Norm Kowalchuk has been busy on the pickleball court lately, which perhaps isn’t anything new. But, the St. Paul athlete has been smashing the competition wherever he goes, including grabbing a few more gold medals south of the border.
After taking gold medals in the men’s singles and mixed doubles 3.5 categories at the Huntsman World Senior Games in Utah, he then went to compete at the USAPA (USA Pickleball Association) National Championships in Casa Grande, Arizona.
The USAPA is one of the largest tournaments in North America, and despite having about 1,400 participants involved, Kowalchuk managed to shine in his category, again taking a gold medal in men’s singles, a gold in men’s doubles, and a silver medal in mixed doubles, all at the 3.5 level.
Following his performance, Pickleball Canada moved Kowalchuk up to the 4.0 level. And with more tournaments already in his sight, Kowalchuk hopes to continue to thrive in the sport. He aims to be a 5.0 by this time next year – which is a professional level.
Also new for Kowalchuk is the fact that he recently signed a one-year sponsorship contract with Manta World Sport. He admits that he wasn’t really looking for any type of sponsorship, but he had met representatives of the company at clinics held in the Lakeland, and his strong performances must have caught someone’s attention.
Manta World Sport is a Canadian company based out of Kamloops.
Now, Kowalchuk will continue to push for his goals, as he heads back into the US in January where he will compete in a number of tournaments in Phoenix. He will then head back south in late February to the same area, to compete again, and then back to Casa Grande.
“I’m travelling to places I’ve never been before,” says Kowalchuk, adding, the social side of the game is also a draw, and he continues to meet people and make new friends wherever he goes.
“It’s almost an expanded family.”
His travels in 2018 should take him to Mexico, back to Arizona one more time, and then into southern California in late March. In between tournaments, Kowalchuk trains in the gym, lifting weights and doing cardio.
In April, he’s hoping to hit his peak at the US Open in Naples, Florida.
And when he’s not on the road, travelling and competing, Kowalchuk tries to make time to help the St. Paul pickleball club. The local club continues to grow and remains very active. The sport also continues to be popular across North America, and now internationally, says Kowalchuk.
In Alberta, there are 2,500 pickleball players registered. A new million-dollar 18-court outdoor pickelball facility is being built in Red Deer, says Kowalchuk, adding, a new facility was built in Edmonton last year.
In North America, there are three million members of the pickleball association.
“It’s exploding.”
For anyone who wants to watch some pickleball action on television over Christmas, some of the final USAPA championships will air on CBS Sports, Dec. 23 at 11 a.m. MST.
