Set your watches for Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 6:00 pm for the official Ribbon Cutting at Malad’s Pickleball Complex!  It will be an evening of fun and learning.  Pickleball Committee Chairman Rebecca Firth will officially open the courts, Councilman Tripp will recognize major donors, then pro coach Vic Phillips and some of his children will teach everyone a thing or two about this popular sport.  Details are still being worked out to provide some of our local talent the opportunity to Play the Pros.  

Vic Phillips and his family of Hyde Park, UT, own Rocky Mountain Court Surfacing, and surfaced the Malad Courts. The Phillips have been playing, teaching, and competing in pickleball for over 7 years. Little did they know the impact pickleball would have in their lives when Vic first started to play with a cheap set of wooden paddles Lisa, his wife, gave him for Christmas in 2015. 

Dad Vic is a PPR Certified Pro Pickleball coach and has played on the Senior Pro tour. Mom Lisa has been running rec and community pickleball programs for the past 5 years. Six of their eight children (plus spouses) actively play with five of them as sponsored players and taking a more active role in competing, coaching or both. The younger three (Alli, Liv and Dan) helped surface the Malad courts.  Alli (age 20) is a professional pickleball player having recently been signed by the PPA and drafted by the MLP on the New Jersey 5’s. She won the 2023 Next Gen tournament which showcases the talents of the top junior players in the nation. In 2021 she and sister Olivia (17) won Gold at the AAU World Junior Olympics and each of them are also National Champions in the sport. Olivia plays for the USU Pickleball Club which is ranked #5 in the nation, and she is one of the top ranked 17-year-olds in the USA. Not to be outdone, their youngest brother Danny (13) also has Gold Medals from the AAU World Junior Olympics and is one of the top rated players in the nation in his age group. 

Ground was broken in May for the Malad courts, and finishing touches will be made this week.  When the east pad was fenced back in August pickleball players started gathering and the familiar “pop” of ball on paddle resonated.  The courts have had daily activity since that time with players waiting for a court some evenings.  Popularity is growing fast.  

So, bring your friends and camp chairs and come learn what all the fuss is about.  Light refreshments will be served and if you’re feeling ambitious bring a plate of cookies to share.  This will be a great evening to launch a great new activity for all members of our community!