Pickleball Camp in Zihuantanejo, Mexico
Click here for the camp details and registration:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/play-great-pickleball-camp-in-zihuantanejo-mexico-optional-tournament-tickets-424441705567
Below are details from a former camp.
Adult Fiesta Camp, Jan. 5th-12th
with:
US Open Men’s National Champion, Matthew Blom
Mexican Open National Champion, Emanuel Pickleball
Adult Intensive Fiesta Camp
Have you been told to serve deep, return deep, hit a 3rd shot drop and get to net?
It’s good stuff. And something you can be told from any youtube video.
But do you know how to turn your paddle into a paintbrush?
How to generate power by relaxing into a powerful whip?
How to build a foundation of fluid, consistent shots that become
your rock for the rest of your pickleball life and allow you to reverse and prevent injuries?
S L O W down the ball?
How about the difference between smooching and pecking….the Pickleball?
What if your balance and body control was helped by playing barefoot on a tropical beach?
What if playing to music helped you learn the different rhythms of the game for your next level?
Do you know where you need “mas tortillas” in your game?
How about some serious fun and laughter as part of evolving your game?
Juniors–the game of pickleball is opening many, many new doors of opportunity. And they are only increasing.
This camp is for you if this type of learning sounds exciting to you: Learning by doing. By exploring. By playing games. By trying new stuff.
By playing with spin, power, sneaky shots, tricks, big serves, wicked returns, drives, feather drops,
power dinking (yup, that’s a thing), how to keep your opponents off balance and thinking about your next move rather than theirs…
And by hanging out with some US and Mexican National Champions, male and female, who will show you their best stuff,
and help you discover more of your best stuff.
While being around a bunch of your peers.
Adults–you know what potentially the biggest obstacle is to your growth in the sport?
You’ve forgotten how to learn.
Some of you (through no fault of your own), didn’t grow up with a racket or paddle in your hand,
and didn’t get years of coaching in another racket sport when you were young.
These camps are designed to help turn back
time and guide you into learning in a more youthful way.
Where discovery, exploration, and guidance can lead to a more natural, powerful, and enjoyable way of playing.
But it takes some unschooling.
And who better to do it with, then some juniors who do it without trying.
One of the greatest things about pickleball is that a 12 yr. old can get on court with a 72 yr. old and it can be a great match. Athleticism and youth meet paddle control, sneakiness, and experience. This is the fun of pickleball. This camp, the first of its kind from all I am aware of, is an opportunity to train with your or others’ kids, your grandkids, your nieces, your nephews, your sister, your brother, your uncle, your parents…
It is guaranteed to be a good time and a learning experience based around the greatest way to learn,
without fear, in an environment of exploration and guidance.
These camps will be unique in that we will be exploring pickleball through multiple angles–drills, metaphors, music, soccer, games, field trips,
thinking outside the taco…
Emanuel is a former professional soccer goalie and elementary school physical education teacher –he brings a wealth of training, games, and knowledge, and will most of the time be having more fun of any of us–and infecting you with it.
Matthew, well, I’ve been unschooling myself ever since I left college, and it’s lead to richness I never thought possible.
In the pickleball world, I come up with new angles/wacky tricks almost every time I coach as there’s a lot of great stuff we’ve figured out, and each individual might need a nudge from an unexpected direction. I’m not afraid to tell you what I see if I think it’ll help you see a blind limitation and then to find a fun way to help you find your way past it.
I give a very high level guarantee you will get things from our camp you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
Learning is far too important to be taken seriously…
(There will be music.
Bring your instruments if you have them).
In addition to the minimum 5 hrs. of pickleball training every day, there will be 1.5 days off during these camps. Some of the time off will be scheduled, some not.
Here’s some possibilities for those days:
A trip to a pristine, hidden lagoon with paddleboarding or kayaking options
A meal of fresh grilled fish caught from your own fishing adventure
A hiking and naturalist exploration along a special local trail
A guided visit to the cultural museum
Cervesa, and possible trip to a tequilla and mescal heritage farm (for those of age)
Surfing
The best, fresh restaurants in the area
Music, dancing, and Sunday Open Air Market
There is one more element for the camps in that we will be lining up a service component for the camps. Play it Forward, I like to call it.
May involve pickleball with lower opportunity youth, may involve serving some of the underprivileged in some way.
To leave you enriched in meeting some of the multi-faceted faces of Mexico.
This is the big enchilada. A training I have been waiting to put together for years. My own family will be there–sister, niece, nephew, brother-in-law (who’s an ornithologist and may lead/attend a bird hike), my mother (who’s so into pickleball that it’s cutting into her quilting time), father, and my Mexican brother Emanuel, his wife Anna, his mother Alma (which means Soul), his 13 yr. old nephew who will kick your butt in pickleball, his daughter Anna Valeria and his new born daughter Anna Ema (which is the combination of his, and his wife’s name).
