Player Profiles

Tracey

Hi everyone, I'm Tracey.

I discovered Pickleball in the summer of 2023, when it was offered outside at St Norbert CC through Fort Garry Young at Heart. Instantly I knew I wanted to continue playing after the summer ended. In the fall, I found Marcels St Norbert group. The group was so welcoming and fun to play with that I've been playing there ever since joining.

I have also participated in a few tournaments organized by Pete, which are always so much fun! And discovered some very nice outside courts for summer play.

In addition to pickleball I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I have 2 grown sons, a daughter in law and twin 2 year old granddaughters. (That are very busy little girls ) I have a seasonal site at a campground near LDB where I spend a lot of my summer enjoying golfing, kayaking and just relaxing.

Newly retired, I look forward to playing more pickleball. It's been a wonderful journey so far! Great exercise and a great way to meet some very awesome people that otherwise I would have never met.

Dave

Some call me TraderDave — others just call me the guy who hits a few “accidental winners” in Pickleball. With a background in tennis and ping-pong, this sport was the perfect evolution for me — especially as a relatively new single who enjoys friendly competition and the occasional strategic body shot (nothing personal, of course... what?). I play with an amazing and impressive group of individuals, many who I now call my dear friends.

Originally from Montreal, I started flying airplanes before some people started driving cars, earning my B.Sc. in Aeronautical Science from the University of North Dakota — my second home in Grand Forks, ND. My aviation career took off (literally) as an Air Ambulance Pilot in Winnipeg, and I hold both U.S. Commercial and Canadian Airline Transport Pilot Licences.

Somewhere between cloud layers and closing deals, I spent over 20 years in real estate investments across Manitoba and Florida, before charting a new course — day trading Nasdaq Futures and Forex markets. I now run my TraderDave Discord channel, where I navigate volatility with a mix of strategy, and optimism.

I'm blessed with two brilliant daughters (they clearly got their beauty and brains from their mother's side). Off the charts and away from the courts, you'll find me riding my motorcycle, exploring new places, or volunteering at Agape Table in YWG — where, every Christmas, if you bring a turkey, I'll match it.

Life's a mix of faith, fun, and futures — and I'm here for all of it. See you on the courts — and maybe on the charts. 😉 Jer 29:11

Hélène and Eugene

Eugene and Hélène's pickleball journey started in the summer of 2019 when they played a few games at the lake for fun. They didn't really play again until Helene retired in 2020. She needed something to do while Eugene still worked. So she showed up at Dakota Community Center one morning and tried playing at the novice level. Well, she wasn't a great player having never played any racket sports but got hooked right away. She then suggested to Eugene that they could do this together!

They started practising and we were not really good. Hélène could barely hit the balls that Eugene would serve her. Hélène continued to play over the winter at Dakota while Eugene coached hockey. He would try to join her during his holidays. After that, they joined a summer league in the south end of the city and that's when they truly got hooked playing together as a team. Since then, they've played in several small tournaments together, in summer leagues, with family members and friends. Pickleball is a sport they can do together and that keeps them busy and active.

Besides being pickleball players, Eugene and Hélène are parents of 7 young adults, and grandparents to 6 children. They also enjoy travelling, playing card and board games as well as spending time at the cottage.

Vern

Hello everyone,

I started playing pickleball about a year ago, and I'm excited to be part of this community! I enjoy pickleball because it's such a fun and social sport, and I'm looking forward to expanding my social circle. As an introvert, I find it a wonderful way to meet new people in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.

By way of background, I teach in the Engineering and MBA programs at the University of Manitoba. On a personal note, I have two adult children I'm very proud of—my daughter, 32, is a physiotherapist living in Vancouver, and my son, 29, lives in Toronto with his wife while completing his PhD in Psychology.

I'm really looking forward to connecting with others, playing some great games, and being part of this vibrant community.

Debbie & Garry

Our pickleball history started in the fall of 2014 in Mesa Arizona. For the next six years we were lucky to winter in Mesa where we were fortunate to have weekly lessons. We were blessed to have amazing, positive teachers who encouraged us to keep challenging ourselves. Even after a few weeks as beginners when we were feeling less than confident of our skills, they encouraged us to participate in the Saturday morning scrambles, which were mini tournaments complete with medals each week. They instilled confidence every step of the way of our pickleball journey.

Our super organized club at Venture Out RV park hosted many large tournaments where we were encouraged to take training in being line judges and take referee training. Our last two winters there we were invited to teach beginners - once again pushing us beyond our comfort zone at the start, but knowing that we were ready to take that step.

Of course after experiencing such welcoming people within the Arizona pickleball circle, we couldn't wait to engage pickleball in Winnipeg. Once life got back to “normal” after the Covid pause, we've enjoyed play at Dakota Community Club in St. Vital and Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren on Pembina Highway.

Pickleball is ideal for keeping the body active and we continue to learn new ways to keep improving our skills by taking classes and watching videos. Pickleball has tons of benefits: great exercise, helps keep your memory sharp and a great way to meet new like-minded folks.

No matter where we travel we can almost always find a court and meet new pickleball friends.

Both of us are involved in coaching and teaching the nuances of the game to usually older folks wanting to learn to play or to improve their skills. We try hard to encourage new players in the same way we were mentored over the years. We encourage our students to always keep learning and advancing their skills and to consider tournament play as another way to test and stretch their abilities.

Jackie

Hi, I'm Jackie! I found my passion for pickleball in November 2024, thanks to a lesson from my good friend Pierre. From the moment my paddle made contact with the ball, I was hooked! It's been an exciting journey ever since.

At 55, I've lived in Winnipeg my whole life, and this summer, I've spent countless hours enjoying the city's beautiful, free-to-play outdoor pickleball courts. It's been a great way to explore new neighborhoods, some of which I probably never would've discovered if not for pickleball.

But what's been even more rewarding than the game itself is the amazing people I've met along the way. Through pickleball, I've expanded my social circle and formed deep friendships. We've built a close-knit community of like-minded individuals who share similar life experiences—many of us navigating life as singles in our later years, staying active, and seeking positive outlets for our energy. It's truly been a joy to find connection through this sport.

In addition to pickleball, I enjoy gardening, weight lifting, cooking, dancing, getting dressed up for a night on the town or snuggling with the furry babies to watch something on tv. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends whether it is a quiet time of card playing or taking over the dancefloor. I hope to see you on the courts!