Board member Ernie Medina was featured in Netflix's Blue Zones series for introducing pickleball to Loma Linda, California in 2016 — a spark that has since grown explosively across the Inland Empire. Ernie also serves as a board member of USA Pickleball.
Ernie is the one who distilled why pickleball is exploding in popularity into one simple acronym: SIMPLE.
What Makes It SIMPLE
S
Social
Doubles play means you're never on the court alone.
I
Inexpensive
A paddle and a few balls are all it takes to start.
M
Modified tennis
Familiar enough to pick up in minutes.
P
Physical
A real workout without the impact of running.
L
Little court
Small enough for quick rallies and short travel distances.
E
Easy to learn
Simple rules mean beginners can rally on day one.