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Inside the National Pickleball League: Kim Kesner's Inspiring Story
Sleeve's SPR Senior Pickleball ReportOctober 13, 202400:25:1534.69 MB

Inside the National Pickleball League: Kim Kesner's Inspiring Story

Join us in this episode as we delve into the incredible journey of Kim Kesner, a standout player in the National Pickleball League. Discover how Kim’s passion and determination have driven them to excel in one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. We discuss their training routines, the challenges they've faced, and the triumphs that have marked their career. Whether you're a pickleball enthusiast or new to the sport, Kim's story is sure to inspire and entertain. Tune in for insights, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and a closer look at the world of professional pickleball.

Kim Kesner
 
 
 
 
IG:@kimberlykesner
 

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00:00:00 --> 00:00:21 Speaker A: Hey, everybody. Slieve senior Pickleball report is brought to you by TNC Network. Get ready for an exciting episode of people of Pickleball with me, Mike Slieva. We're about to dive deep into conversations with influential figures from the world of Pickleball. So let's get it going.

00:00:21 --> 00:00:52 All right. Today in our people of Pickleball episode, we are speaking with Kim Kastner. She is a member of the National Pickleball League and the team, the Kansas City Stingers. Heck of a player. Quite a background. We talk all things NPL and what's coming up for championship weekend for the Stingers. But before we get to that, if you like this content, consider subscribing to the channel. Check out all the links in the description for discounts, check out our newsletter as well. Hey, let's get to that conversation with Kim.

00:00:52 --> 00:01:00 All right. Hey, we have Tim Kestner from the Kansas City Singers of the National Pickleball League. Welcome to the senior Pickleball Report, Kim.

00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 Thank you. Thanks for having me.

00:01:02 --> 00:01:27 Absolutely. You know, before we get into, you know, your season so far and obviously the last event you had in Kansas City during pickle time, I always start with how we got into this game, and you're no exception. So give us a little bit of background, maybe some how you got into it, what your past sort of athletic careers might have been and things like that, and how this football game sort of took your life over a little bit.

00:01:27 --> 00:02:08 Yeah, absolutely. Well, I played college volleyball and softball. Believe it or not, I did grow up playing tennis and got back into it when I got out of chiropractic college, and so was heavy into tennis, which transfers over very well. And then I kind of got more into golf pretty seriously. And then someone introduced me to pickleball seven years ago and said, come try it. And, oh, my gosh, as soon as I put a. I played a first tournament, it was. I dropped every other sport I played and I've done nothing since, though.

00:02:08 --> 00:02:39 Yeah. Yeah. So you're sort of old school. I mean, you know, you talk to a lot of people and they started, like myself, you know, during COVID but you're sort of pre explosion a little bit of the game. So that being said, like, what's kind of gone through your head in the last few years? I mean, obviously, I don't know if anybody saw that one. There'd be professional leagues and two professional leagues for over people over 50. Talk about what you've seen in the last seven years and how you've sort of reacted to it.

00:02:39 --> 00:03:09 Yeah, I mean, the growth is just unbelievable. I mean, it just was more like soft game, soft game. Even the game itself has changed and involves so much, but the growth is crazy. I mean, everyone's like, oh my gosh, you played pickleball. I'm like, yeah, I have for a long time. So it's just, it's exploding. And the fact that we have a, you know, 50 plus, you know, professional league is awesome. So I'm so excited. Happy to be a part of it.

00:03:09 --> 00:03:53 Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you talk, you touched on it a little bit. You've seen the changes in the game, obviously technology playing a big part in that, in the paddles changing and you're sort of with one of what I would call the old school companies that's been around for a while. Onyx. So talk about like, I know I was in Kansas City a year ago when you all were playing at chicken and pickle and then I was at Picklecon. I watched your match, one of the early matches you and Jen playing on the championship court. And I could tell in that year there were more of driving the third dropping the fifth than at least in the previous year. So talk about what you've seen in the changes, not only obviously in the last seven years, but maybe in the league itself.

00:03:53 --> 00:04:21 Yeah, I mean, that is the biggest thing is it's just, you know, I mean, you're just hitting the crap out of the ball now every single time and, you know, you gotta be up quick to that line to react and go from there. So it's, it's awesome. You know, there's such a big change and you gotta be ready. You can't be, you know, warming up and starting slow, which sometimes I'm guilty of, but yeah, it's slam bam, for sure.

