March 17, 2025 (Ucluelet, BC) – Vancouver Island Pickleball, powered by Courtside Sports, spoke to Ucluelet’s Ukee Pickleball about the growing pickleball community on Vancouver Island’s West Coast and the group’s upcoming tournament in April.
Pickleball in Ucluelet has been growing and developing for the last seven years, with the region’s pickleball program initially started by the Community Centre to get seniors active, especially in the fall and winter months. Currently, players can sign up on an online booking sheet to play on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and occasional weekends. Players compete in the recreation hall on one court.
“The old wood floor has some dents and dings but is very nicely sprung and friendly on the joints,” noted Penny Jones, director of the Ucluelet Racquet Sports Club (URSClub).
The URSClub—a non-profit society—was formed in August 2022 to advocate for and promote pickleball and tennis in the Ucluelet region.
Photo credit: Ucluelet Racquet Sports Club (URSClub)
“The Club was instrumental in lobbying the school district to open up the high school gym for community use after hours,” added Jones. “As a result, we have a weekly Friday night drop-in with four courts. Anywhere from 20 to 40 people come to play, ranging from ages 18 to 80, but mostly 30-somethings.”
Jones also noted that the weekly players have become more age-diverse, with the overall skill level in the community increasing significantly as a result. The URSClub also lobbied the Community Centre to allow Club volunteers to paint a pickleball court on the local outdoor basketball court. At the broader community level, the Club and its active membership have participated in a planning process with the District of Ucluelet to build a combined tennis/pickleball court at the Seaplane Base facility.
“The URSClub board consists of five local players, and we meet as little as possible so we can play as much as possible!”
Upcoming Tournament and Local Play
In 2024, the Club teamed up with Ucluelet’s recreation department to host its first annual Total Fluke tournament. The fun, non-sanctioned event featured local players, as well as participants from Vancouver, Nanoose, Sooke, Victoria, and Alberta. Due to the success of the inaugural tournament, the second edition will be held April 18-20, 2025.
This year’s categories include: Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.
“Registration has just opened and is already attracting players from Victoria, Sooke, Nanaimo, and Port Alberni,” said Jones. “It’s a fundraiser to contribute to the building of new outdoor tennis and pickleball courts in Ukee—a slang term for Ucluelet.”
For more information on the second annual Total Fluke tournament, please email: [email protected].
Visitors to Ucluelet can play on the outdoor court at the Community Centre if it’s not in use by other community members, and can pick up the net from the front desk (or bring their own). Players can also drop in for the Friday night sessions during the school season from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The cost is $2 to the District of Ucluelet.
Players interested in playing at the Seaplane Base Recreation Hall (1 court available) must be matched up with a local resident who can open and close the Hall. Please email: [email protected].