Written by Christine Blanchett
“The sport remains popular with seniors who typically play during the week. The sport is now also attracting younger and working adults as facilities become available during evening hours and weekends.” Pickleball Canada
If you’re looking for a new activity to complement your favorite sport, baseball may be the answer. Not only is it an attractive social endeavor, but it provides good exercise, without the elaborate athleticism requirements required in most other racquet sports. According to the Pickleball Canada website, “Pickleball is growing in popularity as a sport for all ages!”
Dr. Sean Graham is a practicing chiropractor and co-director of the Satori Integrative Health Center. He is also a former standout receiver with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and won a Gray Cup championship in 2000. These days, however, his athletic passion is limited to pickleball. I recently caught up with him and noticed his unbridled enthusiasm for one of the fastest growing sports in Canada.
Read on for the questions and answers…
Q: When and how did you find your passion for pickleball?
In the summer of 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, a friend invited me to play. I was hesitant at first, as I always had the idea that pickleball was for the elderly and those who were immobile. I finally decided to try it and became completely addicted to the sport. I play three to four times a week. I play recreationally and competitively in sanctioned tournaments throughout British Columbia and even in the United States. I received my Level 2 Coaching Certification through Pickleball Canada and am a Level 1 Referee. I completely immersed myself in the sport of pickleball.
