147 replies to this topic

[m3m]

I literally can’t think of a sport with a much lower cost of entry.
My racquet cost about $20 off Amazon. The whiffle ball was about $5 for a 3 pack.

[Victoria Watcher]

Solution is at hand for Wain Road pickleball

 

Back in 1991 when the Racquet Club of Victoria was closed and the squash players suddenly had no place to play, around 100 of Victoria’s squash players entered into an agreement with the District of Saanich to pay for the construction of the squash courts at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre.

 

It seems to me that if the 800 folks who signed the North Saanich pickleball petition would perhaps get themselves together and each put in $50, and each also find one other person to also contribute $50 to the cause, the required soundproofing wall could be installed at no cost to the municipality.

 

Pauline Hedger

 

former squash player

Sidney

 

 

https://www.timescol...at-uvic-8713597

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 May 2024 - 03:31 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

A he-says-she-says situation in North Saanich has spiraled into the closure of its outdoor pickleball courts and has the mayor talking about repurposing it, even though it is wildly popular and heavily used.

 

The Wain Park pickleball court was officially closed effective as of 7:30 yesterday morning, mere hours after an overflow crowd packed the city council’s chamber, many there to appeal the closure.

 

“It never had to get to this point, but it has now,” North Saanich Mayor Peter Jones tells Capital Daily.

 

“The next step is we've asked staff to look at repurposing,” he says, pointing at the possibility of putting in basketball hoops, which were there before.

 

The courts are located about 50-80m from a series of five houses and Jones says those residents have “gone through so much harassment and bullying over the last number of years that pickleball is just not going to happen at this time.”

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.capitald...-saanich-courts

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 May 2024 - 02:48 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Now, Esquimalt is embracing the rise in the sport’s popularity by introducing innovative programming that promises fun and fitness for everyone. As the sunnier days of spring draw near, pickleball enthusiasts can anticipate an array of new opportunities courtesy of the Township’s Parks and Recreation staff.

 

Temporary pickleball courts

 

From mid-May to early September, the Archie Browning Sports Centre team will transform the curling arena into state of the art pickleball courts. Then, during the fall and winter months, pickleball players can return to the Fraser Street recreation centre, where staff will continue to host drop-in programs and lessons. Pickleball is a sport for everyone, regardless of age or skill level. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned player, there’s something for everyone.

 

 

 

https://www.vicnews....iatives-7350937

 

 

 

While the courts operate on a first-come, first-served basis, registration is mandatory for all programs to ensure a seamless experience for all participants. Registration for court rentals will begin May 11, 2024 for court openings starting May 18. Court rentals can be made 7 days in advance and bookings can be made online, in person, or over the phone. Rental fees are $25 + GST per court for a two-hour duration. Private events or tournaments can also be arranged.

 

While a limited number of paddles and balls may be available upon request, attendees are asked to bring their own equipment, including paddles and balls if they have them.

Making safety and enjoyment of all participants the top priority, athletic footwear is required and use of protective eyewear is strongly encouraged.

[LJ]

Wiffle tennis.

[Victoria Watcher]

A science experiment drew dozens of Saanich Peninsula pickleball players to Oak Bay’s Carnarvon Park Wednesday, with the goal of silencing some critics.

 

“We just want to show the research and the data with all these courts in play and just how effective sound mitigation can be,” says Saanich Peninsula Pickleball Association president Brad Watson.

 

Watson will be presenting the findings to North Saanich council in hopes that it will reconsider the recent closure of the pickleball courts on Wain Road due to noise complaints.

 

Carnarvon’s five courts were booked for the demo, which involved recording sound from different distances. Pickleballers would play for three-minute intervals using regular racquets, then with noise-friendly Owl racquets, which were developed in Victoria by businessman Howard Haugom.

 

 

 

 

https://www.cheknews...osures-1204340/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 May 2024 - 08:53 PM.

[aastra]

Groan. So now we're in the "trust the science" phase of the controversy.

[Blair M.]

Groan. So now we're in the "trust the science" phase of the controversy.

Sound is highly definable when it's measured by an acoustician, and those measurements have widely accepted international standards applied to them if the measurements are taken by that acoustician following those same standards.

At the very least, this creates an absolute in terms of being able to discuss the matter of pickleball noise in a professional and non-emotional manner.

 

Those measurements can indicate, for example, whether the sounds of a pickeball court actually exceed those of regular neighbourhood noise, or whether neighbours just don't like hearing new or unusual percussive sounds in their 'hood, even if those sounds are less loud, or equal in loudness to any and all other sounds occurring in that same neighbourhood.