Here are the details. And for those who are interested, more of the story of how these camps came to be below that.
Also a Q & A section at the bottom with a story of a Mexican fisherman…
COST:
Most good trainings charge more than $600 for just 3 days. I know of one that’s $1800 for 3 days–just for the training.
Each of these camps are 5-6 days. The base price is to ensure we can cover basic expenses of running such a training. The rest is then on us to ensure you are getting the highest value possible and so you feel good about whatever additional amount you wish to give at the end. And to let your means, your experience, and your results determine the value at the end.
Housing: Zihuatanejo is a highly sought after tourist destination–both for foreigners and Mexicans (cuz it’s that cool). There are numerous options for lodging, up and down the price range and luxury desires. We will have recommendations available based on location to the courts and ease in getting to and from.
A very special option in this training is that we will be offering a select few opportunities to stay with a Mexican family during your camp. This, I believe, is the potentially highest value option you could get from this training. Will most likely become an experience you will never forget. We are arranging with families who will have modest accommodations, at least minimal English (and we’ll have translators around) and will provide you with a Mexican hospitality while also supporting you to have your time out in the community and with the various adventures and special evenings we have planned for our time together.
This option will cost less than most of the hotel options you would otherwise be finding. And be far, far richer.
Plane Tickets: The airport is Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. There are many direct flights, and when searching for tickets you look for flights all the way through, or to Mexico City or Guadalajara with a separate ticket to Zihautanejo from within Mexico, as this is sometimes a cheaper option. Cities with direct flights are Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Houston, Calgary, Montreal
The year is 1996. Two things happen this year
that will impact my life in ways I won’t fully see till decades later.
1) I meet Dave. My college tennis coach. If you’ve heard the name Steve Paranto, he is one of the longest term pickleball players still playing–his father developed the first composite paddle from materials used to make the Boeing airplanes.
Steve has a quote in Beverly and Jennifer Youngren’s History of Pickleball book about playing in the first ever pickleball tournament in 1976 where he won a silver
medal, “I was the world’s first loser of pickleball.” The man he lost to, was Dave. 20 years later, Dave believed that it was good for us tennis players to learn badminton (he was a former Canadian National Team Coach) and to play pickleball to help our tennis game, so I learned from him, pickleball’s first champion. He used racket sports as an access point into learning about the mind, the body, and opened my eyes to many new frontiers both on and off the court. (A much longer and worth while in person story)
One day he strapped paint brushes on the head of our rackets and had us paint with our rackets.
I was from that moment on, hooked by the idea of racket/paddle sports as my paintbrush (especially cuz I really sucked at art).
2) As part of my Spanish studies, I decided to take my first study abroad trip to Mexico where I lived for a month with a Mexican family. This altered the course of my life in 2 ways. I encountered the beauty, hospitality and joy of being received into another culture, and had my world opened up in temporarily living in outside of what I knew. This opened my eyes to the possibilities that traveling and getting outside of my own culture/ideas/ways of seeing the world led to. I was hooked.
Through the next 20 years I traveled extensively throughout the world–India, Korea, Thailand, Peru, Nepal, Taiwan, Ethiopia…
And also pursued badminton and table tennis to a high level, in countries where those are actually considered competitive sports. (also was state champion in tennis in high school–it was North Dakota, so don’t get too excited 😉
Because of the time and investment into tennis, badminton, and table tennis, when I picked pickleball back up, thanks to the re-introduction by Prem and Wendy Carnot in 2011, I found the blend of my other racket sports lent themselves perfectly to pickleball.
In each of those sports I’d spent time with excellent coaches, paying for week long clinics, and private lessons to have their skillful watch on every part of my game–grip, footwork, stroke mechanics, learning to focus, winning strategy, special tricks they’d honed over years of high level play, learning to move through air and not mud, breath, alert relaxation, knowing my mind and the ways it can support and destroy…
All this poured into a moment, a few years ago when, with the help of a graceful wind and an excellent partner, Dan Moore, I was able to follow in the footsteps of my original coach and claim the highest prize in pickleball, the Men’s Open Gold medal at nationals.
Then, something interesting and unexpected happened. It became clear to me that going after more titles, more nationals or Tournament of Champions Golds (which I’d also won), would be repetitious. Chasing something that I knew would be empty even if I continued winning. So, in essence, I retired.
But then, I started to be invited to teach.
And found something I have been lit up and attracted to for the past 4 years. The Art, Science, and Inner Game of helping people discover, re-arrange and then transcend the limitations that act as a ceiling on your pickleball game.
