Ponte Vedra Newsline: Nocatee Pickleball Featured on National News
By Emma Masur for Ponte Vedra Newsline. Photos by Maris Kirs Photography.
Ponte Vedra recently received national recognition for two recent pickleball segments shown on “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt: Kids Edition” and “Good Morning America.” Taking place at the Nocatee community pickleball courts, resident Laura Gainor and her brand, Pickleball in the Sun, had the opportunity to represent the sport on national television by showcasing the active yet social environment that pickleball brings to communities throughout the country.
The “NBC Nightly News: Kids Edition” segment captured more than 30 children playing pickleball on the courts at Nocatee. The kids ranged from age four to 23 with varying levels of experience playing the game. Throughout the segment, viewers can see the kids playing pickleball, being instructed by USA Pickleball Ambassador, Mike Guyot, and one of Nocatee’s certified pickleball instructors, Ivan Ramirez. With their true reactions of either playing the game for the first time or having fun playing multiple games with their friends, the segment shows just how well the sport of pickleball is able to bring the Nocatee community together under a collective love of the game.
Likewise, the “Good Morning America” segment featured many local adult pickleball players and interviews news from Nocatee players Garrett Gainor and Barry Sams. “Good Morning America” correspondents, Eva Pilgrim and Will Ganss, had the chance to learn how to play pickleball at the Brooklyn Bridge Park courts as the segment highlighted both the athletic and social side of the sport, providing viewers a means to see how they themselves can fit into the mix of millions of pickleball players across the country.
When asked what they love about playing pickleball at Nocatee, Garrett Gainor said, “Anybody can play. It doesn’t matter about your age. If you’re very old or very young, you can still play the game. It’s a really fun and easy sport!”
Laura Gainor, Garrett’s mom said, “Thank you to all of the Nocatee pickleball players for coming together for these national features to highlight how pickleball is a fun, social and great sport to bring together a community. Since moving to Ponte Vedra two years ago, if it wasn’t for pickleball, our family wouldn’t have had the chance to meet as many friends as we have to truly feel like home.”
Nocatee residents can visit the Welcome Center for details about signing up for pickleball lessons for all ages at the Nocatee pickleball courts. For Ponte Vedra residents, visit PlaytheYards.com for details on the newly opened courts at The Yards, which are open to the public.
To watch both national news segments, visit the Good Morning America and NBC Nightly News features on our website.
Emma Masur is Digital Marketing Manager, Vossberg Gainor.
Nocatee pickleball players featured on Good Morning America.
More than 30 Nocatee youth players featured on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt: Kids Edition.
Ponte Vedra Newsline Feature - Photos by Maris Kirs Photography