In 2019, the inaugural Rocky Mountain Tournament Series included the Steamboat Classic, in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Pickleball Open at the Apex Pickleball Complex in Arvada, Colorado. Despite continued player support, optimism, and extensive preparation, the 2020 Rocky Mountain Tournament Series was unfortunately not meant to be due to the COVID pandemic. While delayed this year, plans for a bigger and better 2021 RMP Series have already begun. Our team remains committed to hosting top national and local tournaments in the Rocky Mountain Region and has partnered with the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) to further enhance participants tournament experience.
Player Registration For The Championships Opens February 5, 2021
2021 Rocky Mountain ChampionshipsINFO | TOURNAMENTS | APPAREL
Preparations are well underway for the 2021 tournament season. During our national tournaments, RMP will be hosting many of the world's top pros, and welcoming amateur players from around the country. It's going to be an amazing tournament season, with exceptional player and spectator enhancements and spectacular competition on the courts.
Please also continue to check here or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest information regarding the RMP Tournament Series and the Championship event.
If you have any questions or would like to contact us, we would be happy to hear from you.
tournaments@rockymountainpickleball.com | 303.683.1000
Pickleball - The Sport
With nearly 4 million players, exploding growth and constantly increasing places to play, pickleball has continued to be the number one growing sport in the United States. The dink, soft game, bashers, concentration, exercise, competition, and most of all fun, are all part of the pickleball world. Basically the sport is a blend of badminton, ping pong, and tennis. Pickleball has a relatively short learning curve, thereby giving even a newbie beginner the chance to start having fun right from the start. Played with light-weight paddles and a plastic wiffle ball, games are played on a court the approximate size of a badminton court. The net is set slightly lower than a standard tennis net. Play format includes both singles (two players) or doubles teams (four players, two per team). Bottom line is the sport is addictive and a blast to play!
The Players
Pickleball players are among the most diverse of any sport, including folks within a wide range of age and skill. Many tournaments see the largest number of players in the 50+ brackets. However, pickleball is far from being a seniors-only sport. Top players of all ages are well conditioned athletes, with competition demanding excellent skill levels, conditioning and training. For a taste of pro-level action, check out some women's and men's matches on YouTube. Names like Ben Johns, Kyle Yates, Tyson McGuffin, and Riley Newman are a few of the top men's group. While, Simone Jardim, Irina Tereschenko, Lucy Kovalova, Sarah Ansboury, and Lindsey Newman are a few of the amazingly talented women pros. In pro competition, as in rec play, we find players of all ages. Considered to be the best senior player in the world and friend of RMP, at 50+ Scott Moore is a 20x National Champion and continues to show his unparalleled skill on the court. For the majority of players, pickleball represents a fun, challenging and competitive means of providing great exercise and socializing. As skills and conditioning improve, often the competitive drive emerges in many players as they strive for higher rankings and a tournament medal or two. The satisfaction of such accomplishment, especially at the higher age levels, is something not often available in most other sports. It's an awesome feeling at any age.
Ben Johns
At 21 years old, Ben is the undisputed world champion in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. While currently being the best professional player in the sport, he's also an exceptional ambassador, instructor, and great guy. Oh, and all this while pursuing an engineering degree at the University of Maryland! If you have the opportunity to catch Ben in action at one of the Rocky Mountain Pickelball tournaments, don't miss it. You'll have a blast, be amazed, and watch some of the best pickleball ever played.
Junior Players
This exciting group of young athletes define the future of pickleball. While currently under the age of 18, some have already reached the the professional level of compitition. At 12 years old, Anna Leigh Waters and her Mom, Leigh, were gold medalists in the Women's Doubles Open Pro event at the prestigious Tournament of Champions. An awesome feat for anyone, but to be part of the national-level championship doubles team at 12, well that's spectacular.
Some of the current top juniors include Wyatt Stone, William Sobek, Danny Phillips, Kale Kline and many others. These are but a few of tomorrow's big names in pickleball.
Whether reaching the heights of these special players or just playing in some fun rec games, pickleball is a sport for all ages..... although, like most things, the sooner you start the more potential you may have! So grab a paddle and jump in. We're pretty sure you'll have a ball.
Skill Ratings
As new players improve and begin thinking about competing in tournaments, a next step is determining a skill rating. Rating are a means of determining a player’s abilities, based upon some well thought out criteria established by the USA Pickleball and the IFP (International Federation of Pickleball). United Tournament Players Ratings (UTPR) provide kind of a leveling of the playing field, comparing one players skills against others. Basically, the rating system assures that players of similar skill levels are matched against each other in tournaments and other match play. This makes the game more fun and competitive for everyone. In January of 2019 USA Pickleball updated its tournament player ratings to include a four digit rating system, although a two digit interpretation of it remains commonly used. The new rating system includes a range from 1.0 to 6.5. This provides a more accurate determination of a player’s skill level and even better matches. The best place to find more information on the new rating system and other related questions is USAPA.org.
Give A Paddle Campaign
alova! With many of us players wanting to remain on the cutting edge of paddle design and technology, the purchase of a new paddle often results in the accumulation of an extra paddle or two. As we all know, these used paddles are typically in good shape, yet end up packed away in some box, often never again seeing action on the court. Rocky Mountain Pickleball would like to encourage you to consider donating your previous paddle to our Give A Paddle Campaign. We'll ensure that your old paddle is put to awesome use by one of several youth organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club of American, and YMCA. Your paddle donation will not only help in promoting our sport, but may introduce it to the next Ben Johns, Tyson McGuffin, Riley Newman, Irina Tereschenko, Sarah Ansboury, Kyle Yates, or Lucy Kovalova! Please keep it mind. We can accept your paddles at the Rocky Mountain Pickleball canopy at any of our tournaments or contact us regarding other ways to make the donation.
Thanks in advance from us and the pickleball world!
