Pickle Popsicle
By USAPA Ambassador Tracey Thompson
24 degrees below zero? Cabin fever? Definitely time for a ROAD TRIP.
On January 3rd, a group of pickleballers from south and central Minnesota loaded their drinks into a cooler to keep them from freezing, piled into a van, and headed north for a little PB action. Destination? Virginia, MN (not far from the Canadian border), home of the first ever Frozen Pickle Fun Tournament. Between critiquing the job performance of the local USAPA Ambassador and trying to keep the windows defrosted, the drive passed quickly.
Organized by Virginia USAPA Ambassador Jim Magee, the hospitality could not have been warmer. In deference to their southern visitors, the Virginia PB'ers reluctantly agreed to hold the tournament indoors and a lively afternoon of pickleball ensued. Men's, women's, and mixed doubles were played in the beautiful indoor tennis/PB facility. As the action wound down and the mercury climbed close to zero, photos were taken and fond farewells between new friends exchanged, with promises of future gatherings.
I'm sure you are all asking the obvious question: Why would anyone leave Minnesota for Florida or Arizona and miss all this fun? We have absolutely no idea.
Almost forgot. The winners? Everybody, of course!
