The year is 1996. Two things happen this year that will impact my life in ways I won't fully see till decades later.

1) I meet Dave. My college tennis coach. If you've heard the name Steve Paranto, he is one of the longest term pickleball players still playing--his father developed the first composite paddle from materials used to make the Boeing airplanes.
Steve has a quote in Beverly and Jennifer Youngren's History of Pickleball book in regards to playing in the first ever pickleball tournament in 1976, "I was the world's first loser of pickleball." The man he lost to, was Dave. Now 20 years later, Dave believed that it was good for us tennis players to learn to play pickleball to help our tennis game, so I learned from him, pickleball's first champion. (he also taught me badminton as he was formally the Canadian National Team's coach).

2) As part of my Spanish studies, I decided to take my first study abroad trip to Mexico where I lived for a month with Mexican family. This stay altered the course of my life in 2 ways. I encountered the beauty, hospitality and joy of being received into another culture, and had my world opened up in temporarily living in another culture. This also opened my eyes to the realm of possibilities that traveling and getting outside of my own culture/ideas/ways of seeing the world led to. I was hooked.

Through the next 20 years I traveled extensively throughout the world--India, Korea, Thailand, Peru, Nepal, Taiwan, Ethiopia...

And also pursued badminton and table tennis to a high level, in countries where those are actually considered competitive sports. (also was state champion in tennis in high school--it was North Dakota, so don't get too excited ;)

Because of the time and investment into tennis, badminton, and table tennis, when I picked pickleball back up, thanks to the re-introduction by Prem and Wendy Carnot, I found the blend of my other racket sports lent themselves perfectly to pickleball.

In each of those sports I'd spent time with excellent coaches, having their skillful watch on every part of my game--grip, footwork, stroke mechanics, learning to focus, learning to move through air and not mud, breath, alert relaxation, knowing my mind and the ways it can support and destroy...

All this poured into a moment, a few years ago when, with the help of a graceful wind and an excellent partner, Dan Moore, I was able to follow in the footsteps of my original coach and claim the highest prize in pickleball, the Men's Open Gold medal at nationals.

Then, something interesting and unexpected happened. It became clear to me that going after more titles, more nationals or Tournament of Champions Golds (which I'd also won), would be repititious. Chasing something that I knew would be empty even if I continued winning. So, in essence, I retired.

But then, I started to be invited to teach.
And found something I have been lit up and attracted to for the past 4 years. The Art, Science, and Inner Game of helping people discover, re-arrange and then transcend the limitations that act as a ceiling on your pickleball game.

Then, two years ago, something else came into my world--a connection with a man named Emanuel from one of my favorite destinations in Mexico, the fishing village (now mixed with tourist town) of Zihuantanejo. If you've ever seen Shawshank Redemption, this is where Red (Morgan Freeman) dreams of, and eventually reaches at the end of the film with Andy (Tim Robbins).

Thanks to my Spanish studies earlier in life, I was able to talk to him via video chat and we quickly found a brotherly friendship and soon after arranged our first pickleball training together in his home town. Those that came still report about it--the pickleball, and for some, the life changing experience of being escorted into the local Mexican world through one of the best guides you'll ever meet.

We helped Emanuel get a passport, a visa, and he eventually came to the states to play his first tournament.

Question: How many full time pickleball instructors do you know that play and teach 5-7 days a week, 5-8 hours a day?

Can you imagine how good someone would get doing that and coaching new and on-going players every day?
That is what Emanuel has been doing for the last two years at the Tres Palapas Pickleball Resort in Baja, Mexico. On court, every day with players from the US and Canada, at every level, and taking them higher.
Not only has he had this kind of remarkable training, but has taught alongside Tyson McGuffin, Morgan Evans, Daniel Moore, and Scott Moore at the resort (and applied his own borrow/stealing regime) and has become a very experienced coach and trainer.
And he is the Mexican National Champion in pickleball and a former professional soccer goalie (in a country where that's taken very seriously).

