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PICKLEBALL NEWS 12 • July/August 2025 Pickleball remains hot, hot, hot. For the fourth consecutive year, pickleball is America's fastest- growing sport, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) 2025 Topline Participation Report. There are 19.8 million pickleball participants in the U.S.—up 45.8% from 2023 and up 311% over the past three years. The SFIA research reveals that both casual and core participation in pickleball are surging, with 13.6 million casual players (1-7 times per year), a 55.6% increase from 2023; and 6.2 million core players (8+ times per year), a 28.2% increase from 2023. PICKLEBALL STILL ON THE UPSWING, BIG TIME TYROL LOOKS TO EXPAND U.S. FOOTWEAR DISTRIBUTION Footwear brand Tyrol Pickleball has formed a new sales and distribution partnership with sales agency Kittridge & Associates to help fuel its U.S. expansion. Founded by performance footwear veteran Kevin Huckle in 2018, pickleball-specific Tyrol is built on four foundational pillars — comfort, stability, breathability, and injury prevention. e brand also recently began working with Vibram. "As the sport of pickleball explodes in both recreational and competitive circles, we're seeing footwear become a true performance differentiator," says Huckle. "Our partnership with Kittridge gives us extensive reach in the U.S. and ensures retailers can tap into this fast-growing, equipment-hungry customer base." SPORTIQE TEAMS WITH MLP Apparel brand Sportiqe has been named the official apparel partner of Major League Pickleball (MLP by DoorDash). Sportiqe will outfit athletes, staff, and fans of the co-ed, team-based professional pickleball league. Sportiqe will unveil a full range of officially licensed MLP apparel during the 2025 season, designed for both on-court action and off-court lifestyle. sportstyle • sportstylemag.com

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