Pickleball is big in Colorado Springs. If you have any doubt, stop by Monument Valley Park on any given afternoon and you’ll have a hard time finding an open court. And the city is about to host a big tournament that will give all those pickleball players a shot at reaching the National Championships.
USA Pickleball is bringing its highly competitive Golden Ticket tournament to the Springs for the first time July 9-13. Peak Pickleball, the indoor complex that opened last fall at Chapel Hills Mall, will host.
USA Pickleball says it is excited to branch into an all-new city — and even more thrilled to launch is adaptive wheelchair division for the first time. The addition is part of the organization’s mission to ensure pickleball is accessible to all.
“As the home to so many important and impactful sports organizations, it was a no brainer to bring the country’s fastest growing sport to Colorado Springs,” said Mike Nealy, CEO of USA Pickleball in a press release. “The city has done an incredible job bringing world-class facilities and high caliber tournaments to its residents, and we look forward to welcoming athletes from all over the region aiming for the national stage.”
Golden Ticket tournaments provide a path for amateur players to participate in the USA Pickleball National Championships this November in San Diego. The featured tournaments give bracket winners priority registration access to Nationals, and Golden Tickets offer an unrivaled player experience and the opportunity to compete at some of the best pickleball venues across the country. The tournaments are fully sanctioned, so every match is refereed to ensure fair play, smooth conflict resolution, rule adherence and good sportsmanship.
Entry fees are $125 per player plus event fees. Registration closes June 29.
In conjunction with the tournament, USA Pickleball Serves, the charitable arm of USA Pickleball, will host clinics alongside Denver Broncos legend Jake Plummer. The schedule includes a clinic and open play on Wednesday, July 9, 4-6 p.m. at Peak Pickleball and a learn-to-play clinic at the Briargate YMCA on Thursday, July 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Thursday’s event is free and welcomes YMCA summer campers to discover pickleball with expert instruction and guest appearances. USA Pickleball Serves will also donate essential equipment to support the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region.
For more information on the tournament or to register, visit usapickleball.org