In addition to the instruction and on the court play with him, you will most likely walk away with a very contagious Mexican virus--the charisma, smile, and heart opening feeling that almost everyone catches when they are around Emanuel. He will be a fierce competitor across the net, having you laughing on the court as an instructor, and then offer you the cure to your newly contracted virus by sharing a beer with you after the clinic (if we can get him to wait that long ;)

There is a wonderful story about his journey from Mexican fisherman to internationally known pickleball player, and I get teary simply thinking of him and our friendship over the years.

I say all this so that in case we haven't met, you can at least know that I've tested all my theories, strokes, shot selection and strategies at the top level of the game and bring that in helping you with yours.

Our 3rd Trainer is Miriam Blom Skrade. Mexican Mixed Doubles National Champion and 3rd place medalist in Women's singles behind Christine McGrath and Sarah Ansbury. A tennis coach for 15 years of state champion Boy's Tennis, and Men and Women's College Tennis. And, I like to think, one of the coolest people you'll ever meet. We have trained together ast brother and sister in numerous occasions and brings years of coaching adults and kids in the grit of battle and the fun of camps to round out our teaching squad. Mother of twins, she would easily be a household name in the pickleball circuit had she had the freedom to do so. Instead, she's a hidden gem that you will be blessed to get to know, your game will be enhanced by all she has to teach, and you will have far more fun, laughs, and good times from being there together. Her family, along with our parents will be joining us for the camp. Our mother a retired kindergarten teacher, father a retired Lutheran Pastor, we've had great guidance in how to be useful guides towards goals you posess.

Over the last few years I'vd turned my attention towards teaching and I greatly enjoy passing on what I know (including HOW to learn and explore questions or challenges you have), and believe half or more of what I have to say you will be hard pressed to find elsewhere. I know this because I have taught alongside almost all of the great teachers and players in the game--so I know what's out there, have borrowed/stolen a few things from them (and vice versa), and look to take all this to you. I attempt to take each player as a unique challenge and bring principles rather than rules in helping you find your way towards your greatest playing ability.

This always coincides with greater ease on the body, more power, more consistency and this pours into people's main two goals: more winning and more fun.

Also, there are some things I see taught on youtube and clinics that has me shake my head in dissapointment.
It's become a personal mission to fix some of that.

The clinics will begin in smiliar ways each day as there is a foundational level that I teach that I feel is crucial to understand. All levels can benefit from this. Participants will be grouped according to ability level when we go to practice. Participants are welcome to take more than one clinic. Some will be new each day, some will be a review of the essentials. Everything in life has a surface and a depth.

Okay.

Pickleball is a fabulous game to pick up and learn quickly.
But that can also be its downfall.
Chances are great that you've learned bad habits.
Habits that prevent you from improving, and can lead to injury and frustration on court that's hard to find your way out of.

Each clinic is unique as we respond to the needs of that group, and we will have multiple coaches so that we can divide and conquer. No bad habit left alive...

Some of the things we'll cover:
Paddle Control
How to generate power
How to build a rock soild foundation of consistency
Serving like a beast.
How to borrow what Ted Willams did to have one of the only .400 batting averages in baseball history
Returning so your opponents hate you.
3rd shots--3RD SHOTS DOESN'T MEAN DROP. That's only one of the options. You need it, and you'll learn it, but you'll also learn the ever growing in popularily 3rd shot, 5th shot combo--
Ball Tracking
Drops, the easy, more natural way
Net play--strategy and how to turn your opponents into your puppets
Shot Selection...
How to hit the ball
Where to hit the ball
When to hit the ball
Why on earth are you playing with so much tension!
Spin--how to hit, how to defend
Lobs, Overheads--avoid the no fly zone
POWER DINKING,
The 3 steps to beating a Banger,
How to be a Better Banger
Getting to net,
How to stop being afraid and reacting to being alert and responding
How to see the court,
How to slow down the ball...

How to play with greater ease, and WITHOUT INJURY

COST: Each camp is listed as $500 per person. This is the base rate. At the end of the training, you’ll be given a no-pressure invitation to add on to this based on what value you received. The base price is to ensure we can cover basic expenses of running such a training. The rest is then on us to ensure you are getting the highest value possible and so you feel good about whatever additional amount you wish to give at the end.