00:04:21 --> 00:05:15 Yeah. And I, you know, I watched your match and I forget who you were playing, but you made an adjustment. Personally, I know what you were doing in the beginning, at least from what I recall, is you were sort of shipping the return high and deep and then after a while you started to hit more drives. And so making those adjustments in game, obviously those are important because the game itself is speeded up so much. I know I've had to change my return a little bit. Sometimes I'll chip it, but then I'm giving so much spin to them sometimes that it just comes back tenfold. So maybe talk about some of the adjustments you have to make because at a 50 plus level people just think, oh, they're playing pickleball and they might see it on YouTube. But I'm telling you, folks, if you go in person and you sit courtside, you all can play hard. And it's high, high level. So talk about some of the high level sort of in game adjustments you have to make because the competition is really tight and you're playing win by one.

00:05:15 --> 00:06:16 Yeah, it's really tight. And, you know, we do like, you know, just, you know, I mean, the goals are usually just serve deep, you know, and return deep and try to hit the moving target if they're stacking and, you know, just. And we realize, like, yeah, we lost a, one of those matches or one of the games pretty badly in game one, and we adjusted and came back and won the next two games after that. And it was just focusing on certain shots that we knew that we could win certain points, like hitting the middle more and trying to slow the ball down at certain times and moving that person a little bit more. So you just got to figure out your opponent right away. And sometimes it takes a game. That's why two out of three for pickleball is a must for any type of match because you do have that ability to change throughout the whole match on your strategy.

00:06:16 --> 00:07:05 Right. And I notice, I think I'm probably at a 4243 level, but I can tell that at the pro level that you're playing at 50 and up, that adjustment happens a lot quicker. You seem to recognize patterns faster, make adjustments in game quicker, don't necessarily stick with something just because that's what you're used to doing. So you're playing in a pro league at 50 plus years old, and you're playing at an unbelievable level. Where do you see this league going? Because obviously, year one you had six teams, and then you double it. And I talked to Michael, who plays on your team as well, and they're talking about more and more growth. What do you think of the changes from year one to year two and possibly going into year three and four?

00:07:05 --> 00:07:46 Well, I mean, the amount of just players, just multitude by far. I mean, some of the players, year one didn't even get redrafted in year two, and we had double the teams, so we literally had double the amount of people. And I saw that on several occasions. So, yeah, I mean, just trying to keep up with all these, you know, and the older you get, the younger the people are, so they, I feel like it's gonna keep growing and it's just gonna get better and better and better, you know, just all the way around. So it's just gonna probably. I don't know if it's gonna double next year, but it's definitely growing more, so.

00:07:46 --> 00:08:05 Yeah, for sure. For sure. I mean, obviously your team is a new franchise and there are other teams as well. Did you. I mean, did you get a chance to hang out a little bit at Picklecon? I know you. Obviously you're playing in a league event, but, you know, there's a lot of stuff going on around you with vendors and tournaments and people walking around to get a chance to check any of that out.

00:08:05 --> 00:08:27 Yeah, I picked out a little bit of it. Not, you know, I mean, sometimes you're busy with, you know, run into your matches and supporting and kind of prepping for the next match, but, yeah, it was. It was really cool to have that, you know, huge convention center and, you know, everyone playing in the same place and just, you know, meeting all the vendors. I thought it was amazing.

00:08:27 --> 00:08:38 Yeah, you were a home field advantage that week, so you had some fans there cheering you on and on. Very, very cool. I got to interview Darrell earlier this year and what a really cool guy to play for.

00:08:38 --> 00:08:56 Oh, he's so great. He and Julie both. I mean, they're the nicest people and I and Daryl such a great asset to the team. I mean, having a team owner, you know, that that's, you know, plays pod one or two is just amazing. So that's a huge benefit for the team, for sure.

00:08:56 --> 00:09:11 Yeah. Talk a little bit. I mean, speaking of high level players, I mean, you get, you know, obviously to play with what I would consider to be a legend of the game, Jennifer Dawson. What's it like playing with somebody who has that sort of background and, you know, tons of championships and tons of championship experience.

