2024 Tournament Schedule Set-ish
The 2024 EPC tournament schedule must be described as tentative, since construction of upgrades is planned at the Marshdale courts for part of this summer. Alternate locations will be required for at least one, and likely two, competitions.
Mount Vernon Canyon Club is set to host the kickoff the tournament season on Saturday, June 15, with the eighth annual Round Robin.
3rd Shot Pickleball in Wheat Ridge is scheduled to host last year’s most popular tournament, the Dinkeroo, on Thursday, July 11.
Tournaments will return to the newly minted Marshdale courts with Women’s Doubles on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
The Geezer Games, introduced last year for those 70 and older, will be back by (very) popular demand on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at Marshdale.
The 2024 tournament season will wrap up Saturday, Sept. 14, with Mixed Doubles at Marshdale.
Registration is available on the EPC website two weeks in advance of each tournament. Cost is $25 per player.
The Marshdale courts will have a different look later this year, but the scenery will always be spectacular.
Keep Your Emotions in Check
Coach Corinne Jackson shared some timely thoughts from Kyle McKenzie via Tyson McGuffin’s newsletter.
Many instructors, including myself, stress the importance of the mental game in pickleball. We’ll talk about the value in having a game plan and a reason behind why each shot was played. Though the mental game will always be important, it’s the emotional side or how our own emotions affect our play that isn’t talked about enough.
We can’t control who our opponents hit the ball to, our partner’s shot selection, or if it’s windy outside. We all know this on a mental level, but too many of us still let these things get us frustrated and in a heightened emotional state. Allowing ourselves to be weighed down by any type of negative emotion can adversely affect our shot selection and focus on the court. It’s important that we keep our negative emotions in check while we’re playing and focus our energy only on things we can control.
Though we should avoid allowing negative emotions to weigh us down, bringing positive emotion is critical and can often provide the needed spark of energy in a match. Getting excited and celebrating with our partner after a great point, or telling ourselves “you’ve got this next one” are a couple of great ways to channel our emotions in a positive direction while we compete.
None of us are robots. At the end of the day, we all play with emotion and emotion isn’t a bad thing. If we can remember to focus only on what we can control and to keep our on court emotions positive, we’ll have more fun and be in a position to play our best pickleball.
Performance Clinics at 3rd Shot
Chris Weeks, head pro at Mount Vernon Canyon Club, will offer performance clinics for individuals and teams on Tuesdays/Thursdays in February at the new 3rd Shot Pickleball in Wheat Ridge. You may contact Chris directly to reserve dates and times.
But Did He Try It?
Trademark a sandwich name because it has pickles? Pretty weak, even if they are “thicker, crunchier dill pickles.” Thanks to a member of our club, Erich Meyer, for the photo.
