Canyon Lake Pickleball Club hosts 200 for lessons

Canyon Lakers flooded the Eastport Park’s four pickleball courts over the weekend to take advantage of The Canyon Lake Pickleball Club’s free lessons offered as part of the Canyon Lake POA Park Hopper event.

“The Park Hopper Event was a true success,” Pickleball Club President Paul Hawker said. “We would like to thank the over 200 people who visited the pickleball courts this past Memorial Day Weekend for the free lessons.”

Eastport Park was hosting several events by the Canyon Lake Pickleball Club and The Canyon Lake Bible Club, including a petting zoo, a magician, a learn to ride a bike booth and a fire engine for pictures.

“But, the big hit there was the overwhelming attendance for the free pickleball lessons,” Steve Libring, who led the team of club members in teaching the community how to play pickleball, said. “We gave individual and group lessons for everyone, including adults, teens and even small children and grandkids.”

The four pickleball courts were full the entire 16 hours that lessons were given. More than 120 hours of club members’ time was volunteered to help teach newcomers how to play this fun-for-all-ages sport, Steve said. There was also a free raffle drawing at the end of the weekend for anyone who showed up and signed in on Saturday or Sunday. The 13 winners will be receiving POA gift cards donated by the Pickleball Club later this week.

“The Pickleball Club recognizes that there were many Park Hopper events and everyone couldn’t be everywhere,” Steve said. “We don’t want anyone to lose out on the chance to get free instructions on how to play the game of pickleball. So my wife Diane Libring and I have agreed to hold future lessons.”

For those still interested in learning the game, the strategy or just improving pickleball skills, Steve said participants should email them at steve.libring@gmail.com and they will arrange a mutually-beneficial time to teach the lessons.

“Our club was simply amazed and delighted by the great number of residents who came over to learn about this fast-growing sport,” Paul, the president, said. “They not only wanted to play, but wanted to learn the competitive strategies we use to enhance our level of play.”

Many who stopped in for basic instructions were playing competitive full games by the end of their lessons, Paul said. Many stayed after classes to play with others who attended.

“All in all, the lessons were a great success for our community,” he said. “The first-ever POA Park Hopper event was great.”