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."