00:09:11 --> 00:10:00 You know, Jennifer and I are good friends, and she's just the most amazing player all around. She not only is one of the best players by far, she. She's the nicest person and most humble player out there, and that's what makes her just more cherished by everyone. Is that right there? But, you know, she's so good, and I just try to be the good support partner for her and try to, you know, set up her ball or try to make her, you know, do her thing and try not to make mistakes. So I have a little more pressure on her. Yeah, you know, they're obviously going to target me a little bit more, so I have a lot more pressure on me playing with the legend.

00:10:00 --> 00:10:08 Yeah, for sure. But you get to glean off of her and see what she does in situations, too. It's got to be nice. I'm sure you've learned a lot playing next to her as well.

00:10:08 --> 00:10:19 Oh, definitely. Definitely. I mean, she, you know, I'll even offer to carry her bag if she needs me to.

00:10:19 --> 00:10:24 Very cool. Very cool. So you're. Are you a chiropractor?

00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 I am. I am.

00:10:26 --> 00:11:20 Okay. So I just started going to a chiropractor this spring for the first time. And, you know, like anybody else who takes up this game and you start playing in your whatever age, but particular our age, over 50, you know, lower back issues and things like that, I've really gotten a great deal out of it. I kind of had to go a few times in the beginning. Several weeks apart from now, I go about every six to eight weeks. Talk about some of the things maybe that you see on the court or off the court that are, I guess, holding people back or taking them off the court a little bit. I think the thing I see the most and that I've changed is I gotta warm up more. I mean, like, a lot more. So talk about some of the things you see in your work and some of these things you see on and off the court that may help somebody who's listening to this interview.

00:11:20 --> 00:12:23 Yeah, I mean, you know, all of us at that same age, we're all starting with the same level of stiffness or soreness. And, you know, it is true. You really have to warm up. And I've changed even what I do, because you can go and I play a match, but then you just go and sit and cheer for your, you know, teammates, but if you're not moving around and stretching and kind of preparing yourself mentally and physically for that next game, it's really tough. So a lot of people are stretching, you know, doing movements, actually. I mean, I've done acupuncture on several people at these tournaments from, like, tweaking their back on practice days, and, you know, we need them for the next game. So I've done that, you know, almost every single weekend that I've been there and happy to do it, but it helps them get looser for the next match. So, yeah, just tons of prep time and footwork. And I think the most detrimental thing is footwork and movement and where you're not preparing for the next shot.

00:12:23 --> 00:12:31 Yeah, absolutely. Talk to me a little bit about acupuncture. I've never had it done. What's kind of the background or the idea behind it?

00:12:31 --> 00:13:11 Well, I mean, it's the oldest practice medicine in the world, and I've been doing acupuncture for 25 years and, oh, wow. A lot of patients that I see are really stiff, so you're not going to get a lot of movement on them with that much muscle soreness or tightness. So I do acupuncture in conjunction with chiropractic and it works amazing. Acupuncture really loosens muscles and helps inflammation probably more than anything we offer in our office. And we do also massage therapy as well. But during that acute phase, it really helps the pain and inflammation a lot. So it's effective?

00:13:11 --> 00:13:34 Oh, yeah, yeah. That seems to be the key in my life, is keeping down the inflammation in my joints. And obviously, you know, everything else that I try and move in this game. So do you think it helps? Obviously. So maybe the next day, if you have something done, is there less stiffness, maybe Orlando or anything like that?

00:13:34 --> 00:13:55 Definitely less stiffness. You have more range of motion and then you just increase your movement because your information is lowered as well. Usually people find the result either immediately or within one or two appointments and they can see the difference.

00:13:55 --> 00:13:58 Okay. To check it out, I have somebody in the area that does it.

00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 Yeah.

00:13:59 --> 00:14:09 So outside of your practice and outside of NPL, obviously you do some coaching. You live in Colorado, I believe, correct?

00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 Yes, in Denver.

00:14:11 --> 00:14:19 Yeah. Okay, so talk about some of that. Like you're coaching and you play a fair amount of events outside of NPL during the year.

00:14:19 --> 00:14:31 Yeah, I mean, I play, you know, the senior pro tour. I played some app tournaments and, you know, just some like local, you know, kind of moneyball type tournaments here.

00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 Yes.

