Stratton Pickleball Tournament: Entering its second year, the Stratton Open pickleball tournament has ascended to a crucial role within the UPA (United Pickleball Association) State Championship Series. As the sole tournament in Vermont affiliated with the series, it promises a gateway to the prestigious Champions Division of the United Pickleball Association World Championships, set to unfold in Dallas, Texas on November 4.
With 1,452 players already registered for the World Championships as of July 16, anticipation is high, thirty-two state championships remain undecided by July 19, adding to the excitement as contenders compete for spots in the November showdown.
Stratton Open Gains Momentum
Last year’s inaugural Stratton Open, held from September 15-17, drew 86 participants. As of July 17 this year, early registrations for the tournament have reached 25, a number expected to surge closer to the event date.
While projections for this year’s turnout remain fluid, other state tournaments have seen robust participation, the recent New Jersey State Open boasted nearly 650 entrants from July 12-14, showing the growing popularity of competitive pickleball.
“Vermont is one of the least populous states in the country. To have an attendance of 80 plus people was like, ‘Alright, wow. Some place in Vermont drew a tournament that was that much. We want to piggy back off this,’ so that’s what we did.” – (Menzies)
“We worked out the partnership with them and now we have the UPA state branding on this particular tournament so we’re getting front of page advertisement on pickleballbrackets.com… It’s where all the serious pickleball players go to look for tournaments. So, we’re getting that coverage, which is good. It’s kind of a big deal.” – (Menzies)
The UPA affiliation coupled with the Stratton Open being a prize money tournament is expected to attract a larger crowd, according to Menzies. Last year, participants from Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts flocked to the tournament, and Menzies anticipates a similar turnout this year. Additionally, Stratton Mountain Resort is providing lodging discounts for tournament participants, enhancing the appeal of the event.
From Courts to Community Spotlight
Last year, the tournament celebrated the completion of 16 new pickleball courts, part of Stratton’s extensive capital improvement plan. Four former tennis courts were repurposed into dedicated pickleball courts, totaling eight. Another four tennis courts were adapted with dual painted lines for use in tennis and pickleball, adding eight more courts available to guests at Stratton.
With such ample facilities now in place, there is currently no participant cap. Menzies noted that the size of the facility allows for hosting a comparable number of participants to popular Florida venues, some of which regularly attract crowds of 1,000 or more.
Menzies Observed that it’s difficult to predict exact numbers for this year, other state tournaments have consistently drawn substantial crowds observed, the recent New Jersey State Open saw nearly 650 participants. Given Vermont’s smaller population, last year’s turnout of over 80 players was a notable achievement.
“Last year’s success put Vermont firmly on the pickleball map. We capitalized on that momentum to secure our place in the UPA State Championship series, ensuring prime visibility on platforms like pickleballbrackets.com, a go-to hub for serious players.” – (Menzies)
Competition Readiness at Stratton
With official UPA affiliation and cash prizes at stake, the Stratton Open anticipates a strong regional turnout, with players expected from neighboring states such as Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. To enhance the participant experience, Stratton Mountain Resort is offering special lodging deals, underlining its commitment to hosting premier pickleball events.
“The expansion of our facilities last year was pivotal. We converted four tennis courts into dedicated pickleball courts and transformed another four into versatile courts suitable for both tennis and pickleball, significantly increasing our capacity to host major tournaments.” – (Menzies)
Equipped to accommodate a diverse range of players, the tournament will feature 150 divisions including men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, each further divided by age and skill level categories.
“As pickleball continues to grow you have a number of different rating systems out there including DUPR, including pickleballbracket’s system, so everybody who signs up, they’re rated across all these platforms and now coming into play.” – (Menzies)
“The more people play the more possible it is. (If) someone comes in for their first tournament, there is no checks and balances because they haven’t played any tournaments before. … However if they put themselves higher than they are, their chances of winning decreases and if you want to win and qualify for the National Championship in Dallas in November players will want to be in the division that is more in line with their skill set.” – (Menzies)
Interested players have until July 31 at 5 p.m. to register for the Stratton Open. Registration can be completed online at www.stratton.com or pickleballbrackets.com, with fees set at $70 for the initial event and an additional $15 for each subsequent event.
