Next month, Cowichan Sportsplex will play host to its inaugural pickleball tournament, the ’90-minute Mash-up’. Vancouver Island Pickleball (VIPB), powered by Courtside Sports, assisted in the application setup of the tournament through the Vancouver Island Pickleball Association (VIPA), an asset acquired last March that VIPB now manages and maintains.
90-Minute Mash-Up | Cowichan Sportsplex
Included in the transfer was the Association’s Pickleball Canada website and membership, which allows players and organizers to register with the National Pickleball Organization and Pickleball BC without committing to a specific club. This aspect of VIPA continues to remain active for players electing to compete in sanctioned tournaments independently, as well as providing organizers with an active national and provincial account to list their event through.
“Because I was organizing the tournament on my own for the Cowichan Sportsplex, and not as part of a club, one of my main concerns was getting the extra insurance for the facility through Pickleball Canada, which is something I hadn’t had any experience with,” said tournament organizer Rachel Dewhurst, who has developed an event website and waitlist due to interest from the pickleball community.
Photos provided by Cowichan Sportsplex
“After speaking with the former head of the Vancouver Island Pickleball Association, who used to run an annual 90-minute tournament out of Fuller Lake, he encouraged me to reach out to the new owner of the Association, which is now Vancouver Island Pickleball.”
VIPB welcomed the opportunity to assist where possible, and is thrilled to have the VIPA making a positive impact in the Cowichan pickleball community.
“James and VIPB were very helpful and more than willing to let me register with VIPA in order to get the insurance coverage,” added Dewhurst. “Without that insurance, the tournament wouldn’t be happening, so a big ‘thank you’ to James and VIPB for helping make it possible!”
Sportsplex’s pickleball courts are currently open for use from 9:00- 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday. They are closed when lacrosse is booked. All scheduling is posted on the exterior door of the Weyerhaeuser Thunderbox, and Sportsplex Facebook page. Learn more at cowichansportsplex.com.
Photos provided by Cowichan Sportsplex
About Vancouver Island Pickleball
Vancouver Island Pickleball, powered by Courtside Sports, is the go-to destination for all things pickleball on the Island, dedicated to empowering pickleball’s dynamic Island community with resources, tips, and the latest news to help the sport flourish and reach new heights. Built for seasoned players and beginners alike, VIPB is here to elevate the Island pickleball experience. If you’re a player, club, business, or organization with a passion for pickleball, reach out at [email protected].