Pickleball conquers St. Anton am Arlberg
Centre of a young, up-and-coming sport
This rapidly expanding new sport is a unique combination of tennis, table tennis and badminton. St. Anton am Arlberg is emerging as a centre for this up-and-coming sport. The Arlberg Pickleball Championship extern made its successful debut in December 2023. The next round will be Held between 13 and 15 December 2024.
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the USA and is also gaining popularity in Europe. “Pickleball is a fantastic and unique sport that many people around the world already enjoy playing. It is both a social activity and a very exciting challenge”, says Magnus Stedile-Foradori, founder and CEO of Pro Pickleball and he should know because he is a keen player himself.
Facts for Players
But what exactly is pickleball and how does it work? This on-trend sport combines many elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis and can be played both indoors and outdoors. A pickleball court is the equivalent in size to a doubles badminton court. The surface area is 6.10 × 13.41 metres and is equipped with right and left service courts, similar to a tennis court. The equipment used is a racket, known as a paddle, and a plastic ball with holes punched in it. Just like tennis, pickleball can be played as a doubles or singles match.
Marvelling at the stars of the scene
Similar to the ATP/WTA tennis finals, the WPC European Finals Invitational and Open were held for the first time as part of the Arlberg Pickleball Championship at the end of 2023. The 40 best European pickleball players competed for the title here on the courts at Arlberg WellCom. “The Arlberg Pickleball Championship is yet another example of our status as a venue for high-calibre sporting events. The success of the premiere and the great response from the European pickleball community means we are looking forward to the next tournament in December 2024”, said a visibly enthusiastic Tourism Director Martin Ebster.
Definitely give it a try!
The great thing about pickleball is that it is very easy to learn. The rules are straightforward and it is very easy to get to grips with it. The arl.park in St. Anton am Arlberg has an indoor hall where you can try out this new sport. For information, visit arlpark.com extern.
