Florida: Tennis Legends Star In Pickleball Slam 2 Is This Weekend
If you are not sure what to do this weekend without the NFL, there’s a major pickleball event to be aware of. In fact, some of the biggest tennis legends will be in the Sunshine State for it. Pickleball Slam 2 takes over Hollywood, Florida, on Sunday and will air live at 8:30 pm.
Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Maria Sharapova, and John McEnroe will all be on hand and part of the big festivities. This is an “Innovative format at this iconic event, featuring four tennis legends competing for a $1M cash purse in the fastest growing sport in America, Pickleball,” thePickleballSlam.com states. They also explain these four big names have 280 titles between them.
This will be a doubles match. Sharapova and McEnroe are one team. They will take on the husband and wife duo of Graff and Agassi.
The Amateur Slam
Prior to the main event, there will be two additional days filled with pickleball. It takes place in Miami Beach at Lincoln Road at 1665 Lennox Avenue. “The tournament will welcome single-gender, or mixed-gender doubles teams with a maximum combined DUPR rating of 8.5,” the tournament site states.
The even better news here is that you can get involved in both. Interested players can sign up to participate in the amateur tournament. They will accept 64 teams (4 groups of 16 teams). A single elimination will ultimately crown one winner.
Last year, this was a success. It also took place in Hollywood at the Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. However, it featured Michael Chang and Andy Roddick with Agassi and McEnroe. You can watch a fun recap of last year’s Pickleball Slam here to get a taste of how the festivities go.
For this year’s star-studded Pickleball Slam 2 event in Hollywood, Florida tickets are still available to purchase. They start at $40. VIP packages are also available. These include premium seats, meet-and-greet opportunities, and the option to be courtside.
2 Florida Skateparks Recognized As Best In The Country
What makes a great skatepark? Essential requirements revolve around safety conditions, open space, and overall atmosphere. In Florida, two skateparks were recently listed among the best in the country.
In SkateboardHQ’s feature, “13 Skateparks in the U.S. You Need To Visit,” they take you on a tour through some of the greatest bowls in the continental United States. From the Northwest corner of Oregon to the Southeast corner of Florida, this list rolls through a lot of ground.
“You’ll find some of the most epic street courses alongside iconic locations and facilities designed for skaters and by skaters, including the largest full-concrete pipe and one of the oldest-running skateparks in America,” SkateboardHQ expxlains.
The largest full-concrete pipe they mention belongs to Lake Cunningham Regional Sports Park, in San Jose, CA. At 68,000-square-feet, it’s the largest skatepark in California. As for the “oldest,” we’ll get to that shortly.
Skatepark Culture
Whether they are built into the recreational facilities of a suburban town, or between buildings on city streets, skateparks can serve a great purpose. Under safe conditions, such parks provide a place for youth and skate enthusiasts alike to support each other while they work on their craft. There is a true artistic and creative component to skateboarding. Furthermore, the sport takes a great deal of discipline. To master a trick (or even to get a feel for riding) you have to go through rounds of repetition. Often, you fall, get up, try again, and then fall again.
Skateboarding is an activity that also can have very little cost affiliated with it. After the price of a board and the necessary safety equipment (such as a helmet and padding), most community parks are free admission.
There are some great organizations (mostly West Coast-based) that thrive off building and restoring skateparks in various communities. Evergreen based out of Portland, focuses on structuring parks for all skill levels. Montana Pool Service, a non-profit organization, aims to connect youth communities with their generous work installing parks across the country.
So let’s grab a board and take stroll through the two Florida skateparks that were named among the best in the country.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
