Saturday, December 2, 2023 (No Play)

This was the Santa Cruz Pickleball Club’s second time taking part in the annual Santa Cruz Downtown Holiday Parade. While it rained this morning, it had cleared by the time participants started to arrive and congregate. I got to our designated spot—we were group #61—around 8:45 a.m.

I’d brought a backup paddle and ball. I wasn’t going to bring my #1 paddle! Some others did the same thing, bringing paddles they didn’t care as much about.

There was no drizzle this year so we had a bit better turnout than our first attempt. There were a lot of conversations while we waited, mostly about pickleball, of course.

As I’d arranged, volunteers Jeff Hotchkiss and Sean McElhaney appeared with the temporary portable net made from PVC pipe. They also brought a metal pipe to which our club banner got secured through its grommets with plastic zip ties. The metal pipe didn’t sag like the PVC pipe last year. This was a much better solution. There’s no teacher like experience!

Early arrivers chatting it up—including young Declan, Paul Winn’s son!

Paul and his son Declan spent some time knocking a pickleball against hard wall of the building . . . though the bike rack made for an obstacle. I joined Declan for a few minutes before it exceeded my attention span.

SCPC President Mark Dettle and VP Jackie Signor scope out the staging.
Group photo op!
Yeah, we’re having a good time!
Gearing up to go! That’s me standing in front at the moment of Rachel Kuo’s photo.
SCPC board members Jackie and Barb were the first rotation carrying the banner.
Just before we step into the parade in earnest, doing some warm up!
(That’s net creator Jeff Hotchkiss in blue on the far side.)

The parade kicked off at 10 a.m., but with us as group nearer the end—there were 70-some-odd groups—it wasn’t until shortly after 10:30 that we were ushered up to the actual parade route and presented to the crowd lining the street.

And off we go! Demonstration game in progress! Jump, Jessie, jump!

Along the route, myself, Mark, Jeff, Jessie, Paul and his son Declan and, at times, Linda hit a pickleball back and forth over our demonstration net.

A very festive Sean McElhaney stewarding the net!
In the heart of Pacific Avenue, the crowd enjoying the show!

I don’t know which woman it was in our group but she started us with a chant of “1… 2… 3…” then we all yelled “PICKLEBALL!”, much to the delight of the crowd.

Barb and Linda leading the way!
An official photo shared with the community by the downtown association.
Another official photo shared with the community.

Much like last year, we again received a fabulous reception from both the crowds lining the sidewalks and the parade announcers every few blocks over their loudspeakers. We gave a lot of families a very happy exposure to pickleball.

After the parade, I got stopped by a couple asking how to start playing. Of course, I took the time to answer and directed them to the club website.

Video

The Santa Cruz Downtown Association shared video of the parade. I made this link below take you right to the section highlighting our SCPC participation. I get a few seconds of “airtime”! LOL!

And?

It was a fun and enjoyable experience. And my staff at work didn’t begrudge me the morning off. They know I work at lot.

Number of days on a court: 612
Number of total hours: 2,681
Number of paid coaching hours: 5

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