The Montecito YMCA held its much-anticipated Pickleball Courts Grand Opening on Saturday, May 10, from 9 am through 12 pm. It was a great sun-filled day with balmy temperatures, perfect for hitting the courts.
When I arrived, the pickleball courts were packed with people playing and others waiting to jump into a game – the energy was high with smiles all around. The Montecito Y’s Executive Director Ryan Power pulled out all the stops by equipping the courts with a wide variety of pickleball paddles, an oversized paddle for fun, and four ball caddies packed to the brim. Alongside Power was the Health and Wellness Director of the Y, Ben Oler, who is a certified pickleball pro.
Overseeing the pickleball players with tips, coaching and game rules were Oler and two additional Pro-Certified Pickleball experts, Jay Campbell, and Dave Wilcox. Also on hand were Channel Islands YMCA Marketing and Communications Director Dan Noah, and Membership Director John Norman.
I talked with Oler and Campbell about the sport and the courts. Oler, “We finally brought pickleball to the Montecito YMCA. I feel this is a great opportunity for our community to come, be active, and have a great time. I say for a game like this, it’s a great way to get people outside, have fun and stay active.”
