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Pickleball picking up in Grand Forks

A sport that’s played in the southern United States is making an appearance in Grand Forks
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Wayne Hall and Bob Maclean engage in a game of pickleball

A sport that’s played in the southern United States is making an appearance in Grand Forks. That sport is pickleball and is being played by a group of seniors who happened upon the game during a snowbird style trip.

The game is played on a tennis court, modified with lines to take up a smaller area. Rather than the bouncy soft ball that’s used in tennis, pickleball uses a hard hollow ball that loses momentum quickly.

“We have some people here in Grand Forks that are playing and we’re trying to get a club going,” says Doris Albert, who plays.

“We’ve been playing in the winter down in Arizona and that’s where most have been learning.”

She said the game is picking up and is now part of the Senior Games.

The group is looking to start a club and weather permitting, invite anyone, old or young, to come out and play or learn more about the game.

Newcomers and drop-ins are welcome and they have extra rackets to play with. Because of the bad weather they have no set time, but usually play at Barbara Anne Park, off of Riverside Drive.

For more information on pickleball itself, go to pickleballcanada.org or pickleball.com. If you want to play, contact Doris at 250-442-2604.