76 JULY 2016 MARIN
Who plays pickleball? “Anyone can play!” Silvas says. The game tends
to draw former tennis players whose knees and other joints can’t tolerate the tennis court anymore. With pickleball the size of the court and
slower speed of the ball mean less ground to cover, so the game is perfect for retirees looking to maintain the joy of social play and thrill of
competition in their lives. But the demographic is definitely not limited
to the older age set or to former athletes. Silvas says his local classes and
tournaments are peppered with players of all ages and skill sets. The
Pickleball Channel, a web-based video channel for enthusiasts, features
U.S. Pickleball Open Championship matches between young men’s
and women’s singles superstars, all in prime physical shape. “I just
taught a summer clinic at Rolling Hills Club that was for 9- to 15-year-
olds,” Silvas says. “They went crazy for it and want more.” He adds that
t wo of the better players in the region are kids, a pair of brothers, 8 and
10 years old.
Where to play in Marin County? Marin County has a growing number
of venues for pickleball lessons, practice and tournaments. Novato’s
parks department offers classes and open play at Hill School and Thigpen
Sports Courts (most days). Rolling Hills Tennis Club in Novato holds
Thursday evening clinics. In San Rafael, pickleball is offered at Boro
Community Center and Albert Park. This past June, Pueblo Park in Santa
Venetia inaugurated a new court that is open every day. Those interested
should contact George Silvas for information about class schedules, open
play and pickleball socials.
What does it take to play pickleball? No experience is necessary, Silvas
insists. Many who come out have never played a racquet sport or been
a competitive athlete. His wife is a perfect example: not a competitive
athlete, took to pickleball quickly. Sharon Skolnick, a lifelong tennis
player who now practices and competes regularly at the Thigpen Sports
Courts, convinced her engineer husband, Sandy, to come out. “He never
liked sports much,” she says. “But he loves this.”
Why is pickleball so popular? It is unanimous among the pickleball players in Silvas’ classes, from the San Rafael PE teacher to the West Marin
retired realtor: you play because it is fun. And for people like Skolnick,
who survived cancer and lymphedema, the game has offered much more
than fun. “I was a tomboy, and sports had been my life from the time I was
a young girl,” says Skolnick, who had to give up competitive tennis due to
her health issues. Finding pickleball has been critical to both her physical
and mental health, she says. “Now I play three or four days a week. To be
honest, I believe it has helped me to survive.” Everyone agrees the game
offers a good balance of social and competitive activity, with a friendly,
open atmosphere that allows players to come in at various levels and play
with varying degrees of intensity. According to Maria Silvas, who has
now traveled the country and abroad participating in the sport with her
husband, “Pickleball groups tend to be full of warm and caring people.
In fact, I have never met a snooty group.”
For more information contact George Silvas at gbs2753@aol.com.
This page: All ages and skill
levels enjoy the game and
players are rated from 2.0
to 5.0 for tournaments, like
in tennis. Opposite: George
Silvas instructs players who use
whiffle-like balls and special
wood or graphite paddles.