00:14:32 --> 00:14:51 Yeah. So that's. I try to play a good. A fair amount. I mean, with. With NPL now having six matches, I probably will play another six matches or, you know, tournaments. Tournaments, yeah, I like to do. Probably once a month is plenty for me. Just still working full time? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:14:51 --> 00:14:56 Absolutely. Cool. I feel like the talk about your. Go ahead, go ahead.

00:14:56 --> 00:15:05 I just said, yeah, working full time, you know, lowers my chances of, you know, playing too many. So that's, that.

00:15:05 --> 00:15:27 Yeah, that's true. I mean, you look at some people like, you know, I remember following Rick Witzkin a couple years ago. The guy played like 30 events. I was like, I don't know how anybody could hold up doing that. And he, you know, he's a tall, big guy and he's not light like, you know, but some people are blessed with genetics and obviously some people have some routines and practices that help them along and keep them on the court.

00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 Exactly.

00:15:28 --> 00:15:32 Talk about your clinics. Do you do some coaching?

00:15:32 --> 00:15:58 Yeah, I do do coaching. I put on a couple of clinics a year, not a ton. I do more individual coaching and lessons and love it. I think with the experience that I've had through all the tournaments in the seven years that I played really helps me, you know, on coaching and teaching as well. Just that experience makes a big difference. So I do enjoy.

00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 Absolutely.

00:15:59 --> 00:16:20 Yeah. So I enjoy it. I love sharing the game and the excitement that other people have and so just work them through a whole match and technique and I just. I love coaching and just, you know, thoroughly making people better and just enjoying the game.

00:16:20 --> 00:16:25 Yeah. Do you have a specific level you enjoy coaching the most?

00:16:25 --> 00:16:47 Probably. Usually like 40 level is great. I mean, I think anyone that has somewhat of an athletic ability is easier to coach naturally. And so that's usually probably the level that I enjoy the most. Men or women? Either one.

00:16:47 --> 00:16:52 Yeah. Right on. So what paddle you playing with these days?

00:16:52 --> 00:17:18 I'm playing with actually this evoke premier rock harbor paddle with Onyx. I love it. A lot of pop and a lot of spin to it. And I've really enjoyed this paddle. I've played with this particular one for the last two years and Onyx has been, you know, great to me and great supporter and I really, really thoroughly enjoy all their paddles.

00:17:18 --> 00:17:21 Yeah. Yeah. Is that a 16 mil or a 14 mil or.

00:17:21 --> 00:17:25 No, I play between a twelve and a ten, to believe it or not.

00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 Wow, you got a thin one.

00:17:26 --> 00:17:31 Yeah, yeah, a lot of pop to it.

00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 You and you and Jen got those super thin ones.

00:17:33 --> 00:17:38 I know you got to put some power behind that ball.

00:17:38 --> 00:18:32 Grip and rip, baby. Drip and rips. Very cool. So that being said, obviously, you know, the game is evolving. You know, we talked earlier the last year. You can tell a huge difference in just paddle technology and obviously the powers that be USA, pickleball and some others are trying to sort of figure out the parameters of what it's going to be. Silks weaken with the ball, and obviously you had a different ball last season. NPL a different ball this season. In surfaces. There was different surfaces you could play on at Picklecon. And I'm sure your surfaces vary from event to event. Where do you see this game going and where in some level, where would you like to see it going? Are you okay with the power of where it is? Are you okay with it increasing? Talk to me about where you see it going and maybe where you'd like it to end up being eventually.

00:18:32 --> 00:18:58 You know, I like the traditional surface. I think that that matters a lot. You know, just playing, you know, in that consistent, you know, surface that we played on, you know, all the chicken pickles and all the, all the facilities that we played with this year has been amazing. And, yeah, I mean, as far as, like, the venues go, they've been, they've been excellent. So. And as far as, like, growth, is that what you asked me, is just where it's going?

00:18:58 --> 00:19:07 So, like, where do you see this? Where do you see this sport going as far as even, you know, growth or technology or, you know, are you, do you think the game is going to even speed up more?