Housing: Zihuatanejo is a highly sought after tourist destination–both for foreigners and Mexicans (cuz it’s that cool). There are numerous options for lodging, up and down the price range and luxury desires.

A very special option in this training is that we will be offering a select few opportunities to stay with a Mexican family during your camp. This, I believe, is the potentially highest value option you could get from this training. Will most likely become an experience you will never forget. We are arranging with families who will have modest accomodations, at least minimal English (and we’ll have lots of translators around) and will provide you with a Mexican hospitality while also supporting you to have your time out in the community and with the various adventures and special evenings we have planned for our time together.

This option will cost less than most of the hotel options you would otherwise be finding. And be far, far richer.

Plane Tickets: The airport is Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. There are many direct flights, and when searching for tickets you look for flights all the way through, or to Mexico City with a separate ticket from Mexico City to Zihautanejo as this is sometimes a cheaper option.

Adult Pickleball Training Fiesta Dec. 18th-23rd
3.0-4.5
We will divide the training groups into your playing level. Notice that I didn't say your rating. We will assess throughout the camp and move people accordingly to give you the best training with your peers.
These camps will be unique in that we will be exploring pickleball through multiple angles--drills, metaphors, music, soccer, games, thinking outside the taco...
Emanuel was formerly a elementary school phyiscal education teacher and professional soccer goalie--he brings a wealth of training, games, and knowledge.
Miriam a coach at children and adult tennis camps where days on end are about engaging, fun, and learning games, drills, and activities.
Matthew, well, I come up with new stuff almost every time I coach as there's a lot of great stuff we've figured out, and each individual might need a nudge from an unexpected direction. I'm not afraid to tell you what I see if I think it'll help you past a blind limitation and then to find a fun way to help you find your way past it.

Family Camp Whoo Hooo! Pickleball Fiesta Dec. 27th-31st
One of the greatest things about pickleball is that a 12 yr. old can get on court with a 72 yr. old and it can be a great match. Athleticism and youth meet paddle control and experience. This is the fun of pickleball. This camp, the first of its kind from all I am aware of, is an opportunity to play with your kids, your grandkids, your nieces, your nephews, your sister, your brother, your uncle, your parents...
It is guarenteed to be a good time and a learning experience based around the greatest way to learn--while having fun. Learning is far too important to be taken seriously...

Pickleball Training with Zihuatanejo Tour/Adventures Jan. 2nd-7th

This is Emanuel's dream camp. A local to Zihuatanejo for the past 20 years, he knows every nook and cranny of the area. So it's a fiesta of world class training in the morning, and then adventures during the day and into the evening.
Such as:
A trip to a pristine, hidden lagoon with paddleboarding option
A meal of fresh grilled fish caught from your own fishing adventure
A hiking and naturalist exploration along a special local trail
A guided visit to the cultural museum
Cervesa
Surfing
Potential visit to a tequilla/mescal traditional farm and distillery
The best, fresh restaurants in the area
Music, dancing, and did we mention cervesa?
This is for 20 people only with a slightly higher initial payment to lock
down the cost for some of the tours and guides (boat rentals, etc...)

There is one more element for the camps in that we will be lining up a service component for the camps. May involve pickleball with lower opportunity youth, may involve serving some of the underprivildged. To leave you enriched in meeting some of the multi-faceted faces of Mexico.

This is the big enchilada. A training I have been waiting to put together for years. It may never happen again. My own family will be there--sister, niece, nephew, brother-in-law (who's an orinthologist), my mother (who's so into pickleball that it's cutting into her quiliting time), father, and my Mexican brother Emanuel, his wife Anna, his mother Alma (which means Soul), his nephew who will kick your butt in pickleball, his daughter Anna Valeria and his new born daughter Anna Ema (which is the combination of his, and his wife's name).

If it speaks to you, and you've made it this far, then I'll buy you your first cervesa when we're down there together.

To pickleball, learning, and exploring the richness of being human,

Matthew Blom

Pickleball Training, Family Camp, Tournament and Adventure Fiesta in Zihuatanejo, Mexico

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