JULY JULY

 JULY  VOL.  NO.  • . US www.fmca.com FAMILY MOTOR COACHING • COACHING FAMILY MOTOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FAMILY MOTOR COACH ASSOCIATION FAMILY MOTOR THE OF PUBLICATION OFFICIAL

The Ford Transit-based WINNEBAGO PASEO A versatile touring coach

PLUS • Pickleball Fun • Protecting RV Electrical Systems

JulyCover_FMC0717.indd 1 6/2/17 9:49 AM PICKLEBALL + RVING 

PHOTO COURTESY OF RIVERBEND MOTORCOACH RESORT PHOTO COURTESY OF OUTDOOR RESORT INDIO FUN!

THE NAME GAME Where did the name “pickleball” come from? Several theo- ries — and some lively debate — exist. Here are a couple. Joan Pritchard, wife of cofounder Joel, was quoted as saying that the game reminded her of the pickle boat in the of crew, whose oarsmen were chosen from the left- over rowers from other boats — similar to how pickleball evolved from a mixture of other . Another theory ascribes the name to the Pritchards’ cocker spaniel, Pickles, whom they acquired a couple of years after the game was invented. He reportedly enjoyed chasing after stray balls and hiding them.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STONERIDGE AND RECREATIONAL COMMUNITY

 FAMILYMOTORCOACHING • JULY 

Pickelball_FMC0717.indd 74 5/29/17 10:08 AM BY ALAN NEFF, F358232 PICKLEBALL + RVING =

FUN!Become acquainted with this easy-to-learn, fun-to-play court sport that is taking the RV world by storm.

received my first real exposure be repaved and repurposed into four to pickleball during the winter permanent pickleball courts. The season of 2010-2011 at RiverBend homeowners association board resist- Motorcoach Resort near Fort ed, but we were undeterred. A pickle- IMyers, . A friend encouraged a ball club was formed, and we raised few of us to try a new sport he enjoyed. about $25,000 to build the courts. Little did I know what I was in for! The rest is history. RiverBend now We strung up a temporary net has eight dedicated pickleball courts, between two golf carts and taped off which are played on seven days a a single court on an unused parking week. Nearly a third of the park’s resi- lot. It caught on like wildfire! Soon dents play pickleball. The courts have we had 20 to 30 folks wanting to play helped to attract renters, and have — bikes and golf carts would line become a selling point for lot buyers. the parking lot as residents watched But where did pickleball really the action. Some of us had no clue begin? Why is it so popular? Why is Opposite: Pickleball is played at a what we were doing, but we knew it so addictive? What’s the future of growing number of facilities frequented that we loved this addicting, fast- pickleball? Finally, if you haven’t by RVers, including Outdoor Resort Indio (top), StoneRidge Golf and paced sport. yet tried this unbelievably popular Recreational Community (bottom), and As our group expanded, we asked sport, why not? RiverBend Motorcoach Resort (inset). that one of the unused courts continued »

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Pickelball_FMC0717.indd 75 5/29/17 10:08 AM Doubles are popular in pickleball, and male and female players can compete equally (left). The compact courts measure 20 feet by 44 feet (opposite), as compared to their 36-foot-by-78-foot counterparts used for tennis.

pickleball in the United States. Its “Ambassadors” promote the sport around the country. Yes, I’m one of them! We see ourselves as spreading goodwill for this terrific game.

POPULAR AND ADDICTIVE Pickeball is popular because it’s fairly easy to learn, without too many rules, and the equipment is reasonably priced. In my opinion, the biggest

