Rejoice, pickleball fans. Single Double Pickleball, a new locally-owned online shop for pickleball paddles and accessories, launches tomorrow, Nov. 22.
The web and Instagram-based store is a brainchild of fashion entrepreneur and pickleball enthusiast Jennifer Cronjé and features functional and fun pickleballs, hats, and sweatbands, as well as paddles designed by Jennifer herself. “While I was getting into pickleball, I looked for a paddle and none of them were cute,” she says. “They all looked like something my dad would get on Amazon. I want to play with a cute paddle, so I took a year to design it myself.”
What drew Jennifer to pickleball? The same thing that also makes the tennis-badminton-ping-pong hybrid the country’s fastest growing sport: its inclusive community. “Pickleball is for folks ages 5-95,” says Jennifer. “It doesn’t matter your age or physical ability. All you have to do is look on a court to see all the diversity represented — it’s enjoyed by an entire range of people.”
Single Double Pickleball will host a launch party Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Asheville Sports Club (137 Coxe Ave.) from 12-4 p.m. The event will offer folks the chance to purchase Single Double paddles and take part in one of two Pickleball 101 Classes taught by the Asheville Racquet Club’s Pickleball director, Michael Kinnear.
And because it’s a party, there will also be drink specials from New Belgium and Devil’s Foot Brewery, plus savory and sweet bites from Pie.Zaa Pizza and Moo Cookie Co.
Can’t make it? Don’t fret. Jennifer’s paddles will also be available for purchase from area businesses, including Mountain Air Country Club, Asheville Racquetball Club, and Nest Boutique.
