lines on the court when people are trying to play pickleball. There are basketball courts, volleyball courts and badminton courts. The lines on our courts are only for pickleball. They roll out in strips. There are five strips per court and each one weighs 500 pounds. So a court weighs 2,500 pounds,” said Jennifer Reid.
These courts, made in southern Ontario, can be rolled up and stored in winter. That way, the centre can go back to curling in the colder months.
“Because they roll back up we get to store them for the winter, put in the ice and go back to curling, so we’re becoming both a curling and pickleball club,” said Jennifer Reid.
Pickleball Community Welcomes New Home
Gene Santoro, vice president of Soo Pickleball, is glad to see the new indoor space.
“I think it’s truly amazing that the curling club has endeavoured to get us to this stage and have indoor pickleball for the summer months,” said Gene Santoro.
Santoro, who has played pickleball for 14 years, added that the indoor courts offer a better experience during hot days.
“We really like playing inside because outside you get the sun that is beating down on you and you get the wind that comes up. The nice thing about this is that it allows us to play in the afternoon when it’s 35 C outside,” Gene Santoro said.
Pickleball is similar to tennis but played on a smaller court. It can be played as singles or doubles, including mixed doubles.
A Growing Sport with a Growing Future
Soo Pickleball has long wanted a year-round indoor facility. The hope is that the curling centre will help with a new building so pickleball can have a permanent indoor home.
“It’s something we’ve been chasing for a long time. We believe the curling club wants to include us, hopefully, in an expansion by putting up a new exterior building so we can have a permanent home,” said Gene Santoro.
Currently, Soo Pickleball players use several venues when space is available. These include the Sault YMCA, George Leach Centre at Algoma University, The Tech, and F.H. Clergue French Immersion Public School gym. Gene Santoro said Soo Pickleball has more than 600 registered players.
“You’ll find people who are in their 20s to their 70s playing,” he said.
“I like it for two reasons. It gets me out. I can play it at a slower level and some people play it at a faster level. A lot of the more mature people like it because they can play at their level and it’s fun. The other thing is the social aspect of it. I like playing with all these other people that you meet and become friends with,” said Gene Santoro.
Anyone interested in joining or learning more can visit the Soo Pickleball website. Information is also available there about an upcoming pickleball tournament in August.
News in Brief: YNCU Curling Centre Pickleball Courts
The YNCU Curling Centre in Sault Ste. Marie is now offering indoor pickleball courts from July to mid-September. With eight specially designed courts, the venue aims to stay open year-round. Soo Pickleball, with over 600 players, welcomes the new facility and hopes for a permanent indoor home in the future.