Pickleball Missionaries

Kurt Nielsen & Deborah Houston

​Vancouver Island residents, Deborah Houston (Comox) , Kurt Nielsen (Comox) and Norm Wollbold (Nanaimo) help promote pickleball in Ecuador. Here's a report from Deborah:
"​Kurt and I recently toured Ecuador.  No pickleball to be found, until our last two days in the quaint town of Cotacachi, thanks to the help of Norm Wollbold.
Cotacachi, population approx. 9,000, is nestled between two dormant volcanoes in the beautiful and lush Andes Mountains.  At an elevation of 8,000 feet, you get a bit winded chasing the ball around, especially when it rolls down the hill adjacent to the courts - no fencing.  Some "gringos" got together and cleaned up two derelict basketball courts and started playing and training others, so now there are about 20 or so regulars that play 3 mornings a week.  The spring like weather (days 21-27C, evenings 10-16C) allows for outdoor play all year.
It's very entertaining playing there as the surroundings are in constant motion.  Families walking along the sides of the courts - even baby pigs - and residents hanging their laundry at the back of the courts. There are homeless dogs roaming the street in front and even an occasional cow or two."