Pickleball Popularity Grows

Around the back of the unassuming farmhouse, things are far from tranquil. Dozens of people in neon green tee shirts mingle, laughing and chatting. At the center of the action, two tennis-like games are in full swing. 

The game of pickleball is similar to tennis. Two pairs face each other on a 20-by-44 foot court. Each has a paddle, and an opponent failing to return the plastic ball scores points. 

Vance and Donna Christiansen’s own this particular farmhouse, and have transformed the backyard into a pickleball paradise. Since the early 2000s, the couple has been avid pickleballers. On a trip to Arizona, the retired couple discovered the sport, and was instantly hooked. So, in 2003, they built their own court at their home in Whitefish. 

“We missed it,” Donna Christiansen said. “We were addicted, and there was nowhere to play up here.” 

Even though it was founded in 1965, pickleball has recently exploded in popularity. Across the country, the sport is being incorporated into PE classes, and courts are being put in at RV parks or campsites. 

The sport appeals to everybody. There is no age limit, and it’s easier on the body than sports like tennis. Even those who are not yet excelling at it can enjoy moving around the court and batting the ball back, but is also played at a tournament and professional level.

“It makes us stronger,” said Owen Klapperich, a regular pickleball player. “If there was a dance or something, you’d be able to tell who the pickleball players were, because we’d be better.” Klapperich said the sport helps improve hand-eye coordination and balance. 

The Christiansens said they have had all ages and skills play at their court, from sixteen-year-old visitors to 80-something-year old regulars. 

After building the court at their home, they started to invite friends to play with them. 

“By word of mouth, it just grew and grew,” Christiansen said. 

In 2007, the couple built another court to accommodate their growth. Now, the couple hosts open play every Thursday and Saturday starting at 10 a.m. Often, these sessions will continue all day. People set up chairs, bring snacks, and have even printed matching neon green tee shirts, bearing a “Whitefish Pickleball Club” logo.  

Potential players come from all over the Flathead Valley, including Polson and Big Fork, just to utilize the Christiansen’s court. In addition to this, travelers can attend the open play sessions on their way through the area.

“I’ve seen a lot of people become best friends on the pickleball court,” said Tom Draney, the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) Ambassador for northwest Montana. “Even those from other sides of the country.” 

The Christiansen’s court is advertised on the USAPA’s website. There, players can find where courts are in any given location, and how to contact the owners. 

However, there is the one flaw with pickleball’s popularity- due to the incredible influx, courts are often jampacked, or don’t exist at all. 

“We have to alter our games to make them shorter,” said Christiansen. “That way, we can cycle through people quicker.” 

Christiansen said they often have around twenty-five people at their sessions. The participants agree that if there were other courts in the area, they would get heavy use as well. 

Tennis courts can also be converted into pickleball courts, so more often, private areas such as resorts or RV parks convert half of their tennis courts to pickleball. Four pickleball courts can fit on a single tennis court, and since the games are shorter, participants can rotate through quickly. 

“We’re lucky the Chistiansens open their courts to us,” Draney said. “We’re struggling to find courts to play on, and there are a lot of us here that want to play.” 

Whitefish Pilot newspaper; Whitefish, MT; 2014
Image won Best Lifestyle Coverage (Photography) Montana Better Newspaper Association; 2015