Island Market presents 6th annual Orcas Island Rotary’s Pickleball Tournament August 26-27 at Buck Park

July 28, 2023 1:30 am
Contributed photo Lia and Gib Black of San Juan Island, 2022 gold winners of the mixed doubles with silver winners Maggie Kulyk and Kevin Lee of Orcas Island.
Contributed photo Lia and Gib Black of San Juan Island, 2022 gold winners of the mixed doubles with silver winners Maggie Kulyk and Kevin Lee of Orcas Island.

Here come the pickleball players! During the weekend of August 26 and 27 th , an estimated 75 pickleball players will be on island for the 6th annual Orcas Island Rotary Club Pickleball Tournament, co-hosted by the newly formed Orcas Island Pickleball Club. Registration is now open for Mixed Doubles (Saturday) and both Women’s Doubles and Men’s Doubles (Sunday). All proceeds go to support family services and scholarships on Orcas. Last year, the tournament raised $5,600 to support the Orcas Community Resource Center and scholarships for education in the trades through the San Juan County Economic Development Council.

The Orcas Rotary and Orcas Island Pickleball clubs extend their thanks to the tennis community on Orcas who have generously allowed the tournament to expand onto the tennis courts for this weekend event. To register, go to https://rotaryfoundationsanjuanislands.org/pickleball-tournament. Registration is $50 for one event or $70 for two per player. All events include two skill levels: 1) Beginner/Recreational and 2) Intermediate/Advanced. There are no age categories or limitations on the tournament. Tournament play begins at 9 a.m. each day and spectators are welcome. The Rotary is hosting a BBQ social following tournament play on Saturday afternoon.

Big thanks to the sponsors who are supporting the tournament and community beneficiaries: Presenting Sponsor Island Market; Co-Sponsors Banner Bank, Chicory Wealth, Island Petroleum and Ray’s Pharmacy and Con’s Pit Stop and Island Life; Sponsors: Gudgell Properties, Linda Hamilton, Island Hardware & Supply, Bob McPherson, Rainshadow Solar, and Star Surveying; and Supporters Frank & Barbara Fagen and Island Thyme. Orcas Island Rotary supports the values and efforts of Rotary International. As a satellite of the Rotary Club of the San Juan Islands, they embrace the club purpose: “Changing our community, our country, and the world through goodwill and service above self.” Orcas Rotary meets by Zoom every 1st Friday at 9 a.m. and every third Friday at 5 p.m.

Orcas Island Pickleball Club (OIPC) is a new organization of pickleball players committed to supporting a strong pickleball community on Orcas Island. Founding memberships in OIPC will be available at the August tournament. Learn more: https://orcaspickleball.org/.

Pickleball is open to everyone. Court times are scheduled on playtimescheduler.com and drop-ins are welcome. Newcomers and visitors are welcome to join in play and new player orientation sessions are available.