 

In short, measuring the sound levels in such a way as to take into account their percussive level (which is what's actually bothering the neighbours) allows for the discussion to take place outside of simply shutting down pickleball courts and telling those people who enjoy pickleball to go away.

Edited by Blair M., 16 May 2024 - 04:51 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

That makes sense. Certainly some sounds seem to bother some people more than others.

[lanforod]

Sound is highly definable when it's measured by an acoustician, and those measurements have widely accepted international standards applied to them if the measurements are taken by that acoustician following those same standards.

At the very least, this creates an absolute in terms of being able to discuss the matter of pickleball noise in a professional and non-emotional manner.

 

Those measurements can indicate, for example, whether the sounds of a pickeball court actually exceed those of regular neighbourhood noise, or whether neighbours just don't like hearing new or unusual percussive sounds in their 'hood, even if those sounds are less loud, or equal in loudness to any and all other sounds occurring in that same neighbourhood.

 

In short, measuring the sound levels in such a way as to take into account their percussive level (which is what's actually bothering the neighbours) allows for the discussion to take place outside of simply shutting down pickleball courts and telling those people who enjoy pickleball to go away.

 

The sound and acoustics might be definable, but the amount it bothers people is highly subjective.

[aastra]

Folks, I get all of it. My point here is that there's a self-evident absurdity to the progression of the drama as it (very obviously) follows the established pattern. If you're sincerely interested in understanding what I'm getting at then try reading pickleball news from other jurisdictions. You should start to get it pretty quickly, just like you should start to see through any formulaic news/political controversy if you compare the plot points, dialog, and characterizations in different places. When the same things are playing out in the same predictable manner in a thousand different jurisdictions at the same time, it has a distinctive odor.

Or we could accept everything at face value as if there was nothing self-evidently absurd about any of it. Maybe real life actually has become indistinguishable from an episode of the Simpsons:

 

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[Victoria Watcher]

Maybe it’s just so suddenly overwhelmingly popular that it is creating issues over a short period, in a large number of places, involving lots of people and governments, amplified by social media.

If we had just discovered swimming yesterday maybe the volume of discussion would be just as high.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 May 2024 - 12:36 PM.

[aastra]

In the year 2024 we're having a grave conversation about the unexpected dangers of possibly hurting yourself while you run around on a hard surface chasing after a bouncing ball. It's chilling, isn't it? Why isn't the government stepping in to address this crisis? If local and national governments aren't up to the task then maybe it's time for a trans-national authority.

Anyway, based on our collective experience with such dramas, methinks it should be fairly easy to predict some of the twists and turns yet to come. I'll leave it there for now.

[aastra]

 

If we had just discovered swimming yesterday maybe the volume of discussion would be just as high.

 

A perfectly logical and sensible point. People recently discovered that you can make a game out of hitting a ball with an implement that you hold in your hand. Thanks to the lockdowns, they discovered this. Who can blame governments, news media, big corporations, and hollywood celebrities for being all over that revolution?

[Victoria Watcher]

In the articles above, media is simply desperate to talk about a popular subject.

Obviously tennis or squash has more injury potential especially among those less fit.

But as more less fit and the masses join pickleball it’s ab opportunity to reach a large, engaged audience.

Us tennis players already know known issues.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 May 2024 - 12:47 PM.

[aastra]

 

People recently discovered that you can make a game out of hitting a ball with an implement that you hold in your hand.

 

And you can do it on a ubiquitous playing surface designed for a different game which is extremely similar but which was mysteriously unworthy of promotion.

[aastra]

 

In the articles above, media is simply desperate to talk about a popular subject.

 

Dude, there are published research articles. Grant money is flying to "study" this or that aspect.

[aastra]

Again, I'm not bashing pickleball nor am I questioning the genuine potential that pickleball (or any other pastime) might have for fun and exercise. I'm talking about the narrative. Why is so much time, money, and effort being put into this mission to elevate pickleball to 24/7 celebrity status? (Full disclosure: I would take pickleball hype any day of the week over Taylor Swift hype or WW3 hype or whatever else. But I'm still asking the question.)

[Blair M.]

The sound and acoustics might be definable, but the amount it bothers people is highly subjective.

Indeed, but if you don’t have a measurement then the degree of mitigation until it stops bothering people is anecdotal or petty.
Lots of well established things bother me, but expecting them to be banned because of that bother would likely be expecting far too much!

[LJ]

The sound and acoustics might be definable, but the amount it bothers people is highly subjective.

I hate the sound of a basketball being dribbled, kids down the street seem to love it though. Fortunately, the sound doesn't penetrate to my backyard.