Myoflex National Pickleball Championship 2025: The 2025 Myoflex National Championship began Tuesday at the Taylor Tennis Centre in Winnipeg, marking the first time the tournament has been held in Manitoba. The weeklong event features over 700 players competing on 32 indoor courts, with more than 2,000 games scheduled until Sunday.
A Sport for All Ages
Competition co-director Ted Fardoe said the championship brings together players of all generations.
“I think our youngest participant is 14 (years old) and our oldest is over 80,” said Ted Fardoe.
“We’re very excited about what we’ve got going on here, all ages and all skill.”
Fardoe noted that pickleball’s popularity is rising quickly in Canada. Membership in Pickleball Manitoba has grown from 400 players in 2022 to 2,500 in 2025.
“Every year, we’re growing by 25 per cent easily, and that’s just our membership. I would say that we have only captured half of the people playing this sport in Manitoba,” he added.
A Family Game That Connects Generations
Coach-director of Pickleball Manitoba, Kim Ezzard-Simpson, explained how she joined the sport because of her father.
“I actually started to play pickleball a few years ago because my father played. He is now 80 and he got me into the game,” said Kim Ezzard-Simpson.
“And that’s the beauty of pickleball. You can play any age from young to old, and it’s just such a fun game.”
Ezzard-Simpson also hopes to see the game on the Olympic stage.
“That is a little way away at this time, but we’re working hard. All of the Canadian provinces are working hard to make that come to fruition, and I believe that it will happen,” she said.
“People are having these tournaments, and pickleball is here to stay.”
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Stories from Players
Among the many participants was Winnipeg resident Lisa Bergson, who discovered the sport nine years ago.
“I was hooked as soon as I hit that first ball,” said Lisa Bergson, recalling how she started at a clinic in Winnipeg Beach shortly after her retirement.
“It’s easy to learn to play, whereas tennis is a little more difficult for people to get a hang of. Pickleball is a little easier, and it’s very social,” she explained.
The Bigger Picture
The championship highlights pickleball’s rapid growth across Canada. With rising memberships, increased tournaments, and players of all ages joining in, the sport continues to expand. Organizers believe the momentum could help push for global recognition, including a future spot in the Olympics.
News in Brief: Myoflex National Pickleball Championship 2025
The 2025 Myoflex National Championship began in Winnipeg, bringing over 700 players to the Taylor Tennis Centre for more than 2,000 games. Organizers like Ted Fardoe and Kim Ezzard-Simpson highlighted the sport’s rapid growth in Manitoba, while players such as Lisa Bergson shared personal stories of pickleball’s appeal.