Usually, the Paseo Club publishes informative and educational articles based on recent research and the latest trends in health and fitness. Today, we depart from that model to share the personal story of Anders Jansson.
Anders grew up at the club. His first love was tennis, but as he became older, he found a new passion — pickleball. The Paseo Club is home to people of all ages. This article is a great read because it features someone who has lived the Paseo life since his youth and continues to grow and prosper as he transitions to the world of competitive pickleball.
In this article, you will learn about Anders' history at the Paseo Club, how he transitioned from playing tennis to pickleball, and his goals for advancing in competitive play.
Growing up at the Paseo Club
Anders’ history at the Paseo Club goes far back. In fact, he is a legacy member, along with his family. His first love was tennis.
“I played tennis and participated in tennis camps as a child, and in my high school years, I took private lessons as well. The club has always been a big part of my life,” Anders said.
He started learning tennis when he was just six years old. He continued to play on and off, alternating with other sports, until eighth grade. Once he went into high school, he joined the varsity team. Anders went on to play some college tennis at a junior college in Arizona.
Anders finds a new sport
Anders’ life got busy as he left college and began to engage in other interests. Playing tennis fell to the wayside. But when Covid hit, his mom reached out to him with a new fun idea.
“My mom told me about pickleball during Covid and how much fun I would have. I didn't listen until 2022 when I started to play. She signed me up for our first round robin, and I never stopped after that.”
Transitioning from tennis player to pickleball player
Many people think that if you play tennis, you can easily learn pickleball. They do not realize that though they are both court sports, technique and skills do not always translate from one game to the other.
There are several adjustments to learning pickleball you need to make as a tennis player.
- Transition to the underhand serve
- Adjust to the no-volley zone (kitchen)
- Embrace the social aspect of the sport
- Choose finesse over power in your approach to play
- Get comfortable with the equipment and the smaller court size
Anders reports on his transition to learning to play pickleball:
“When I went from tennis to pickleball, I wanted to bang every shot. I slowly started to realize how different the game was. I needed to slow it down and really practice patience. The transition took about a full year until I really figured it out.”
Competing on the pickleball circuit
Some people play sports just for the fun and fitness aspects. But competing has always been a part of Anders’ life — and his family’s as well. It was only natural that once he started to master pickleball, he wanted to compete in tournaments more and more.
“Competing has always been a part of my life as a child. I understood from the beginning that life is generally competitive. Bringing that back into my life has created a new fire inside me,” said Anders.
Luckily, Anders has had some great mentors who have supported him as he has advanced in pickleball. His mom, Yvette, is his number one fan. Jen Azevedo, Sumi Epie, Mark Hamilton, and Scott Crandall have been a great help. Lucas Guidroz, his pickleball partner, also deserves special recognition and thanks.
Staying competition ready
Anders strives to take good care of his health and fitness so he can optimize his competitive edge. Each week, he drills about 2-3 times, plays three highly competitive games, and is in the gym for at least 5-6 days.
He is also attentive to his post-workout recovery, using saunas and ice baths to minimize muscle fatigue and increase mobility.
Anders finds that his fitness routine and healthy eating habits also support his mental and emotional health. Plus, the pickleball community surrounding him is populated by so many positive people. There’s “never a bad vibe on the court,” Anders happily states.
Anders’ successes and future goals
Anders has already accomplished so much in such little time.
- Veolia LA Open
- PPA Main Pro draw round of 64
- Made it through two Pro Qualifiers
- Orange County Cup in San Clemente
- 4 total 5.0 medals (2 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
- Silver in CAPA OPEN
Anders is looking forward to making it through qualifiers and earning enough points to be seeded in the Main Pro Draw of the PPA tour.
Celebrating all members at the Paseo Club
The Paseo Club has members of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. In this article, we highlighted competitive pickleball player Anders Jansson. He is bright, passionate, and a force on the courts!
Anders isn’t the only person excited about playing a lot of pickleball. Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport. It is easy to learn, fun to play, and famous for having some of the nicest athletes.
The Paseo Club is happy to provide you with several ways to play pickleball.
- Join a league
- Reserve a court
- Come to drop-in play
- Sign up for a tournament
- Attend a beginner, intermediate, or advanced drill
After playing hard on the courts, members enjoy recovering in the sauna or steam room, taking a dip in the pool, or meeting with fellow members for a bite to eat at the cafe. The Paseo Club is your place to exercise, socialize, and relax.
Joining the club has never been so easy now that you can sign up online. Become a member today and take advantage of all the fitness, Pilates, tennis, pickleball, and swimming facilities. We can’t wait to see you!
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