AMSTERDAM — Picklers of all skill levels and vendors of all varieties will converge at the Riverfront Center mall during the inaugural Dink at the ’Dam Pickleball Tournament next month.
The tournament is being organized by Montgomery County in partnership with Xtreme Pickle at its indoor pickleball court facility on May 4 and 5. An accompanying vendor fair will be held in the mall.
Morgan McClary, director of communications and tourism for Montgomery County, said the crossover event is an opportunity to expose locals and visitors to all that the area has to offer.
“We want to try to showcase all the different businesses we have around here,” McClary said. “We all share a common goal of wanting to better our community by not only offering exciting events, but working to try to bring new people into our area.”
The growing popularity of pickleball among players of all ages sparked the idea for the tournament and partnering with Xtreme Pickle was a natural fit, McClary said.
The business has taken off since opening in October with open play and training classes. League play and other tournaments are expected to be added in the near future.
“The new indoor facility in Amsterdam is already attracting people from across the state,” McClary said. “They are the experts when it comes to pickleball and it’s perfect to work together when everyone has a specific skill set they bring to the table.”
Mike Barker, owner of Xtreme Pickle, was on board after seeing the county’s enthusiasm for the two-pronged event.
“I said let's do this and make it big,” Barker said. “It's a great way to celebrate Montgomery County.”
The pickleball tournament features nine different divisions at various skill levels to ensure players of all abilities can participate and compete on an even playing field.
At the entry level, beginners with at least a foundational knowledge of the rules and basics of the sport can practice their skills in a supportive environment. At the highest level, advanced players will face skilled challengers in a highly competitive field.
“Pickleball is the No. 1 growing sport in America right now, everyone has got the craze to want to play it,” Barker said. “I have people calling everyday joining the learn-to-play classes and learning to play pickleball. I used to own fitness centers in the area and I've never seen anything like it.”
In between matches on the first weekend in May, players can peruse the goods being offered by area vendors and businesses. McClary said a handful of participants have already signed up and mall establishments are expected to get involved.
“We’re hoping to have a little bit of everything,” McClary said.
Likewise, customers at the vendor fair and tournament spectators can get in on the game with practice nets expected to be set up in the mall in order to introduce newcomers to pickleball under the supervision of Xtreme Pickle staff.
“It might interest people who have never played the sport before,” McClary said.
Dink at the ’Dam will be the first tournament at the Xtreme Pickle since it opened. Both McClary and Barker hope the joint event will become an annual occasion.
“We’re really excited and proud to offer another unique event in our county,” McClary said, noting its similarity to the county’s annual Blues at Burbine disc golf tournament. “It’s really fun and different and I think it helps to set us apart.”
Teams of two can register for the Dink at the ’Dam pickleball tournament online at xtremepickle.com/xp-tournament-5-4-24. The cost is $70 per team.
The vendor fair registration can be found online at Eventbrite.