2019
In 2019, the inaugural Rocky Mountain Tournament Series featured the Steamboat Classic, held in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and the Rocky Mountain Pickleball Open at the Apex Pickleball Complex in Arvada, Colorado. Introducing both tournaments brought new excitement to players in Colorado and the surrounding region. With over 500 participants, the Open became the most attended tournament in Colorado.
2021
Following a year's delay due to the COVID pandemic, 2021 marked the reintroduction of the Steamboat Classic, with over 300 players from around the country at the Steamboat Tennis & Pickleball Center. Our special guests included two of the world's best players, Ben Johns and Dekel Bar. They had a great time hosting clinics and participating in the tournament. Ben even jumped in to officiate a few games. The early July tournament was perfect for visiting Steamboat and having a great time on the courts.
August introduced the Rocky Mountain Championships to Denver and the pickleball world. The history-making tournament welcomed over 1,000 athletes to the Gates Tennis Center. The Gates Center was transformed into a pickleball haven, with the Championship, Stadium, and adjacent courts resurfacing. Expansive seating around the featured courts provided exceptional spectating of the matches. The Championships included 37 courts at the park-like Gates venue.
The competition included most of the sport's top players and amateurs from around the world. RMP invited the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) to participate and further enhance the tournament experience. The 2021 Rocky Mountain Championships was recognized as an immediate hit among players and spectators alike.
The 2021 Rocky Mountain Pickleball tournament series concluded with the New Mexico Open, which was held on Labor Day weekend. Our host venue, the Manzano Mesa pickleball courts, featured 18 permanent courts and excellent spectator seating. RMP was pleased to welcome over 300 athletes from 16 states and five countries outside of the U.S.
2022
The Rocky Mountain Championships returned to the Gates Tennis Center in 2022, again featuring close to 1000 pro and amateur players from Colorado and around the country. The excitement around Championship Court and throughout the venue was thrilling.
2023
In 2023, a new era and venue location began for the Championships. The tournament moved to the Clement Park Pickleball Complex, which offered expanded spectator areas, convenient adjacent parking, and more than twenty courts. Additionally, 2023 introduced the Team Challenge event to the Rocky Mountain Championships. This team format added an exciting new dimension to the tournament and enhanced the player experience.
2024
2024 was an especially exciting year for Rocky Mountain Pickleball.
The Championships returned to the Clement Park venue, building on the experiences from the previous year. RMP successfully expanded player amenities, including a significant increase in the number of courts. RMC 24 is recognized as one of the best events in the tournament's seven-year history. The introduction of a pool play format provided players with increased competition and reduced waiting times between matches.
Following the RMC 24, Rocky Mountain Pickleball shifted its focus to the 2025 season and a desire to expand the RMP tournament series. After considering several potential locations for additional tournaments, RMP entered into agreements with the Steamboat Springs Tennis and Pickleball Center and Lincoln Park in Grand Junction. RMP's return to Steamboat with the Mountain Town Classic marks an exciting return to one of our favorite tournament destinations. Additionally, the introduction of the Grand Mesa Open in Grand Junction represents a new chapter for RMP as our first tournament on Colorado's Western Slope.
In late December 2024, Rocky Mountain Pickleball welcomed new ownership and leadership as it transitioned to the Picklr Colorado group. This highly qualified team, including former #1 player in the world and Hall of Famer Kyle Yates, is dedicated to continuing RMP's mission of enhancing player experiences and improving tournament operations. It's going to be an exciting time for Rocky Mountain Pickleball and its players.