Then, 3 years ago, something else came into my world–a connection with a man named Emanuel from one of my favorite destinations in Mexico, the fishing village (now mixed with tourist town) of Zihuantanejo. If you’ve ever seen Shawshank Redemption, this is where Red (Morgan Freeman) dreams of, and eventually reaches at the end of the film with Andy (Tim Robbins).
Thanks to my Spanish studies earlier in life, I was able to talk to him via video chat and we quickly found a brotherly friendship. This led to arranging our first pickleball training together in his home town. Those that came to that, still report about it–the pickleball, and for some, the life changing experience of being escorted into the local Mexican world through one of the best guides you’ll ever meet.
We helped Emanuel get a passport, a visa, and he eventually came to the states to play his first tournament.
Question: How many full time pickleball instructors do you know that play and teach 5-7 days a week, 5-8 hours a day?
Can you imagine how good someone would get doing that and coaching new and on-going players every day?
That is what Emanuel has been doing for the last two years at the Tres Palapas Pickleball Resort in Baja, Mexico. On court, every day with players from the US and Canada, at every level, and taking them higher.
Not only has he had this kind of remarkable training, but has taught alongside Tyson McGuffin, Morgan Evans, Daniel Moore, and Scott Moore at the resort and has become a very experienced coach and trainer.
And he is the Mexican National Champion in pickleball and a former professional soccer goalie (in a country where that’s taken very seriously).
In addition to the instruction and on the court play with him, you will most likely walk away with a very contagious Mexican virus--the charisma, smile, and heart opening feeling that almost everyone catches when they are around Emanuel. He will be a fierce competitor across the net, having you laughing on the court as an instructor, and then offer you the cure to your newly contracted virus by sharing a beer with you after the clinic (if we can get him to wait that long 😉
You will get to hear and know the wonderful story about his journey from Mexican fisherman to internationally known pickleball player.
Over the last few years I’vd turned my attention towards teaching and I greatly enjoy passing on what I know (including HOW to learn and explore questions or challenges you have), and believe a lot of what I teach you will be hard pressed to find elsewhere. I know this because I have taught alongside almost all of the great teachers and players in the game–so I know what’s out there, have borrowed/stolen a few things from them (and vice versa), and look to take all this to you. I attempt to take each player as a unique challenge and bring principles rather than rules in helping you find your way towards your greatest playing ability. ( I am certainly that you are stuck in unexplored rules and ideas about pickleball that are holding you down.)
This always coincides with greater ease on the body, more power, more consistency and this pours into people’s main two goals: more winning and more fun.
Also, there are some things I see taught on youtube and clinics that has me shake my head in disappointment.
It’s become a personal mission to fix some of that.
The clinics will begin in similar ways each day as there is a foundational level that I teach that I feel is crucial to understand. All levels can benefit from this. Participants will be grouped according to ability level when we go to practice. Participants are welcome to take more than one clinic. Some will be new each day, some will be a review of the essentials. Everything in life has a surface and a depth.
Okay.
Pickleball is a fabulous game to pick up and learn quickly.
But that can also be its downfall.
Chances are great that you’ve learned bad habits.
Habits that prevent you from improving, and can lead to injury and frustration on court that’s hard to find your way out of.
We will have multiple coaches so that we can divide and conquer. No bad habit left alive…
Some of the things we’ll cover:
Paddle Control
How to generate power
How to build a rock soild foundation of consistency
Serving like a beast.
How to borrow what Ted Willams did to have one of the only .400 batting averages in baseball history
Returning so your opponents hate you.
3rd shots–3RD SHOTS DOESN’T MEAN DROP. That’s only one of the options. You need it, and you’ll learn it, but you’ll also learn the ever growing popularily or other combinations that the pros are using.
Drops, the easy, more natural, consistent way. How, Where, and When (the crucial element most everyone gets wrong).
Net play–strategy and how to turn your opponents into your puppets
Shot Selection…
How to hit the ball
Where to hit the ball
When to hit the ball
Why on earth are you playing with so much tension!
Spin–how to hit, how to defend (even if it’s new for you)
Lobs–Offensive, deceptive, and useful. Do you know the no fly zones?
Overheads–the power in the whip.
POWER DINKING—you don’t win a national championship with simply hitting the ball back over…
The 3 steps to beating a Banger,
How to be a Better Banger and take down the 3 steps above
Getting to net.
And staying there–unhinging the fear and habits that keep you away
How to stop being afraid and reacting to being alert and responding
How to see the court,
How to slow down the ball…
How to play with greater ease, and WITHOUT INJURY, and often relieve the source of your injuries. I see it every time I teach, and there’s so much you can do to NOT HAVE PAIN when you play. It’s not a necessary part of the game.
