Check out our new logo, same as the old logo! Durango Pickleball Association is now officially our new name. For simplicity, you might often hear Durango Pickleball or DPA.
Do you want to grow and improve play opportunities for the local pickleball community? We are looking for new board members. Are you interested in organizing pickleball events? Have a background in finance? Tech or Design Skills? Just willing and able to help? Please apply here.
In This Letter: January Re-Cap, February Events, Pro-Tip & Paddle Tales
January Re-Cap
January was full! Two events at the Rec Center, and Demo Day at the Fairgrounds.
Thanks to all who volunteered and participated to make the Fairgrounds Demo Day happen. A special shout out to Veki, Hunter, & Mike T. for laying the lines. It’s hard to make things look easy! Here is a summary of the feedback we received from participants:
There were challenges for sure, and we learned a lot. It took about 1 1/2 hrs to set up the courts, but that should go smoother each time. Additional common complaints included unfortunate glare from the lights from the doors, and excessive time chasing runaway balls - both manageable problems. We are researching affordable and easily-storable court dividers. Have you seen any great court divider ideas? Please email us at durangopickleball@gmail.com with suggestions.
Mostly, folks are just eager for indoor play alternatives. Great news, new board member, Veki, is taking the lead on creating more opportunities for play at the Fairgrounds going forward. We are waiting to hear back from the County on available times. In the survey, there was strong support for evening play so that will be Veki’s first focus. Thanks Veki!
We also asked folks for feedback on what activities they would like to see from Durango Pickleball. We always want to hear from you. If you have more feedback/ideas please email durangopickleball@gmail.com.
Here is a summary
February Events
February 8 - 3.0-3.5 Round Robin, Rec Center (1-3pm) Join Waitlist Here
Feb 22 - 3.5-4.0 Round Robin, Rec Center (2-4pm)
Ongoing Play
Save the Dates:
March 8 - 4.0+ Round Robin, Rec Center (2-4pm)
March 22 - 3.5-4.0 Round Robin, Rec Center (2-4pm)
Sep 11-13th - Durango Tournament @ Schneider
Rec Center Gym Schedule
Note: For February, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM. Six (6) Pickleball courts will be in play, outside of non-school days for the Durango School District.
Schneider Courts Schedule
Courts are reservable in advance HERE
Pro (or Impressively Advanced) Tip
This pro tip is from Adam Ross. He has a hack for keeping balls from cracking in the near freezing weather – Always keep a spare ball in your pocket. Play with one ball for 2-3 minutes and then switch it out for the warm/re-warmed ball. Thanks Adam!
Paddle Tales
Introducing Paddle Tales - There is so much more to pickleball than just batting about a wiffle ball on a diminutive tennis court. We want to hear your tales of how it is a allegory for other challenges in life, helped you through a difficult time, brought you new friends, frustrates you, empowers you, or really anything that is entertaining to read about the sport. We want to hear your paddle tales, and with your permission, publish one each month as part of this newsletter. Please submit your tale to: durangopickleball@gmail.com.
The Soft Reset
Early 2026 is the perfect moment new pickleball resolutions. For me, the goal is a better soft reset. That moment when the ball—or life—comes at you hard and fast, but you’re ready. Your paddle is held with just the right light tension, and instead of returning with equal force, you deflect it into the great equalizer: a soft dinking game. Power is traded for patience, rewarded with perfect touch, and so much more fun.
One friend has a pickleball resolution to stop saying “sorry” on the courts. The obvious exceptions, of course, are when you accidentally body-bag someone or get just a little too lucky with a net dribble.
Not saying sorry, however, is not a license to be a jerk. Durango is too small a town for that.
There are a few enduring truths about Durango locals. We wave to each other on country roads with four fingers lifted casually off the steering wheel. We rarely lock our doors. We reverse-lie about our athletic ability (never trust a cyclist who says it’s a recovery day, or head to McCormick’s with a new friend who claims they are not that good). And we are often kind to a fault.
When I first moved here, I bought a new pair of biking shoes. The young man who helped me turned out to be the emergency room nurse I saw the very next day for an ankle sprain. “Was it the shoes?” he asked (It wasn’t). I was grateful our shoe-buying experience had gone so well—karma came back in good medical care less than 24 hours later.
Beyond kindness simply being part of who we are, there’s also a practical reality: if you’re mean to too many people in a small town, eventually there’s no one left to be your friend. When folks move here, they either learn that lesson quickly or they move on. A close friend of mine—just a smidge demanding by nature—lasted barely a year before relocating to Aspen, where she is blissfully, unapologetically herself.
That said, to bring it to the resolution that started this blurb; when someone body-bags you and offers no apology, it’s still a perfect moment for an internal soft reset. Channel Durango’s special brand of kindness and refocus on the fun. Let it go.
And life, of course, delivers its own metaphorical body bags off the court, and they are often more painful. When that happens, perhaps it’s an equally good time for the soft reset. The soft reset is key to winning the pickleball game, and surely, something to strive for in the other parts of our lives.
What are your pickleball resolutions? We look forward to hearing them from you on the courts.
- Jessica Wheeler
We Want to Hear From You
As always - we want to hear from you! Please email us with your comments & feedback at durangopickleball@gmail.com
You’re receiving this because you’re part of the Durango Pickleball community.