Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/287019
MANITOBA LIQUOR & LOTTERIES 55 PLUS GAMES | SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS 6 IN WINNIPEG: Wellness Institute at Seven Oaks Hospital: 1075 Leila Ave., 204-632-3900 (6 a.m.-9 a.m. daily & drop-ins) Rady Jewish Community Centre: 123 Doncaster St., 204-477-7545 Good Neighbours Active Living Centre: 720 Henderson Hwy., 204-669-1710 Archwood 55 Plus Centre: 565 Guilbault St., 204-416-1067 St. James/Assiniboia 55 Plus Pickleball: Contact Ruby at 204-885-4085. Games are played at Sturgeon Heights Community Centre, 210 Rita St., Mon., Wed. & Fri. (competitive 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.; recreational 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.) and at Westwood Community Church, 401 Westwood Dr. (recreational & beginner, Tues., 1 p.m.- 3 p.m.) Reh-Fit Centre: 1390 Taylor Ave., 204-488-8023 (Tues. & Thu., 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. & drop-ins) Norberry-Glenlee Community Centre: 26 Molgat Ave., 204-256-6654 (Mon., Wed. & Fri., noon-3 p.m.) THROUGHOUT MANITOBA: Oakbank Elementary School: 204-444-2450 (Mon., 6 p.m. & Thu., 4 p.m.) Anola Elemetary School: 204-866-4110 (Tues., 6 p.m.) Teulon-Rockwood Recreation: 204-861-0366 Lorne Recreation: 204-744-2360 Carman Active Living Centre: 204-745-2356. Contact Bob Kowalchuk, 204-745-2649 Morden: Contact Bill Sandercock, 204-822-3623 or Lois Dudgeon, 204-822-6207 Winkler Senior Centre: Contact John Klassen, 204-325-8964 Beausejour: Brokenhead River Recreation, 204-268-9266 Wheretoplaypickleball A dilly of a game with a funny name, pickleball is more popular every day. The sport, which combines elements of badminton, tennis and ping-pong, made its debut as an official event in Morris last year, and it's back for the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries 55 Plus Games in Neepawa. Manitobans who winter in southern states brought the game up here about seven years ago. It's now the fastest-growing activity for Manitobans who are 55-plus years of age, and everyone who tries it seems to get hooked. "A year ago, I hadn't even heard of this sport," laughs Bob Kowalchuk, 66, a board member at the Carman Active Living Centre who was asked to help introduce members in Carman to pickleball. "I went out with a couple of fellows to the club in Winkler where they were playing it — we tried it out and we all loved it. It's addictive!" Theretiredhighschoolteacher,badminton coach and former tennis player says pickleball is great for the 55-plus crowd because it's a less strenuous way to enjoy racquet sports and physical activity. The game is often played in doubles, on a court similar in size to a badminton court. Players serve a plastic wiffle-style ball underhand over a net the same height as for tennis, but with a slight droop in the middle. While relatively new to Canada, there are already 10,000 players here, according to Pickleball International, based in Abbotsford, B.C. In the U.S., where the gamewasinventedin1965inSeattle,there are more than 10 times that number. The origin of the wacky name has a couple of theories. Many pickleballers like the tale about the inventor's dog Pickles, who had a penchant for stealing the ball; the inventor later said it actually referred to pickle boats, slang for the slowest boat in a race and a reference to how "quickly" players moved around during a game. No matter how it got its name, pickleball's popularity continues to spread. The Canada 55 Plus Games will include pickleball for the first time this year. And community clubs and recreation centres throughout Manitoba have painted lines inside their outdoor tennis court lines to accommodate the smaller court size. Brian Mayes, a Winnipeg city councillor who chairs the community services committee, has been working on having lines painted in more outdoor courts in his St. Vital ward this spring, and he'd like other areas of the city to follow suit. While still a few years from 55, the former marathon runner tried the game and loved it. "Pickleball has just kind of exploded in the last couple of years,"Mayes says."Anything the city can do to get seniors active and promote a healthier lifestyle, that's what we should be doing." Hooked on Pickleball So much fun it's our fastest-growing sport 20 20 20 20 (M (M (M (M (M (M no no no no no no no be doing." Phone204-792-5838 Email:info@manitobaseniorcentres.com www.manitobaseniorcentres.com Beactive: Join a centre in your area. Senior Centres are places where adults 55 and over, come together for services and programs that maintain and improve health and quality of life, support personal independence and encourage involvement in community life. ea.