COST: Each camp is listed as $500 per person. This is the base rate. At the end of the training, you’ll be given a no-pressure invitation to add on to this based on what value you received. You’ll be handed an envelope to put in what you see fit.
Most good trainings charge more than $600 for just 3 days. I know of one that’s $1800 for 3 days–just for the training.
Each of these camps are 5-6 days. The base price is to ensure we can cover basic expenses of running such a training. The rest is then on us to ensure you are getting the highest value possible and so you feel good about whatever additional amount you wish to give at the end.
Housing: Zihuatanejo is a highly sought after tourist destination–both for foreigners and Mexicans (cuz it’s that cool). There are numerous options for lodging, up and down the price range and luxury desires. We will have recommendations available based on location to the courts and ease in getting to and from.
A very special option in this training is that we will be offering a select few opportunities to stay with a Mexican family during your camp. This, I believe, is the potentially highest value option you could get from this training. Will most likely become an experience you will never forget. We are arranging with families who will have modest accommodations, at least minimal English (and we’ll have translators around) and will provide you with a Mexican hospitality while also supporting you to have your time out in the community and with the various adventures and special evenings we have planned for our time together.
This option will cost less than most of the hotel options you would otherwise be finding. And be far, far richer.
Plane Tickets: The airport is Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. There are many direct flights, and when searching for tickets you look for flights all the way through, or to Mexico City with a separate ticket from Mexico City to Zihautanejo as this is sometimes a cheaper option.
If it speaks to you, and you’ve made it this far, then I’ll buy you your first cervesa or horchata when we’re down there together.
To pickleball, learning, and exploring the richness of being human,
Matthew Blom
Questions and Answers:
Q: I’d like to stay with a family, but my Spanish is limited to ordering at Taco Bell. Is that okay?
A: These can be some of the richest experiences. Reaching across a language divide, human to human. Some of the Mexican families are concerned about the same thing–that their English isn’t good enough.
If you’re willing to stretch into a new comfort zone for 5-6 days, so are we. If it’s too much for you, there’s lots of other options. Personally, I think it’s an opportunity you’ll be so glad you went for. And, we have limited options for this, so do what seems right. We want those who are ready for something different.
Q: I’d like to bring a group of friends. Is there space for that?
A: At the time of writing this, yes. I’ve been a part of many trainings where a group of friends came together and man was it clear they were having a lot of fun because of it. There are airbnb rentals, and options Emanuel can find to get a large, multi room villa/home if you’d like to room together and enjoy together. Also, there’s a huge benefit to bringing friends with you is that you will then have similar learning/ideas/drills to do together to continue the training back home.
Q: I’d like to bring my kids/grandkids, but they are beginners. Is that okay?
A: The main criteria here is passion. If a student is hungry, they will get much and add a lot to any training. If not, then it doesn’t matter how good they are. Since someone would have to have played for a bit to know they are really into it, the passion criteria should hopefully work things out.
Q: Is Zihuatanejo safe?
A: Tourism is one of the major industries in Zihua. It is well devloped (without squashing the local Mexican city) for accomodating Northerners. Clean water, safe restaurants, and, especially with a number of locals that will be with us, safe to go around in all the areas we’d be taking you or recommending. As with any place, there are places to avoid, but personally I feel much safer than I do in parts of New York, LA or Chicago…
Q: Should I plan a few days around the training to see more of the area?
A: Yup.
Q: What ages for the family camp?
A: Really it’d be about a child being able to be okay on court, wanting to play, play games, be into doing pickleball/sport/activity related stuff for 4-5+ hours a day. Sometimes might even be on a separate court from their parents. Can a 7 yr. old do that? Can a 10 yr. old? Can a 14 yr. old? Probably depends on the child. Know that we have an awesome team putting this together with kids in mind, but you’d have to judge what the child is ready for.
Q: Can I do more than one camp?
A: As long as you’re awesome. (as a person)
Q: This whole, pay by what value you get gives me the willies. What’s that about?
A: I’ve explored a lot of different charging ideas/philosophies over the years–the gift economy (ever hear of burning man?), sliding scales, free, charging as much as you can… The latest trainings I did, I put out a box at the end and let people put in what they wanted. This, is a hybrid. I want people to have the experience of putting money towards value they have received–that puts the onus on us to do a great job at the training, not just a great job of marketing. And, there are lots of up front costs and expenses to do a series of trainings like this, so we want at least a portion to be guaranteed. So, we have both. Bring cash, or bring a check and have a great time and then see what makes sense at the end. It’ll be different, but painless.
[raw]
A little story…
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, “only a little while. The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.” The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”
“But what then?” Asked the Mexican.
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!”
“Millions – then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
