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1.  What do you like about the game, and what keeps you coming back?

In some ways, the social aspect is as important to me as the game itself. Some of my best experiences have come from brief court-side chats while waiting for the next game.

2.  Any encouraging words or advice for anyone new to our club or those who are just learning the game?

Start with the proper grip to hold your paddle. It's like shaking hands, and very different from holding a hammer or spatula. Focus on developing correct forehand and backhand swings to hit the ball off the bounce. It may feel awkward at first, but keep at it.

3.  What interesting facts about your life could you share that others in the club may not know about you?  

Every year since 1984, my wife Marianne and I celebrate May 19th as our “glad-to-be-alive-day.”  On that day, we crashed in a rented two-seat airplane I was flying in the High Sierras near Lake Isabella.  At the time, I was in the second year of a five-year project to build a two-seat long-distance airplane. The plan was to fly early to Mojave for an airplane builder's event, then to Lake Isabella for lunch, and finally return home for an evening flight to Chicago. Instead, we spent the next 3 days waiting for help that never came. 

Taking off from Lake Isabella airport was uneventful, but then we encountered strong downdrafts in a steep canyon and crashed into a dense forest, ending up in an 80-degree nose-down position. Fuel was gushing from the overhead wing directly onto our laps. Marianne quickly freed herself and ran about 30 yards away, but my hand was trapped in the instrument panel.  As fuel pooled on the instrument panel near the hot engine, I tried to prepare myself for the dreaded feeling of burning to death, but it never caught fire. It took me about 10 minutes to free my hand, then out I went. We later found out Marianne had broken one ankle and dislocated the other. I nearly lost a finger and had three broken ribs. We both had many deep, bloody gashes. Adrenalin is a welcome friend in stressful times.  

Survival training 101 teaches to always stay with the wreckage, and it was getting late and cold, so we set about building a shelter using pine tree branches. We started a small fire by using a rag I dipped in the plane's gas. Using the plane's battery, I ignited it by shorting the terminals with a wire. It exploded, singeing my eyebrows and arm hair. We looked at each other but didn't say anything, knowing that a single spark would have changed the outcome when we were trapped inside.

..

Our map showed we were in a rugged canyon, miles from any trails or roads. During the day, Marianne kept the fire going as I tried to find the best escape route if we were not found. I was amazed at how quickly she was able to gather firewood, balancing sticks on her stomach like a crab on its back, despite her swollen ankles. I had found water, but we were getting weak without food, so we had to change the game. We decided that I would hike out alone and get help. After ten hours, I found motocross riders who took me to a Forrest Ranger Station, where they dispatched a rescue crew to the crash site, which arrived before dark. The first rescuer to reach her broke down in tears, saying she was the first person he'd ever found alive.

Postscript:

• We got our 15 minutes of fame with a nightly news spot and an L.A. Times front-page story with the headline, "Fullerton Couple Found Alive!"

• My Boy Scout experience and Naval survival training helped. Marianne got her, suck-it-up-buttercup, just-do-it demeanor from her upbringing and the Camp Fire Girls. Amazing.

• Neither one of us thought about being a hero or a victim. We decided everything together.

• The plane was cut up and taken out of the forest on pack mules.

• My airplane was finished in 1988, and I flew and raced it for 20 years across the U.S. and to the Bahamas without incident.

The airplane I built is called a Long EZ. Its tail number, N519BM, reflects our special day and initials. I sold it in 2007, and it is still flying today. 

4.  What books or movies have been a big influence in your life?

It's Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I found his observations on the three stages of personality development fascinating. The first stage is Dependence, where people rely on others for decisions and often blame them for their problems. The second stage is Independence, the "I" phase, where individuals embrace self-reliance. The highest stage is known as Interdependence, the "we" phase, where individuals recognize that collaboration can achieve greater results than working alone.

5.  Favorite place to eat in A Town?

We really like Barley & Boar. The appetizers and mixed drinks are special.

6.  A favorite quote or motto to live by?

There is a twist on the old saying, "Time heals all wounds," which I like.  A friend took it to another level by adding, "and time wounds all heels." 

