Simon

Pickleball is so popular across Southeast Asia that I assumed it originated in Thailand or Vietnam. So I was flabbergasted when a friend from Portland mentioned its roots were actually in the American Pacific Northwest. A quick bit of research confirmed it: in the summer of 1965, Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell of Bainbridge Island, Washington, wanted to play badminton with their families but couldn't find a shuttlecock. Improvising with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball, they lowered the net and created a game the whole family could play together. By 1967, the first permanent outdoor pickleball court was built, and the game rapidly gained traction around Seattle. Seeing its potential, Pritchard and a group of associates incorporated Pickle-Ball, Inc. in 1968 to market and supply the required equipment. Word spread quickly from the Pacific Northwest down to California, Arizona, Hawaii, and Florida. By 1976, the sport reached a major milestone when Tukwila, Washington h...