Pajarito Pickleball Club schedules beginner clinics in White Rock, Los Alamos

The Pajarito Pickleball Club is lining up two beginner clinics this summer for Los Alamos County residents who want a clear, low-pressure way into one of the county’s fastest-growing recreation scenes. The sessions are aimed at people starting from scratch or at players ready to move beyond the basics, with instruction built around skill level rather than competition.

The first clinic, Beginners 1, is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at the Piñon Courts in White Rock. It is designed for absolute beginners and newcomers, with instruction on warm-up routines, injury prevention, basic shots, and the foundational rules and strategies needed to start playing with confidence. Beginners 2 will follow from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Barranca Mesa Courts in Los Alamos for players with more than three months of experience and a working knowledge of the rules who want to sharpen their game.

Certified instructors Scott Parkinson and Kristine Coblentz will lead both clinics, and the club said loaner paddles will be available on request. Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothing, bring a hat and water bottle, and wear court shoes if possible. Fruit and sports drinks will be provided, turning the clinics into more of a community welcome than a bare-bones lesson.

Cost is $16 for club members and $26 for non-members. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended, and participants need to create an account on Court Reserve as either a free friend of the club or a paid member before signing up.

The clinics land at a moment when pickleball’s growth has become impossible to miss. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association says about 24.3 million Americans played in 2025, and the sport has been the nation’s fastest-growing for five straight years. That national surge has already taken hold in Los Alamos County, where Brandon Mackie said in 2023 that local pickup play often drew 10 to 20 people and the Los Alamos Pickleball Facebook group had nearly 200 members.

The club’s own growth shows the demand. Its April 2024 launch event drew more than 50 people, including 10 first-time players, and filled all six courts at Pinon Park Courts in White Rock. That turnout helped the club reach its first financial goal of buying insurance, after an exploratory meeting on July 6, 2023, and approval as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. With organized clinics now set in both White Rock and Los Alamos, the club is giving new players a structured way to join a sport that has already become part of the county’s recreational fabric.