Pickleball explosion drawing players of all ages

By Lethbridge Herald on April 23, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As a testament to pickleball’s growing popularity, the inaugural 2025 Lethbridge & District Pickleball Tournament will take place from May 2-4 at the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre. Widely considered the fastest-growing sport in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada, pickleball has seen a remarkable surge in popularity in recent years.

“We’re six months into our short-term goal of holding this tournament and promoting this sport,” said Klaus Witzke, president of the Lethbridge Pickleball Club, one of the organizers of the event along with the Coaldale Pickleball Club. “We want next to hold tournaments more than once a year, and in 3-4 years a provincial tournament or even a national.”

The tournament will include competitors from the Lethbridge and Coaldale Pickleball Clubs, with 12 courts in the event Trade Centre’s halls. Matches will feature singles and doubles events for both men and women as well as doubles competitions for junior boys and girls.

“I’m looking forward to playing against high-level players,” says competitor Diego Vazquez, who started playing a year-and-a-half ago at the YMCA of Lethbridge. “And to enjoy the pickleball environment.”

There are 24 pickleball clubs across Alberta, including clubs in Calgary, Airdrie, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat. The Lethbrige and Coaldale pickleball clubs have approximately 300 members each. The sport is experiencing rapid growth in Alberta, with demand for more courts exceeding availability in some areas.

“Our Lethbridge Pickleball Club started with maybe 25 people. We are now well over 300,” says Witzke. In southern Alberta alone, there are well over 1,000 pickleball players. It’s grown from virtually nothing since 2017.”

Pickleball has experienced significant growth in Canada, with a 57% increase in participation over the past three years, according to Pickleball Canada, reaching an estimated 1.54 million players. This growth is evident in both the number of players and Pickleball Canada’s membership, which has seen a 25% increase.

“It’s a family sport that anyone can play, whether you’re 7 or 70,” says Witzke.

The sport’s popularity is driven by enjoyment, health and fitness benefits, and the social aspect of playing. Also, the pickleball learning curve is generally considered very gentle, making it easy for beginners to grasp the basics and start playing within a short time.

“You can play within half an hour of instruction,” says pickleball player Karin Brown, who resumed playing again in 2025 after a 2-year health hiatus. “The hardest part is keeping score and remembering the rules!”

A beginner can get started in pickleball for around $50 to $100, primarily for a paddle and balls. More expensive options, including premium gear, can range into the hundreds. Shoes can also add to the cost, especially if you need pickleball-specific footwear, but athletic sneakers can often suffice. However, many clubs have loaner pickleball paddles which means novices can get into the game for practically nothing.

Places to play pickleball in Lethbridge include Pickle Point Centre, billed as Southern Alberta’s first purpose-built indoor pickleball centre, the Cor Van Raay YMCA and the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO); and public outdoor courts like Legacy Regional Park and Kinsmen Park.