The first time I heard of pickleball was in 2016. Some friends invited me to play, and I figured my ping-pong skills would translate to the short courts. My ping-pong habits actually carried over too well. I had to stop putting extra spin on the ball, but little adjustments like that and the game’s competitiveness hooked me. I also loved that people of all ages were just as addicted to pickleball as I was. But one experience, in particular, set me on the path leading to The Picklr.
One winter, we went to a rec center, and I saw two teenagers playing pickleball with 50 people waiting to get on the court. My first thought was, “What cult did I join?” It was a weekday, but no one was at work or school. And the two teenagers were playing at a level I hadn’t seen yet. It was fast-paced and exciting. They were putting down overhead slams and shots I couldn’t believe. I realized then that the youth would eventually take over this sport.
That experience inspired me to create a paddle that felt cooler than anything I had seen in the market. Kuro Paddles was successful, but it was a side hustle that was eventually inhibited by manufacturer delays due to the pandemic. Shortly after that ended, in 2020, I was laid off from my tech job and left with the decision to look for a new job or go fully independent.
I considered my area’s packed rec center and the lack of indoor courts. And I felt inspired to create a facility for aspiring players of all ages. When I called my friend Austin Wood to tell him my idea, he didn’t even let me finish my sentence. He said, “Let’s do it. I’m in!”
It was scary deciding to take a chance on myself. I could have used a million excuses not to start The Picklr—like having five kids, a mortgage, or even being in the middle of a pandemic. But my father was an immigrant and entrepreneur who strongly believed in working for yourself, and I always admired his resilience. I had faith we could pull it off with Austin by my side.
In January 2021, we were lucky enough to sign our first lease. Somehow, we found a building space with an owner willing to lease a building for our wild pickleball idea he had never heard of. A few months later, we opened our first location in Uintah in April.
Fast forward to today, and The Picklr is partners with Pickleball Inc., Super Bowl Champion Drew Brees, and has over 275 locations sold across America with plans to go international. And it’s all because of people who believed in our vision. Some of our executives today are people who showed up at the grand opening of our first location. Pickleball is that powerful in connecting people.
– Jorge Barragan
You must be logged in to post a comment.