I was granted access to the club – I attained senior status in the pickleball world (age 50). Woohoo! So of course with that milestone I was thrilled to attend my first Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. I was impressed at how accomplished many of the pickleball players were. I met several who don’t typically enter what we consider the “big” tournaments around the country, but I know for a fact that some of these “seniors” could definitely hang with younger, top pickleball players. Some of you may remember my past post on the quick sell out of this event – most events filled up in one hour! Huntsman sells out in record time
I highly recommend you give Huntsman Games a try next year and the scenery is breathtaking!
Here are the 2016 tournaments fun facts:
- 633 players
- Oldest male 89, oldest female 85
- 34 states represented plus 2 Canadian Provinces
- 312 women and 321 men competed (pretty close in #)
- Over 5 days 1,530 matches were played at two venues
- 36 permanent pickleball courts in total
- 419 referees volunteered
- The Onix Pure 2 ball was used – lots of rallies :-0
Want to know how pickleball got into the Huntsman Games in 2003? Check out my past post from the 2014 Games… Time to learn some pickleball history! Want to see my fun photos from the week? Check out my Facebook photo album
What exactly is the Huntsman World Senior Games?
The Huntsman World Senior Games, as it is known today, began in 1987 as the World Senior Games, an international senior sports competition. The games began with a vision of an international sports event for men and women ages 50 and better. Both agreed that the golden years were better when good health and physical fitness became a way of life, not an occasional hobby. A small full-time staff works year round and is joined by more than 2,500 eager seasonal volunteers who host 30 athletic events over a two-week period each October in St. George, Utah. Headquartered in Southern Utah, Huntsman has become a renowned event among serious athletes.
Rookies (first timers) attending Huntsman Games. We know how to have fun!
Hi Jennifer,
First, a big Hoo-Rah for the PIckleball channel showing the great videos of tournament play. I’m noticing the improvement of the videography and the technical side (better camera work, multiple cameras, live switching among the cameras while the point is in play, things like that). What I really enjoy is that there are no announcers interrupting all the time TALKING DURING THE RALLY!).
Anyway, since this is your blog, I’ll get to the essence. At the beginning of the match, you were making unforced errors and I thought to myself, “Self, this is not the Jen I usually see with a great game.” But as the game progressed I saw how you 1) were not upset by a slow start and 2) your typical great game settled in and you and your partner played some fabulous rallies. That is what I take to heart with my game: Errors will happen. So you forget that point and concentrate on the next and don’t beat yourself up. As such, your unforced error rate came down soon and you got into the game. Well done.
As for hitting the big 50, at my age you’re still a child bride.
Jen, my daughter turned fifty in August, so you both are toddlers to me. A week or two ago, my partner was eighty, and my two opponents were seventy-eight and eighty-one. At seventy-two, I felt like the young stud on the court. So choose you partner well, but your opponents even more carefully!
Jennifer, I enjoy your posts. However, you exclusively focus on pickleball events that have already happened (in the past). Can you add some postings about future upcoming events? That way, the rest of us can make plans to attend (with you). What’s coming up?
Hello Manny, great point!! This blog is a hobby and after each pickleball adventure I have so much I want to share but then I am off to the next adventure. Would love to have much more time to blog… That paid work (my real non-pickleball job) gets in the way 🙂 I will try to share fun adventures BEFORE I take them. Take care Manny!!