Spotlight: Sloan Kinnebrew

Sloan’s stats: height: 6’5” | plays: right-handed | resides: [South] Austin, TX

It’s hard not be a fan of Sloan’s! He always brings a positive vibe to the courts and his game keeps getting better and better. Sloan has taken home a number of medals from 002 tournaments, and he’s a pure gold medalist for his character!

How long have you been playing pickleball?

1yr 2months competively

How many times per week do you play pickleball (on average)?

3

Pickleball Medals/awards/accomplishments (whatever this means to you!)

I get good exercise every time I go out and play. I have met lots of good people who I enjoy being friends with and interacting with. No major accomplishments at this point aside from making my backhand ground strokes serviceable whereas when I started I ran away from it on basically every shot.

What do you love about pickleball / Why do you play?

Love that I see so many people out and about regularly. Specifically the older population that enjoys the game. I think its incredible to watch the game and how it impacts the players lives. I still love meeting people who are playing for the first couple of times. They have no idea how addicted they are about to become to a game with a wiffle ball and a three foot net. The health benefits it provides to the older folks who play regularly is reason enough to continue to grow the game.

What is your favorite pickleball shot and why?

Backhand Punch at the net. Most effective shot in my arsenal.

What is your biggest strength on the court and why?

Good Question, you will have to ask my opponents. I am not sure.

What part of your game are you currently working on?

Longer ground strokes, Put way too many balls out of bounds that I shouldn't. Need to have a more consistent drive to be able to utilize it more effectively.

What courts do you like to play at most?

Austin Tennis Center, I like the ability to reserve a court and not have to worry about how big the crowd will be.

Any great pickleball experience/story that you'd like to share?

My aunt Cheryl Kinnebrew is the one that introduced me to the game and she is in her 70s. She introduced me to the game before I ever started playing regularly, and I knew I liked it but was really unsure of where to play at. She plays regularly down in the Tampa,Florida area and is a phenomenal player. We still play regularly a few times a year when we see each other. She is not a fan of tournaments or else I think we would play a few together. She is an inspiration to me though, I can only hope that I can play at the level she does as I get to her age. On that same thought, I recently celebrated a players 95th birthday at a place that I play up in Dennison,Texas (North of Dallas). Super cool guy name Tom that still plays a few times a week. No question in my mind that pickleball is a major factor in their physical and mental health. Cheers to them!

What do you like to do when you are not on the court playing pickleball?

fish, kayak, basketball, volleyball, drink IPAs, ski, train my dog Topeka, explore the different activities that Austin has to offer