PPA Challenger Series Portland Experience: JOOLA and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) teamed up in 2025 to launch the PPA Challenger Series. To capture the tour’s energy, they created a behind-the-scenes content series. They sent JOOLA pro Josh Jenkins, along with two company colleagues, Corey and Isang, to Portland, Maine, for a new kind of experience—watching, not playing.
They attended the Challenger Series event at the Picklr venue in Portland. Josh Jenkins, who usually plays in over 75 tournaments a year, was there this time as a “non-player.” He brought his paddles and bag, but only for his camera gear. His goal was to watch, learn, and share stories from the tour.
Behind the Scenes at the Picklr
Josh Jenkins arrived in Portland after a late flight. He was used to long tournament days, but this one was different.
“Showing up to a venue tired, having flown in the night before, and prepared to spend 10+ hours at a tournament venue were all familiar feelings. Having done so 75+ times over the last 5 years. This was a bit different though, I was in Portland, Maine at the Picklr to take in a PPA Tour Challenger Series Event as a spectator, not as a competitor.” – (Josh Jenkins)
Though he wasn’t competing, Josh found the setting very familiar. He met friends, old partners, and even opponents like Greg Dow and Anderson Scarpa.
“Was I up 6-1 in game 1 and then lost 11-6? I most certainly did, no grudges towards them, they’re great.” – (Josh Jenkins)
Still, he couldn’t help checking the tournament site for scores and matchups, even hoping for a last-minute player call.
Learning the Game Through Fresh Eyes
Corey and Isang, who were new to pickleball, joined Josh on this journey. For Josh, it felt similar to bringing someone unfamiliar to a tournament and needing to explain everything. At one point, Corey asked a question that stood out.
“Which one hit that shot? Anderson or Scarpa?” Josh replied with a smile, “Well Corey, they’re the same person and Greg actually hit that shot!” Josh also shared funny moments from the experience. While he focused on games, his colleagues were more interested in local food and fashion.
“I would overhear those two discussing ‘That lobster roll last night was not worth $38’ or ‘I love it when teams match outfits, this one team had just matching shorts.’” – (Josh Jenkins)
He joked that they were really starting to understand the sport, especially when they began recognizing players and asking about gameplay.
Missing the Action but Still Involved
Although he wasn’t playing, Josh still felt deeply connected to the event. He got questions from fans about why he wasn’t competing. Some recognized him from coaching or from YouTube videos featuring pro Ben Johns. Josh said, “While my paddles never came out, it did feel like being at a pickleball tournament is still a place I belong.”
He allowed himself to think about competing again and reflected on the special community that surrounds the sport. “Did I secretly wish someone missed the flight and someone needed a list minute fill in? Yes, definitely. But the call (and text) never came!” he joked.
Josh stayed until the end. But in a final twist, he found himself calling his own ride back to the airport. “BRB—I gotta call myself an Uber to the airport cause Corey ‘has to get back to the action’ or probably being the fashion police again,” he added.
The Meaning of the Experience
The trip showed how special the pickleball world really is. Even as a spectator, Josh Jenkins felt part of something meaningful. The Challenger Series is not just about games. It’s about the people, the stories, and the way the sport connects players and fans.
Josh’s experience revealed how the sport can be exciting from the outside too. And for newcomers like Corey and Isang, it was a fun, eye-opening way to learn about pickleball culture.
The journey proved that even without stepping on the court, there’s still a lot to enjoy—and a lot to share.
News in Brief: PPA Challenger Series Portland Experience
JOOLA pro Josh Jenkins attended the PPA Challenger Series in Portland, Maine, as a non-player, joined by colleagues Corey and Isang. Their visit was part of a content series capturing the event’s spirit. The experience offered a new look at pickleball’s community and culture—from both sidelines and center court.
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