When JOOLA and the PPA partnered to launch and promote the 2025 PPA Challenger Series, the idea for a companion content series was born.

How could we truly capture the essence of the tour? How could we highlight the stories of aspiring pros and the vibrant local communities that host each stop?

The solution: full immersion. We sent two pickleball novices and one pro to experience the Challenger Series firsthand—both behind the scenes and in front of the camera—to offer fresh, dynamic perspectives on the action, atmosphere, and culture of select tour stops.

What we found wasn’t what we expected—and that made it even more exciting to document and share.

After you watch, as a bonus, Corey, Isang, and Josh will be sharing their takes on everything Challenger, Portland.

Josh, JOOLA Pro and Trainer, DUPR: 5.7

Showing up to a venue tired, having flown in the night before, and prepared to spend 10+ hours at a tournament venue were all familiar feelings. Having done so 75+ times over the last 5 years. This was a bit different though, I was in Portland, Maine at the Picklr to take in a PPA Tour Challenger Series Event as a spectator, not as a competitor.

Everything was so similar but just slightly different. At check in, I was designated as a “non-player”. I had my pickleball bag but mostly cause I had camera equipment in it. I had paddles with me but they weren’t going to be seeing any action. I saw friends, people I had played and partnered with in the past. I saw frenemies, people that maybe had hooked me on a call in the past that I was still holding a grudge over. I saw veterans, in fact tournament Champions Greg Dow and Anderson Scarpa were the first team I played in a main draw pro tour match many years ago. Was I up 6-1 in game 1 and then lost 11-6? I most certainly did, no grudges towards them, they’re great. But boy is it hard to forget things as an athlete. 

I was checking pickleballtournaments.com, to get updates on court assignments and matchups that were taking place. I was scouting players but more so for stories than for the potential match ups. I got text but sadly none from the tournament desk.  Lunch time? Didn’t matter if I could digest it easily or how much time I had, I got the poke bowl, never would I during a tournament day. I sat way more than I would ever sit in a real tournament, I don’t like getting stiff during a long tournament day but this time, I welcomed the stiffness.

Did I secretly wish someone missed the flight and someone needed a list minute fill in? Yes, definitely. But the call(and text) never came! 

Along for the journey with me, Isand and Corey, colleagues of mine at Joola. I had flashbacks to the first time I took an ex-girlfriend with me to a tournament. I had to do lots of explaining! And while I was invested in a great match or an epic point, I would overhear those two discussing “That lobster roll last night was not worth $38” or “I love it when teams match outfits, this one team had just matching shorts”. Which I took pride in, I could tell my insights were really driving their curiosity for the game and they were undoubtedly going to leave here knowing all the rules! My pride in them culminated when Corey asked, “Which one hit that shot? Anderson or Scarpa?” Well Corey, they’re the same person and Greg actually hit that shot!

I had people come up and ask why I wasn’t competing, allowing myself to reminisce about competing more and just what would have happened if I got that call to be a last minute fill in. There were players I coached, players I mentored, and even people coming up to ask if I was the guy from the Ben Johns YouTube videos. While my paddles never came out, it did feel like being at a pickleball tournament is still place I belong. And that I will get used to being on the outside of the fence, maybe quicker than I initially imagined. BRB- I gotta call myself an uber to the airport cause Corey “has to get back to the action” or probably being the fashion police again.

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