Send us Fan Mail

Episode 76 of Pickleballers Next Door takes us to Peak Pickleball in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for a historic event: USA Pickleball’s first all-adaptive Golden Ticket tournament.

This inspiring tournament brought together adaptive athletes from across the country for outstanding competition, meaningful connections, and an unforgettable celebration of perseverance. We witnessed firsthand the determination, athleticism, and strength of players who overcome challenges many people never have to consider.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we speak with Corey White, an adaptive pickleball player from Utah; Cody Smith from the Paralyzed Veterans of America Mountain States Chapter; and adaptive athletes and advocates Andrew Lewis and Mick Tingstrom, who worked tirelessly to help bring this groundbreaking tournament together.

The stories behind why some of these athletes use wheelchairs are powerful—but their stories are about much more than their injuries. They are about resilience, community, competition, and refusing to let physical limitations define what is possible.

The first all-adaptive Golden Ticket tournament was a tremendous success and an important step forward for accessibility and inclusion in pickleball.

We also talk with Dave a member from Peak, who started playing, because of depression and he talks how it helped him to start smiling again.

Coming soon in Part 2: intimate, one-on-one conversations with several of the athletes as they share the personal stories behind the wheelchair, their journeys back to competition, and how adaptive pickleball has changed their lives.

Subscribe to Pickleballers Next Door so you do not miss the next episode in this important series.

Support the show

Thank you to our sponsor A Sweet Sip CBD drink. Visit https://drinkasweetsip.com/ for more information.

Follow the PickleBallers Next Door at:

IG: @pickleballersnextdoor
TikTok: thepickleballersnextdoor