Now that the Senior/Youth Recreation Center at Eustis Park is open, there are bathrooms available to us pickleballers, even when the building is not open.
The bathrooms are on the back side of the building, near the blue water fountain.
Aiken Pickleball News
Mo Power Sport LLC
Thinking of buying a new pickleball paddle? Or maybe you just need to replace the grip on you current paddle? How about getting an Aiken Pickleball T-Shirt? Well you are in luck.
Mo Garcia, our Head Professional Pickleball Instructor, and his wife Marian, can accommodate almost any request related to Pickleball Mo has demo paddles that you can try out to find the one best for you. He can also get you discounts on most paddles and/or replace your old grip in minutes. He is the Onix pickleball representative in Aiken and had both indoor and outdoor Onix yellow and orange balls in stock. Marian is the poc for ordering Alken PB T-Shirts.
Other items available:
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Nets
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PB Bags
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PB Paddle Covers
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PB Medals
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Court separators and dividers
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PB Court Lining Tapes (indoor and outdoor)
Mo also has safety sports glasses with interchangeable lenses for indoor and outdoor play with the provision to insert prescription lenses.
You can contact Mo via email at mog01@aol.com
Please be sure to take down your net if there is no one waiting for your court when you finish playing.
The Aiken County YMCA Pickleball Program offers open pickleball play in their main basketball gymnasium. The gym has rolled rubber flooring which gives a true bounce, but as with the lighting, it takes a little while to get used to. The “Y” is located at 621 Trolley Line Rd, about half way between the USC Aiken Convocation Center and Gregg Park Civic Center. Unfortunately, the "Y" is not part of the "Silver Sneakers" program. It is a co-ed facility - ladies are welcome. In fact, the Pickleball Program Coordinator and Head Instructor is Caitlin Barry, an International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) and Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) certified instructor.
Schedule as follows:
Monday: 10am - 1pm (no host/members only - 3 courts).
Wednesday: 10am - 1pm and 7pm - 9pm (hosted by Caitlin Barry/3 courts/members free; non-members $4 per day - first visit is free).
Friday: 10am - 1pm (no host/members only/3 courts).
Caitlin also runs a 6-week fundamentals of pickleball program; 1 session a week for 6 weeks that is open to members and non-members. Round Robin tournaments are normally held quarterly (open to members and non-members). With over 5,000 Aiken “Y” members the pickleball program can only grow.
For more information contact Jessica Bacon, the Aquatics and Sports Director for the Aiken County Family YMCA. Phone 803 349-8080 ext 8083. Email jbacon@thefamilyy.org or visit the webpage at www.thefamilyy.org.
The First Baptist Church (FBC) located at 120 Chesterfield St N, in downtown Aiken, is now offering drop-in pickleball play from 2 - 5 pm, Mondays and Fridays. They have two courts located in their main gymnasium. The gym has a vinyl floor which gives a true bounce, and just takes a little while to get used to.
There are usually 10-12 players just from FBC. As almost everyone at FBC is new to pickleball, Jo Whitson has volunteered to introduce them the game, and is usually there when the gym is open for play. Now that FBC is on our calendar, the word has gotten out, and last Friday was the first time others came to play. There is plenty of free parking available and donations are only $2.
Congratulate yourself for being smart enough to play a sport that encourages movement, strength, finesse, hand-to-eye coordination, strategy and sportsmanship (most of the time). What better way to stay fit and have fun with old friends and new friends from both sexes in a town that provides easy, cheap access to court time and opportunities for competitive play, as well as no-pressure recreational play.
You can always get a game someplace in Aiken.
Or - would you rather sweat bullets with boring, repetitive movements on a mechanical treadmill, longing for it to be over while you glue your eyes on a TV screen like a second grader watching cartoons. In an hour, you can play 3-4 pickleball games and have some fun.
Think of all the people you have met in the courts outdoors and indoors, and how friendly almost all of them have been. Aiken, with great city co-operation, is a regional pickleball center.
Remarkable shots
Recently: Jack M- lunged to return a dink that trickled over the net- made the shot then fell on his back when he tried to return to his position. His shot was returned and Jack returned it successfully while still flat on his back. The other side made a great play to return that shot then Jack’s partner finally returned it for a winner.
Thanks to all who particilapted in the USCA Round Robin!
The most remarkable shot of the tournament that didn't count
by Richard Diemar
In the 3.5 Division - tournament play - Chuck B: Other side hit top of the net, ball landed softly in right side of court. Partner on that side could not get to it - Chuck raced in from left side at Mach 1, lunged and returned it gently for winner. The crowd went crazy. Only one problem - Chuck’s momentum carried him into the net, ever so slightly, while making the shot and he lost the point (other side apologized, but said they had to enforce rule). Still a remarkable shot.
The results and pictures of the medal winners from each division are listed below.
For more pictures, click here.
3.0 Division:
Gold - Nancy Cox, Joe Cox
Silver - Miriam James, Raymond James
Bronze - Monty Kitchings, Daniel Tucker
3.5 Division
Gold - Jim Corbett, Anne Rheins
Silver - Beverly Shaver, Keith Shaver
Bronze - Diane Voss, Chuck Buchanan
4.0 Division
Gold - Sharlene Buggs, Mo Garcia
Silver - Yong Ko, Mark Carter
Bronze - Marian Garcia, Jim Kabel
There is a new tab under “Information” - check it out. It’s called Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). It answers questions like “I am a new player. What is the best way to get started? What is “Silver Sneakers”? Where do I get the Access Code to Sign Up to reserve a court?". If you have any questions you like answered send them to “Website Feedback” under Contact Us. We have the answers!
On Saturday, March 30th, a group of Aiken Department of Public Safety recruit officers attended a clinic that was arranged by Mo Garcia (district ambassador) and Karl Odenthal (ADPS). To kick off the event, some of our top local players (Josh Booth, Jim Hughes, Wojcieck Adamek, and Mo Garcia) played an exhibition game. This was followed by the presentation of paddles to the ADPS recruits. The recruits were given a demonstration of how to set up a net, then were joined on the court by various Aiken players for some lively games of pickleball.
Thanks to all involved for putting on this clinic, and to our local players for coming out to give their support. Some picutres are included below. To see more, click here.
We are looking for a volunteer (or possibly two or three) to help with the Aiken Pickleball website. This would involve writing articles for the website, updating the “Tournaments” page, and helping with the calendar. If you are interested, please e-mail info@aikenpickleball.com.