46 www.CharlestonWomenPodcast.com | www.ReadCW.com | www.Instagram.com/CharlestonWomen It’s almost impossible to go anywhere without meeting someone who is newly passionate about pickleball. It’s as though the not-so-distant cousin of tennis has taken the world by storm. It’s no wonder pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the nation; everyone who tries it seems to get hooked. Pickleball fans are everywhere; they proudly sport the apparel, accessories and of course, pickleball paddles. Picking a pickleball paddle is akin to choosing a tattoo, pouring over where to get it and what it’s going to look like. Then there’s the consideration of whether one is for beginner level, advanced, men, women or children. Spin, control and size matter, but pickleball wouldn’t be a proper sport if they didn’t. Women have particularly taken to pickleball in the past few years and retailers are taking notice. It’s hard to walk by any major retailer and not see a pickleballinspired display or collaboration. Target recently partnered with Prince on a pickleball-inspired collab that boasted bright primary colors, pleated skirts and adorable yet functional dresses, t-shirts and jackets for the pickleball enthusiast in all of us — even those who have never played the sport. Retailers like Lululemon and Nordstrom have also joined in the pickleball aesthetic, placing it front and center in stores and online. The frocks are even being worn as daily athleisure, crossing over into the fashion world like yoga pants did in the early 2000s. The craze is particularly strong in warm climates like the Lowcountry. Pickleball aficionados and newbies alike are flocking to the courts like Crush Yard Pickleball Club’s “pickleball paradise” concept, 5IVEZERO PickleBall, Pickle Bar, Wild Dunes Resort Tennis Center and Daniel Island Club to swing a paddle. Each offers amazing courts, lessons, clinics, open play sessions, tournaments, leagues and more for players of all levels. EXPLORE COMMUNITY WITH PICKLEBALL CHARLESTON Bryony Moffitt, founder of Pickleball Charleston, fell in love with pickleball when she moved to Charleston three years ago. “It’s a great way of making friends of all different ages and fitness levels. It’s inclusive, diverse, easy to pick up and fun to play. Before I knew it, I had a tremendous amount of new friends with pickleball in common,” she said. Moffitt enjoyed the sport so much, she paired her 20 years of high-level global event production experience with her love of pickleball to launch Pickleball Charleston, a pickleball event production. “We had our first event in August 2023 and have been sold out ever since,” she explained, proud of the quality of her events. “They represent the best of Charleston and are something that the community has solidly backed. We have people now coming from Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, Boston and Atlanta to join the events.” To cultivate a vibrant pickleball community through strategic event design and execution, Moffitt partners with local venues to support charities and raise money during tournaments. She enjoys working with a variety of both private and public pickleball clubs. She enjoys working with venues as well, since she believes these establishments bring people together, inspiring communities to build on the level of play across the state. “A small portion of registrants are regulars, but we have a varying crew as well,” she explained, citing the importance of having a variety of formats to keep pickleball fun for everyone. “Pickleball is becoming more diverse as people learn more about it. It’s an inexpensive sport to pick up because all you need is a paddle and a ball. There are lots of courts in Charleston and likely, more to come,” she concluded. EXPLORE A VENUE WITH A TWIST AT THE PICKLE BAR Tina Piscazzi is one of the founders of The Pickle Bar, a restaurant, retail and recreation concept that combines the sport of pickleball with a southern-inspired restaurant and sports bar and spans more than 40,000 square feet with nine outdoor pickleball courts. Piscazzi holds a bachelor’s degree in Wellness and The Pickleball Panic Sports trend lights up the Lowcountry BY ISABEL ALVAREZ ARATA Charleston Women in Wellness
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