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54 54 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | FEBRUARY 2022 | | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | FEBRUARY 2022 | Just off the top of your scribe's head, one may not think to put our small-court fun-fest of a game in the same breath with NHL hockey. What, you might ask, is the possible connection? Well, just ask Kris Draper, four-time Stanley Cup veteran of the Detroit Red Wings who was profiled in the recent USAPA magazine. A hall of famer who managed to play at the pinnacle of the sport until the outlandish age of 40, Draper has found a new rink to conquer, in his backyard in Michigan. In winter, that rink is all ice. But since discovering pickleball a year ago the same space accommodates a pickleball court and does it ever get a workout. One might imagine that an all-star athlete would want to keep in condition and keep stoking the competitive fires that fueled his long career. And, thanks to a friend who invited him over to play a game he initially declined to even try (let's face it, the name lacks that certain je ne c'est quoi) Draper quickly was hooked. Not surprisingly, Draper loves the quick back-and-forth of volleying at the net which gives his eye-hand coordination a chance to shine. And he also likes to learn and improve. One source of frustration, "I would say is when I don't hit the third shot drop. I know how important that shot is to get myself and my partner to the net, and when I don't hit a good one, it's aggravating." (A good reminder for all of us: practice THAT shot.) The Draper interview underscores the universality of our game. We in Sun Lakes don't have big time pro sports backgrounds yet pickle is accessible to folks of all ages and backgrounds. It allows a remarkable degree of level competition across a wide span of ages. We see this often on our courts. The young players love to "bang" or hit it as hard as possible. The more mature among us know how to counter youthful strength with a bit of finesse, dropping that smash just over the net and out of reach of even the speediest kids. Yet, youth must be served and will often prevail since these kids are quick studies. It's simply a load of fun to face off with players decades younger or older and let the game unfold. So, take a tip from the "old" pro Kris Draper (he's all of 50 now) and come give pickleball a try. Give our club VP Judy Luna a call at (949) 929-2390 for advice on the best times to come out. See you on the courts! Pickleball Club

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