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAS VEGAS MOTORCOACH RESORT reasons for the game’s popularity are that it is so much fun to play and it is ORIGINS were around 100,000 players, mostly an extremely social sport. Men and The roots of pickleball can be traced in , Florida, and Southern women play as equals, generally in to the summer of 1965. One weekend, California. However, as RV snowbirds doubles games. two families gathered at the home became hooked, they wanted to play It’s very good exercise, but because of state congressman in their northern locales. That’s when the court is one-quarter the size of a Joel Pritchard on Bainbridge Island, the real explosion began. By 2016, regulation tennis court, play is easier Washington, near Seattle. He and a there were around 2.5 million players. on the joints and muscles. If you pass friend, businessman Bill Bell, played Some estimate that by 2018, as many by pickleball courts, you’ll often hear a round of golf and returned to the as 8 million will be playing pickleball. laughter and hooting and hollering Pritchard home, where they found over well-executed shots. The game their children bored and restless. A SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE, sucks you in like no other I’ve ever court was on the property; AND FUN experienced. Play it a few times and perhaps that would entertain them. Have you ever played tennis, hand- you’ll be hooked, too! Unable to find a full set of badmin- ball, racquetball, or squash? You’re ton equipment, the men brought out halfway there. Pickleball is somewhat RVERS AND PICKLEBALL paddles and a perforated similar. Play can be soft, or rapid-fire, Why are RVers so hooked on pickle- plastic ball. They set the net at 60 or a combination. Games are played ball? Because the game is portable. inches — the standard height for as doubles or singles, with paddles The USAPA has made buying a porta- badminton — and players began vol- that resemble oversized table tennis ble net very affordable. (At this writ- leying the ball over the net. The ball paddles. Players hit a perforated plas- ing, a portable net system was $139 bounced well on the court’s asphalt tic ball that looks like a Wiffle ball for USAPA members; $149 for non- surface, so the men lowered the net to over a net, which is 36 inches high on members.) We carry a net as we travel 36 inches as an experiment. the ends (34 inches in the middle). In in our motorhome and have played The next weekend, kids and adults regular play, the winner is the first to all around the United States, and also resumed play at the Pritchards’ score 11 points, and to win by 2. in Canada. With permission, we’ve home, this time with neighbor Barney If you haven’t played pickleball played in a parking lot in Quebec McCallum joining them. Soon, the but want to try, players in most com- City, Quebec; on a hockey rink at an three men created some rules, rely- munities often are happy to give free RV park on Prince Edward Island; on ing heavily on the game of badmin- lessons and help. Many of these folks a friend’s driveway; on indoor and ton. They kept in mind the original have paddles that you can borrow or outdoor basketball courts; on tennis purpose: to provide a game that the buy. Many online sites sell pickleball courts; and at RV parks all over. whole family could play together. equipment as well. Sporting goods Countless RVers have taken up the Little did these guys know how stores, while a bit late to the party, also sport and are spreading the word. RV exponentially the game would are beginning to carry pickleball gear. parks across the country are building grow, especially once the RV crowd The USA Pickleball Association courts at a breakneck pace, because became involved. Back in 2010, there (USAPA) is the governing body of visitors want to play pickleball.

76 FAMILYMOTORCOACHING • JULY 2017

Pickelball_FMC0717.indd 76 5/29/17 10:09 AM Doubles are popular in pickleball, FURTHER INFO and male and female players can USA Pickleball Association compete equally (left). The compact www.usapa.org courts measure 20 feet by 44 feet (opposite), as compared to their 36-foot-by-78-foot counterparts used PICKLEBALL for tennis. AT RV RESORTS The following are some of the pickleball in the United States. Its author’s favorite places to play “Ambassadors” promote the sport pickleball: around the country. Yes, I’m one of them! We see ourselves as spreading Buckhorn Lake Resort goodwill for this terrific game. Kerrville, Texas (800) 568-6458 POPULAR AND ADDICTIVE (830) 895-0007 Pickeball is popular because it’s fairly www.buckhornlake.com easy to learn, without too many rules, and the equipment is reasonably Lake George RV Park priced. In my opinion, the biggest Lake George, New York PHOTO COURTESY OF RIVERBEND MOTORCOACH RESORT

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAS VEGAS MOTORCOACH RESORT reasons for the game’s popularity are (518) 792-3775 that it is so much fun to play and it is www.lakegeorgervpark.com ORIGINS were around 100,000 players, mostly an extremely social sport. Men and Tournaments also are popping up over the courts, and moose and elk can The roots of pickleball can be traced in Arizona, Florida, and Southern women play as equals, generally in everywhere, in almost every state. be seen nearby. Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort to the summer of 1965. One weekend, California. However, as RV snowbirds doubles games. Numerous RVers travel the tourna- The accompanying sidebar lists Las Vegas, Nevada two families gathered at the home became hooked, they wanted to play It’s very good exercise, but because ment circuit to mix competition with some of our favorite RV resorts to play (866) 897-9300 of Washington state congressman in their northern locales. That’s when the court is one-quarter the size of a sight-seeing. The RV lifestyle is per- pickleball. In addition, check out the (702) 897-9300 Joel Pritchard on Bainbridge Island, the real explosion began. By 2016, regulation tennis court, play is easier fect for this. “Places to Play” tab on the USAPA’s www.lvmresort.com

