Anniversaries kind of sneak up on people. One year you’re celebrating the first anniversary of an event, a wedding, forming an organization. In what seems like the blink of an eye, or in this case, the stroke of a racket, twenty-four years have passed and it’s time to celebrate the 25th anniversary.
I’ve been playing racquetball about fifteen years. This year I’ll help celebrate the anniversary of racquetball tournaments that are older than that.
The Women’s National/Senior Racquetball Association will hold its 25th National Championship in January 2014 at Los Caballeros Racquet and Sports Club in Fountain Valley, California.
The World Senior Racquetball Championships will be played in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the week before Labor Day 2014.
Both tournaments have 35 as the starting age for entering.
A few people have played in these events since they began. They travel from home or whenever they may be to participate not only to win, but to be with the other players.
These anniversaries show that the sport of racquetball continues to draw people, albeit “seniors,” but seniors playing is great. I am a senior, have been for many years. I firmly believe that racquetball is a great sport for everyone, including women who are older. We older women can play at whatever speed our body dictates.
The women’s tournament is wonderfully organized and great to play in. It starts with fun doubles on Thursday afternoon with singles play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you work for a living you can fly in Wednesday night or Thursday morning, play several matches, do some sightseeing, and leave Sunday afternoon. If you can combine racquetball with a mini or longer vacation then you can do more touring.
Because 2014 is the 25th anniversary of the women’s event, the organizers have promised lots of racquetball and a great time. Check out http://myplace.frontier.com/~kdtutsch/WSMRA/2014Flyer.pdf for more information. I’ve played in the women’s event twice and had a great time.
World Senior Racquetball has been held in Albuquerque since it began thirty years ago. (the Women’s Master’s changes its site every year, often switching between East and West coasts).
For many years World Seniors was only a singles event. Now mixed doubles has been added. Many participants play singles and mixed doubles so they can play as much racquetball as possible.
Before I go further, a disclaimer – I’m treasurer of the World Senior Racquetball Council.
The World Senior Racquetball registration includes lunch for five days and a banquet as well as a shirt (the women’s includes a banquet and shirt). There are other amenities also at World Seniors as well as for the Women’s Masters.
As the time gets close to August in 2014 look for information about World Seniors on R2Sports.com.
Tournaments can be fun – for the play, camaraderie, and touring of different areas.
And if you are afraid to play in tournaments because you think others might be better, don’t be afraid. Racquetball tournament offer different levels of play. And a racquetball player learns something every time she plays.
Bye for now.
Racquetball Points 