An Homage To Pickleball: Carvana Ppa Tour To Hold Vintage Wooden Paddle Tournament To Commemorate The Founding Of The Game

In a celebration of pickleball’s 60th anniversary, the Carvana PPA Tour is thrilled to announce the Pickleball Central Vintage Wooden Paddle Open tournament this September 16-21 in Sacramento, California, at Life Time Arden. In a nod to pickleball’s founding 1965, the Vintage Wooden Paddle Open will be an all-wooden paddle event, meaning all players – including pros and amateurs –  will use traditional wooden paddles, just as the founders of the game used 60 years ago. Upon check-in for the tournament, all players will receive a custom-branded wooden pickleball paddle to play with, similar to the type the founders used in the development of the very first pickleball game.

Player registration for the Pickleball Central Vintage Wooden Paddle Open tournament is currently open. The tournament is expected to draw a sizable crowd of participants and fans alike so it is encouraged to register as soon as possible. For more information, please visit the tournament page here. 

Additionally, top PPA pros will be competing with wooden paddles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, bringing a great equalizer to the field to see who would have been the best in the world when the sport was founded. The competition is not an exhibition – valuable tour ranking points and prize money are on the line.

The sport of pickleball has come a long way since 1965, having steadily grown throughout the decades since. In recent years, pickleball has exploded in popularity across the United States and globally, with the last three years seeing an more than 300% increase in participation in the U.S., according to the SFIA. In addition to the popularity of recreational play, professional pickleball is becoming big business, with top players earning upwards of $1,000,000 annually and pro female pickleball athletes’ earning more on average than WNBA and NWSL players.

“As the sport of pickleball is currently enjoying a period of enormous success and popularity, it’s important to look back on where we came from and honor the traditions, equipment and style of gameplay that led us to where we are today,” said Connor Pardoe, Founder and CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour. “The Pickleball Central Vintage Wooden Paddle Open tournament will transport avid pickleball fans and enthusiasts back to 1965, when pickleball first began, but deliver all the community and excitement that the sport brings to players today.”

Life Time Arden will serve as the perfect location to honor pickleball’s past while delivering a superb modern experience. Arden has been keeping Sacramento healthy since 1953 and that legacy is only getting stronger with the opening of Life Time’s newest athletic country and racquet club. With up to 34 pickleball courts and spanning 78,000 square feet across two levels and nestled amongst tree-filled hills, Life Time Arden will treat players to an unmatched venue experience while being set in a historic area.

This tournament promises to be an incredibly rewarding experience for pickleball fans of all ages and skill levels. Whether you are new to the game and wanting to learn more about the history of pickleball, or were there in 1965 for the sport’s infancy, the 2025 Pickleball Central Vintage Wooden Paddle Open is sure to be a rewarding pickleball experience for all. 

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