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52 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | DECEMBER 2022 Perhaps, while walking through The Courts, you have looked into the Multipurpose Room and thought, "I would love to play ping pong. It looks so fun. But I could never play at the level those people are playing at. Guess I am just out of luck." That's what Macy, Dennis, Augie, and Pat used to think until they met Jim Wong, our resident ping pong coach. Twice a week they show up in the Multipurpose Room to learn the game and now they are respectable ping pong players. We are fortunate to have a highly-skilled player like Jim here at Four Seasons. Meet Coach Jim in this brief interview: Q: When did you start coaching ping pong here at Four Seasons? A: April of 2022. Q: Why did you start the program? A: I like to see people enjoy ping pong. Anyone can play ping pong by just hitting the ball back and forth on the table with a partner. However, to really play well and improve, you need to have the basic skills like holding the paddle properly (handshake vs pen hold style); having the right stance; knowing the right way to contact the ball (brush NOT hit); etc. Lack of these basic skills can hinder improvement and enjoyment. So I want to share these basic skills with people desiring to enjoy ping pong and to help them improve their game. Q: When and how often do you coach? A: I coach on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 2 pm. Q: What level of players do you coach? A: Beginners and intermediate players. Q: What do you find rewarding in your role here as a ping pong coach? A: I love to see players learn and apply the basic skills to become better players. Q: If anyone wants to start ping pong as a beginner or improve their existing ping pong skills, how can they get access to your coaching? A: Just come to The Courts on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 pm. So if you are a beginner and want to play like a pro, just come to The Courts and our own "Wizard of Westwood" will put a paddle in your hand and introduce you to one of the funnest and healthiest games you could ever play. What Coach Jim has done for others, he can do for you. For more information about ping pong, contact Niles Sundstrom at (818) 826-1380. ~ Niles Sundstrom Table Tennis Pictured here are some of the students Jim coaches: (L-R) Dennis Lam, Pat Walton, Macy Chen, Augie Ramirez, and Coach Jim Wong. (Back row) Perry White, an advanced player, who likes to photo bomb pictures

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