Sportable Beneficiary of First-Ever Pickleball Clash May 9
RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, April 19, 2023) – Sportable, Central Virginia’s premier adaptive sports club, is proud to be the beneficiary of the first-ever Pickleball Clash on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at Bon Air United Methodist Church. Tickets are on sale now for $15 at Sportable.org. All proceeds will directly support Sportable’s mission to make sports accessible and inclusive for individuals with physical disabilities.
The event will feature Jay Devilliers, top 10 worldwide pickleball pro, who will speak about his life and journey with pickleball. Devilliers, also known as the “Flying Frenchman,” will demonstrate the pickleball plays that catapulted him to pickleball’s highest level. Then, he will challenge Richmond’s own NBC12 Meteorologist Andrew Freiden to a match.
“Pickleball is taking Richmond by storm,” commented Hunter Leemon, Sportable Executive Director. “Not only has the growth of the sport in our community been explosive, adaptive pickleball has become one of Sportable’s most popular programs. We are thrilled to host a world-class player like Jay Devilliers and elevate adaptive pickleball in RVA while raising critical funds for our mission.”
Made possible by presenting sponsors Bangers & Dinks, OrthoVirginia, and Performance Pickleball, and supporting sponsor Hot House Yoga, the action-packed event will feature a Q&A with Devilliers, an auction including an autographed Vulcan paddle, and a wheelchair pickleball demonstration.
General admission tickets are $15 and space is limited to 200. VIP Experience and Preferred Seating tickets are sold out.
Pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the country, combines many elements of tennis, badminton, racquetball, and ping-pong. The game is played on a badminton-size court with two to four players, paddles, and a ball similar to a whiffle ball. Pickleball welcomes beginners of all ages and abilities. It can also develop into a fast-paced game of strategy and precision for experienced players.
Adaptive Pickleball is one of Sportable’s 16 adaptive sports programs and runs weekly through May 16 at Bon Air United Methodist Church. Individuals with physical disabilities learn court mobility, strokes, and rules of the game while improving strength and cardiovascular health in a fun group instruction environment.
To learn more about the Pickleball Clash including sponsorship opportunities, contact Event Manager Amy Smith at amy@sportable.org.