A big shoutout and congratulations to Rachel and Benny for winning Bronze in the Win by 2 tournament at TTR this weekend. They competed in the 3.5 50-and-under bracket. Well done.

The Club's Skills and Drills program got underway on March 9th and focused on two key elements of successful pickleball play for our gym and outdoor players. Our resident instructor, Allison Head, first worked with the indoor players on Serve and Return Strategy and then helped the outdoor group learn about the use of the Off-the-Bounce Shot. Following is Allison's recap for each session.

Serve and Return Strategy

This session focused on when and why to serve inside, outside, or down the middle. Strategically placing the serve can greatly improve the serving team's chances of success. While the serving team typically starts in a defensive position, an effective serve strategy helps them transition to offense.

Controlling serve placement is essential for player development, rather than simply aiming to get the serve in. A well-placed return can also empower the receiving team, forcing the servers back on defense and allowing the returner to approach the net.

Watch how Jordan Briones talks about the importance of consistency in the serve. Kyle Koszuta then demonstrates the importance of understanding where you are on the Advantage Scale to get pressure off of you and onto your opponents.

The Use of the Off-the-Bounce-Shot

At some point in our pickleball journey, we were all taught to 1) get to the net as quickly as possible and 2) take the ball out of the air to take time from our opponents. Although these two things are still (somewhat) true, it is MORE important to 1) be on balance and 2) keep your opponents on defense.

The concept of red, yellow, and green zones is about where you hit the ball relative to the ball height. Balls in your red zone are defensive by nature! Moving the ball up to yellow or green moves the shot opportunity from defense to offense.

Consider the 4th shot in your game. Many players run toward the kitchen and take this shot in the air while reaching, resulting in a pop-up. Instead, focus on split-stepping and letting the ball bounce. Allowing it to bounce raises the ball from the red zone (below the knees) to the yellow (knees to just below net height) or green zone (above the net). This positioning enables the player to control the shot and roll it back to the opponent’s feet. After the shot, finish by moving into the kitchen. To get a perspective on this, watch how often the pros hit off the bounce.

This can also be done from the kitchen, where a player steps back to take the ball off the bounce, again, raising the ball into a more offensive position. The rule of thumb for this is, if one or more opponents are back, do not invite them in; keep them back by switching the ball from red to green.

Finally, the most important thing to remember is that either your team is giving pressure or feeling pressured - it's that simple.

Yesterday, at the USA Pickleball Golden Ticket tournament in Las Vegas, Allison took Bronze in singles. She and her husband, Scott, also won the Bronze in the 4.5 mixed doubles. Additionally, she partnered with member Kyle Flaherty and reached the Quarterfinals.

Congrats and well done. If you get the chance, why not give them a thumbs up on our Facebook and Instagram pages?

1. How long have you been a member of our club and what keeps you coming back?

Since 2022.  I keep coming back because everyone is very friendly and welcoming and I know I will always find plenty of people to play with during club hours.  

2. What's one piece of advice would you give to someone new to pickleball?

First and foremost, to have fun. It’s also important to remember that the more you keep coming, the more you will experience a sense of community and belonging. Your skills will improve the longer you play and pretty soon YOU will be the one showing the new players what the sport is all about.  Everywhere I go I see someone I know from the pickleball community and we became friends because we met doing something we enjoy together.

3. As a fairly skilled player yourself what is an observation that you see that could take your fellow players to the next level of their game?

If you want to take your game to the next level, become a student of the game. Take a moment to watch a few pro Pickleball matches on tv and observe court strategy and then attempt to mirror shots  and court positioning of the pros. Practice driving your serve return and running as fast as you can to the kitchen line. Don’t be caught in the back of the court firing drives from the baseline.  Finding a drilling partner for weekly sessions is an ideal way to develop muscle memory mechanics for advanced shots, but most people are not interested in drilling and just want to play.  If you don’t drill, you can use rec play to work on advanced techniques, but it’s something you have to be committed to, even if it means you miss more shots than you would if you weren’t working on something. Perfecting a skill that takes us out of our comfort zone takes time but eventually we will be able to execute advanced shots with some degree of regularity. 

