I took a little break from blogging because I struggled with how much to share about the internal side of the sport—the decisions, the pressure, the fatigue, the expectations from myself and others. But ultimately, I’ve realized that honesty and transparency are what make this blog meaningful. More than anything, it’s a diary of our journey as a family. Maybe one day, my kids will read it back to their grandkids and relive these incredible memories.
Back in January, I was feeling overwhelmed and decided to take a step back, including from blogging and social media. Maybe I was doing too much. Since then, I’ve played two tournaments and made some big decisions, including switching tours. This is the third time in my pickleball career that I’ve faced a major crossroads that could have drastically changed my trajectory. I never take these decisions lightly—I dive deep into the consequences and potential outcomes. But my journey isn’t just about me. Every choice affects the four of us—Ryler’s career, Lily and JR’s path, our family life, and our travel. Nothing is simple.
I’m grateful for opportunities and options, and I’m glad our sport has more than one path. For the past three years, the APP has been our home and family, and we’re excited to continue building our future with them.
Side note: My family in New Zealand is deep into pickleball now, too! My dad just sent me a picture of my uncle Edwin, who won gold in the 60+ division of a local tournament. He plays three times a week to get his “fix.” Love it!
Where Have We Been the Last Two Months?!
All over the country—and a little international, too!
A month ago, we packed our two suitcases and pickleball bags, stored the RV, and flew to California to compete in Sacramento. Since we were already on the West Coast, we thought, why not visit our friend Laura in Hawaii again? A short 5.5-hour flight later, we were back in paradise, coaching some great clinics, training, and squeezing in a few hikes. The week flew by.
Originally, we planned to head to India after Hawaii, but the PWR (Pickleball World Rankings) team event was postponed. So we did what we do best—pivot. A quick call to our friends in Sacramento: Can we come back and coach some clinics? Absolutely! Next thing we knew, we were fully booked for 3.5 days of lessons and got to spend more quality time with Julie and Peter on Lake Folsom.
Next stop: Cayman Islands.
We pivot well, don’t we?! (I keep hearing Ross from friends in my head - PIVOT)
APP’s new tour stop in the Caymans was one we didn’t want to miss. Cayman pickleball is massive—one of the largest clubs in the world with 10,000 members—and we quickly saw why. Jerry, our incredible host, welcomed us to the most gorgeous beachfront property.
Check out the quick reel I did about the Pickleball Cayman club:
Sixteen APP pros made the trip, and we put on a great show with some tough competition. I walked away with two silver medals, Ryler dominated singles with gold (so proud of him!), and JR was the talk of the island—an 8-year-old taking down adults! Watching him express himself creatively on the court is so fun.
We stayed an extra day in paradise to enjoy a stingray excursion—an unforgettable family adventure.
Now, we’re back on the mainland. Hard to believe how fast this month has flown by. We landed in Orlando, picked up our Jeep, drove to Tampa, and reunited with Frankie, our RV. Now it’s time to clean up, restock, and settle back into RV life—never an easy adjustment, but we’re already making plans for our next adventures…
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