Almost 60 years ago, in the backyard of a house in the United States, a father didn’t know how to make up for a boring afternoon. The main idea was to play badminton, but That family ended up inventing their own game: pickleball.
Today, this sport – which contains elements of tennis or paddle tennis – has its own International Federation in which a total of 57 countries are present.
Now, if anyone believed that Ferrol was not going to echo it, they were completely wrong. Picklepoint is the first space to be opened in the city to practice this sport but, yes, it is not the first track in the city.
Jaime Alcalá and Asís Garrido are behind this warehouse – which opened its doors in the A Gándara industrial estate this month – but They started in the garden of one of them’s family home. after learning about this practice through the internet. Now they have a track “unparalleled in Spain”, and that is because, from the first moment “We have opted for professional quality. It is a bet on the future”comments the duo.
His commitment to the city was always the “initial idea and, furthermore, Ferrol has a great racket tradition and that is always good”. Of course, they are clear that the starting point of this discipline is completely different from that of others, since here no training is necessary prior to use.
The fact that it was created with the intention of entertaining a family in which there were different ages, meant that, currently, it is a sport of “popular character”that is, that does not understand physical condition, age, height or agility. This is simply, as its promoters in the naval city explain, a “Enjoyable community”.
Likewise, they take into account issues such as functional diversity and its facilities are completely accessible to anyone who wants to give it a try.
As Alcalá and Garrido explain, this sport “It was designed for a social cause – regardless of conditions – and Picklepoint shares that essence, the possibility of combinations within the slopes is infinite”.
“He has a competitive side that is fully developed but Playing a game is affordable for any physical condition”, explains the team that, in addition, is committed to its incorporation in harmful processes.
What’s more, among those who have already repeated on their tracks, there are those who come from other sports but, for health reasons, cannot continue practicing them. Even so, They find a haven in pickleball.
The two open days they held last weekend were a complete success, what’s more, “We are very surprised”comments the team, “We disembark with a new and unknown project”they recognize, and that can always call for fear. “When you are convinced of your project, you fight unconditionally. Entrepreneurship is hard because you don’t have an instant response,” they assert, but even so, During these first days more than 200 people have passed through the facilities.
The numbers speak for themselves and, with one week behind us, several people have already made more than one slope reservation.
There are those who may be surprised by this question, since the sport has just landed in the city and there is neither the material nor the knowledge about the discipline.
Those at Picklepoint have everything thought of. There is no need to worry about that since, as they themselves say, the only thing you need to bring from home is “sports shoes and a desire to have a good time.” They take care of the rest.
Thus, in its facilities the loan of all the necessary material is available and, so that there is equality within the court, the two board members will be in charge of giving some basic notions that will allow the players – who can go alone, in pairs or in teams of four – can begin the game with a certain level of knowledge.
The slopes can be reserved through their website and are operational for much of the day.