4. Who is your favorite pro player that inspires you and why?

Jaume Martinez Vich. He is originally from Mallorca Spain and he started out as many pros do, playing tennis. His on court presence and athleticism coupled with his work ethic and contagious charisma makes him very fun to watch. He recently was signed as the face of Adidas Pickleball as the company embarks on their aggressive entry into the ever growing pickleball market. And in my opinion, they chose wisely.

5. What books or movies have been a big influence in your life?

I really like the 2004 movie Miracle about the 1980 men’s Olympic hockey team playing against a heavily favored Soviet team.  I remember watching the actual hockey game on tv as it was originally televised and I really like that it was memorialized in the film.

6. A fun fact about you that others may not know?

I have climbed Mt. Whitney 5 times in my life. Whitney is the highest peak in the contiguous United States, standing at 14,505.  The journey spans 22 miles round trip with an ascending elevation gain of over 6,000 feet.  During one of my five expeditions up the mountain, my childhood friend and I completed the whole trip in one day.

7. A favorite quote or motto that you live by?

Be good humans. Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.

1. How did you first discover Pickleball?

In 2019, I was at Colony Park with my son and noticed people playing Pickleball. I was immediately curious. John was in charge back then and invited me to play, but the scoring system threw me off, so I gave up. In June of 2025, I tried again—and this time it clicked. Once I understood the scoring, I was hooked.

2. What keeps you coming back to play at our Club?

I originally came back for my mental health—to keep my brain sharp and support overall brain health. Now I keep coming because I’m addicted and my mental health depends on it! And of course, the people. It’s competitive, fun, welcoming, and full of laughter. It feels more like a community than a club.

3. What has Pickleball taught you about yourself?

That I love a good challenge and don’t mind starting as a beginner. It’s taught me to stay present, laugh at myself, and keep going even when things don’t go perfectly.

4. A person who inspires you on the court?

Anyone who plays hard, yet stays kind. Player who compete fiercely and still cheer others on - it says a lot about their character. Bob Brown inspires me as he takes time to teach beginners even though he is highly competitive and super skilled.

5. What advice would you give a brand new player?

Relax and have fun. Don’t be afraid to miss shots or ask questions. Everyone starts somewhere, and Pickleball is much more fun when you don’t take yourself too seriously.

6. What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

I’m a musician and piano teacher, I self-published a book on Amazon, and I was born and raised in Kenya. I moved to the U.S. as an international student 29 years ago.

7. What’s a small thing that brings you lots of joy?

Good laughs, good music, and those “nice shot!” moments—even when they’re not mine.

8. If you could invite one famous person to play Pickleball with, who would it be?

Tony Robbins. Pickleball is such a mind game, and I think he’d be focused, encouraging, and help take my game to the next level.

Pickleween 2025 was a remarkable success, showcasing an exciting new round-robin format for participants dressed in some of the best costumes we've ever seen! Players were divided into two groups, each competing in six thrilling rounds. Winners advanced to higher-numbered courts while losers had the chance to regroup and play with new partners in the next round. The energy and creativity were palpable, making this event unforgettable!

The Atascadero City Staff recognized our Club for giving back to the community by providing volunteer instructors for their Fall Youth Pickleball Class. Thanks to members Bob Brown, Darla Batistic, Geof Findley, John Knapp, and Larry Gregory for their help teaching the game to a great group of kids.

The holidays are coming, and it's time to order some local Atown pickleball gear. From T-shirts and tank tops to caps, vests, hoodies, and jackets, it's all here. Take a look by tapping the STORE button above. Not only will you look great, but you'll also be supporting the community, as part of the proceeds will help the club maintain the public pickleball courts at Colony Park.

All orders will be delivered to you before Christmas, but you must place your order by the December 10th deadline!

May your holidays be filled with friends, family, and football, plus a little pickleball play thrown in. The blessings and joy we have shared throughout the year with our members and visitors is a gift we always treasure.

As 2025 comes to a close, we have so much to be grateful for. We wish you a joyous, and prosperous 2026.