Early morning games were underway by 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 13 at Oliver Woods. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Dan Marshall

Growing Sport

Nanaimo’s signature pickleball tournament takes over Oliver Woods

Jul 13, 2024 | 10:49 AM

NANAIMO — It’s a milestone year for the Nanaimo Indoor Pickleball Tournament.

The 10th annual event takes place Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14 at the Oliver Woods Community Centre with over 200 players taking to the court in men’s, ladies and mixed divisions.

Spokesperson Caron Knight said the calibre around Nanaimo is always increasing and so is the popularity of the sport.

“Our tournament fills up very fast and it’s a known tournament now for sure. Saturday we have 130 participants and Sunday we have 80. The majority are from Nanaimo but all our clubs on the island are becoming very close. We have people from Victoria, Port Alberni and even some people from Vancouver.”

Players are grouped according to skill level, with 4.5 being the highest ranking in the tournament.

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“We’ve got a few members in the women’s 4.5 and it’s really strong. There’s going to be some really good games in the mens and the mixed as well. We have all eight courts going at once and when we get into the finals and the higher right games we set some benches up inside the gym.”

Knight said there a few other tournaments on the horizon before the provincial 55 plus championships at the end of the summer.

“Victoria has a fun tournament coming up, Nanoose has a tournament on the 20th and 21st. The Mexican Madness is a one day tournament at Oliver Woods in August, the BC’s are coming up in September that a lot of people from the island go to and that’s in Salmon Arm.”

While the pickleballers will be inside for this tournament most of the games in Nanaimo happen on the outdoor courts at Beaufort and Beban Park.

Knight said those courts are full almost every morning but players are co-operative about switching up after games.

Over the years the indoor tournament has received many compliments about being well run from the players.

It’s one of the reason organizers are looking at bringing the next BC championship to Nanaimo, according to Knight.

The outdoor courts would be needed for the event and Nanaimo Pickleball is pushing for more of them.

“Hopefully we’ll be getting the BC’s next year. That’s where we need some courts. We’ve been meeting with the City and we’ve said if you want the BC’s to come here we need more courts. We’re hoping by then we might have 16 outdoor courts at Beban.”

Players were on court early Saturday, July 13 for their first matchups. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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