Pickleball champion relishes in the game

It was seniors’ week, and the team at Ākau Tangi were trying out new activities at the community centre.

"I was asked to run a pickleball session, which I incorrectly set up on a volleyball court, I didn’t think anything of it."

Only three people showed up to the first pickleball session, and one of them caught Will’s attention.

“There was one lady who flew in specially from Christchurch just so she could play, which I wasn’t expecting at all!

“She told me all about Pickleball, why she was interested in it, and how much she wanted it to take off in Christchurch.”

Despite the first session being underwhelming, Will became intrigued by the sport's potential. He reached out to the Pickleball New Zealand Association, who offered to come down from Hawkes Bay to train the team to properly play pickleball at the centre.

The team at Ākau Tangi started running a two-hour pickleball session on Saturdays and watched as the sport’s popularity exploded in Wellington – which led to the addition of more sessions, and the formation of a community-led pickleball club which has grown to over 200 members. 

Will attributes this growth to pickleball’s unique appeal – it's easy to learn, low-impact, and inherently social. 

"It's like a bigger table tennis," he explains, "the sport is an excuse to hang out and have fun with friends, which is something that I feel is missing in New Zealand."

Will notes that due to the accessible nature of the sport, the pickleball community is remarkably inclusive and intergenerational. Players range from children to seniors, and people of all abilities are welcomed with open arms. Will has seen pickleball provide an opportunity for individuals with Parkinson's, severe diabetes, and other health challenges to stay active when other sports become too strenuous.

"It's pretty rare to see people of totally different ages enjoying the same sport, but Pickleball breaks down social and physical barriers, and allows people to connect on a level playing field."

Will says it’s been interesting to watch the development of a new sport in New Zealand.

"I’ve never seen a new sport grow from nothing to what it is now. You expect a lot of tradition in sport, but pickleball doesn’t need to be competitive.” 

Will's dedication to growing the sport extends beyond Wellington. He has helped establish pickleball programmes in other recreation centres across New Zealand, and he even made the national team alongside another Ākau Tangi staff member, Connor Robertshawe. They are currently fundraising for the upcoming Pickleball World Cup in Peru, which Will hopes is creating a pathway for people to be able to play pickleball on the world stage.

"I never had a plan for where pickleball would go," Will admits, "it's been like a tsunami that's just never stopped."

Although Will is set to compete globally, the most rewarding aspect of his pickleball journey has been witnessing the positive impact on the people within his community.

"It's been an absolute joy to have in my life," he says. "Pickleball is progressive, inclusive, and so supportive. It's changed the way I think about sports."

To find out how to give pickleball a go in Pōneke, visit our website.