Washington, near Seattle. He and a there were around 2.5 million players. on the joints and muscles. If you pass By the way, if you think you’re too website, www.usapa.org. You can • WWW.FMCA.COM • 800-543-3622 JULY 2017 COACHING©, MOTOR FAMILY FROM REPRINTED friend, businessman Bill Bell, played Some estimate that by 2018, as many by pickleball courts, you’ll often hear old to start playing, you are wrong. easily search by state and city, find Mountain Falls Luxury Motorcoach a round of golf and returned to the as 8 million will be playing pickleball. laughter and hooting and hollering Although the sport engages all ages, the local courts, reference tournament Resort Pritchard home, where they found over well-executed shots. The game USAPA cites a study that reports 13 per- schedules, and obtain contact infor- Lake Toxaway, North Carolina their children bored and restless. A SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE, sucks you in like no other I’ve ever cent of “casual” participants (who play mation for area USAPA Pickleball (828) 966-9350 badminton court was on the property; AND FUN experienced. Play it a few times and one to seven times a year) and 75 per- Ambassadors. The website has thou- www.mountain-falls.com perhaps that would entertain them. Have you ever played tennis, hand- you’ll be hooked, too! cent of “core” players (who play eight or sands of listings, with a GPS location Unable to find a full set of badmin- ball, racquetball, or squash? You’re more times a year) in the United States for each site. Outdoor Resort Indio ton equipment, the men brought out halfway there. Pickleball is somewhat RVERS AND PICKLEBALL are 55 or older. Many of us are well into An excellent resource that includes Indio, California table tennis paddles and a perforated similar. Play can be soft, or rapid-fire, Why are RVers so hooked on pickle- our 70s and still playing. information about RV parks with (800) 892-2992 plastic ball. They set the net at 60 or a combination. Games are played ball? Because the game is portable. pickleball courts across the United (760) 775-7255 inches — the standard height for as doubles or singles, with paddles The USAPA has made buying a porta- WHERE TO PLAY States and Canada is Big Rigs Best www.orindio.com badminton — and players began vol- that resemble oversized table tennis ble net very affordable. (At this writ- Progressive park owners are finding a Bets, available in a hard copy and an leying the ball over the net. The ball paddles. Players hit a perforated plas- ing, a portable net system was $139 way to add pickleball courts or repur- online edition (www.big-rigs-rv.com). RiverBend Motorcoach Resort bounced well on the court’s asphalt tic ball that looks like a Wiffle ball for USAPA members; $149 for non- pose old tennis courts into dedicated Coauthor Ken Hamill said, “We liken LaBelle, Florida surface, so the men lowered the net to over a net, which is 36 inches high on members.) We carry a net as we travel pickleball courts. pickleball today for RV parks the same (866) 787-4837 36 inches as an experiment. the ends (34 inches in the middle). In in our motorhome and have played A few years ago, my wife and I, along way we did Wi-Fi a few years ago. It’s www.riverbendflorida.com The next weekend, kids and adults regular play, the winner is the first to all around the United States, and also with another couple, decided to visit something everybody is asking for.” resumed play at the Pritchards’ score 11 points, and to win by 2. in Canada. With permission, we’ve an RV community in northern Idaho So, get out of the recliner, put on South Haven Sunny Brook home, this time with neighbor Barney If you haven’t played pickleball played in a parking lot in Quebec called StoneRidge. Wouldn’t you know, your court shoes, and find an RV park RV Resort McCallum joining them. Soon, the but want to try, players in most com- City, Quebec; on a hockey rink at an about a year later they had six brand- or RV resort that offers pickleball. South Haven, Michigan three men created some rules, rely- munities often are happy to give free RV park on Prince Edward Island; on new pickleball courts. We now call They’re all over the United States and (888) 499-5253 ing heavily on the game of badmin- lessons and help. Many of these folks a friend’s driveway; on indoor and StoneRidge our summer home. Sure, Canada. Even if you don’t love exer- www.sunnybrookrvresort.com ton. They kept in mind the original have paddles that you can borrow or outdoor basketball courts; on tennis there is an 18-hole golf course on-site, cising, you’ll get a great workout with purpose: to provide a game that the buy. Many online sites sell pickleball courts; and at RV parks all over. plus a pub and grill, swimming pools, this fabulous and fun sport. You’ll be StoneRidge Golf and Recreational whole family could play together. equipment as well. Sporting goods Countless RVers have taken up the and an activity center. The commu- glad you did! Community Little did these guys know how stores, while a bit late to the party, also sport and are spreading the word. RV nity has a first-class, upscale RV park Alan Neff has been a USAPA Roving Blanchard, Idaho exponentially the game would are beginning to carry pickleball gear. parks across the country are building surrounded on every side by pristine Ambassador for six years. He and his (800) 952-2948 grow, especially once the RV crowd The USA Pickleball Association courts at a breakneck pace, because mountains. In addition, it sure is fun wife, Diane, have been full-time RVers (208) 437-3148 became involved. Back in 2010, there (USAPA) is the governing body of visitors want to play pickleball. to play pickleball while bald eagles fly for more than 12 years. www.stoneridgeidaho.com FMC

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