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Padelhorn is also importing what they believe to be the state’s first Padel court: a sport similar to pickleball, but with glass sides to encase the court; it’s basically halfway between racquetball and tennis. The glass has been stuck on shipping containers for months, the brothers said.
The Dallum brothers said they played pickleball a few times in high school, but it fell from their interests until a few years ago when their brothers began playing and invited them. They had a renewed interest in the sport, and around the same time, met Ekhorn, a foreign-exchange student from Sweden who was a senior at Battle Ground High School.
Ekhorn moved back to Sweden, and the three of them began to send emails about opening up the first indoor courts dedicated to pickleball. They named the business Padelhorn because of the sport “padel” and Ekhorn’s last name.
“We’re pretty excited to see how this goes,” Rod Dallum said.
The software for the courts allows users to book reservations online. When they show up, a code allows them access to the court, and an overhead light illuminates their court until the time runs out and the light turns off.
Jake Tapani, 66, founder and president of JRT Mechanical, brought some of his employees to Padelhorn on Friday for an after-work Christmas party.
Tapani said that he has played pickleball for about a year and a half, and it’s easier on his body than tennis.
“It’s really a lot of fun,” he said.