00:19:07 --> 00:19:46 I think so. I don't know. I mean, sometimes it can get a little dangerous playing mixed doubles and, you know, when the woman starts it, you got to wear some eye protection for sure. But, yeah, I mean, some of the paddles, you can tell by the player, I mean, they can be this frail little person and they're playing with this real poppy paddle and they're like, you know, they're known for, you know, just hitting the crap out of it. And it's so I feel like, I think there should be a little bit of regulation there as far as some safety. Some of these paddles are just a little too much. But, you know, I think, I mean, I don't think the game can get any faster, so I'm kind of really happy where it is, to be honest.

00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 Yeah, yeah, no kidding.

00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 Maybe, yeah.

00:19:48 --> 00:20:55 So take us like. Yeah, well, we are. I mean, I get, you know, I started playing in 2021 and, you know, I was playing with, I think, SLK version of Selkirk and that paddle today. I mean, there's no way you could play in a competitive match with the kind of speed that's going on with these paddles today. And obviously, the ball, I think, is the thing that sort of gets a little bit overlooked. I had a ball at Picklecon, I brought that was made from a 3d printer and it was a little more, it was sort of a cross almost between a racquetball and a pickleball. Super quieter, a little more bouncy. But I'm interested to sort of see where the ball technology ends up going because, you know, obviously people talk all about the sound and, you know, somebody's got a 16 courts next to their neighborhood at seven in the morning and you got, you know, 100 plus people whacking the ball around. I'm interested to see where the paddle of technology and ball technology go and to see if it becomes a quieter game and things like that. What are your thoughts on some of those things?

00:20:55 --> 00:21:44 Yeah, I don't know how they're going to make this, you know, a quieter game because some of these paddles have so much pop to it. And the ball, pickleball is, you know, the ball is developed to be the way the ball is. And so I understand that certain, like, you know, communities, it's loud and, but they have to design courts, you know, where it is. And I know that it's hard. I know, I understand. And I, I was going to build a court in my own house and I was really cognizant of the peace that you have outside and of your neighbors, so. But, yeah, I think that they, they might change a little bit of the, the softness of the paddle and make it a little less loud and clicky. But I don't, I don't know. I don't, I'm not sure what they're going to do with that.

00:21:44 --> 00:22:15 Yeah. Yeah, well, we'll see. I mean, obviously the game is, it seems to be still in its wild, wild west phase where they're throwing everything up and seeing sort of what sticks and rule changes and obviously leagues coming and going and technology changing. It's going to be interesting to see where we are in about three to five years and what this has sort of become and what it's going to ultimately be. Because, I mean, again, if you would have told any of us what it is now, even, we would have been like, huh? Yeah, I know what is going on.

00:22:15 --> 00:22:22 I know I'm going to have to start doing like some, you know, illegal steroids or something to keep up. I don't know.

00:22:22 --> 00:23:03 Yeah, it is, it is crazy, the, the money being thrown at this game, too. I mean, you, you look at all that, you know, from travel to the leagues to pay, you know, people's salaries to paddle sponsorships. You know, I do a lot of reviews and I get people sending me tons of things and it's amazing. Everybody's sort of trying to find their niche in this landscape and it feels like there's got to be some sort of saturation point coming because, I mean, you know, I review paddles and there's an endless supply of brands still coming online that are, you know, and at some point we're going to be like, how many paddle manufacturers can we have?

00:23:03 --> 00:23:13 I know. It's overwhelming. I mean, I don't even keep up with it, to be honest. You don't have the time to keep up with it. It's just so much so, you know.

00:23:13 --> 00:23:29 You have a life, Kim. It's okay. I appreciate your time. Any shout outs you want to get to anybody or anybody, your sponsors and stuff before we get you out of here?

00:23:29 --> 00:24:03 Yeah, you know, I mean, definitely. Onyx, thank you for my sponsorship. You guys have been awesome and supportive. Thank you for these amazing paddles that I play with and. Yeah, and thank you to NPL. It has been amazing experience and they are always just trying to make it better and better and better every single weekend, and I just thoroughly enjoy it. The level of play is incredible and the amount of fun and then just being with your friends and all in the same location is just priceless to me. It really means a lot.

00:24:03 --> 00:24:27 Yeah, absolutely. It's a pretty cool thing to see from the outside that you see that community that you all have and the fun that you have in between the matches and the days you don't have the matches. It's a big celebration of pickleball in life and I think it's, you want to see how a tour or a league is run and people being treated like professionals. I would say, hey, check out NPL.

00:24:27 --> 00:24:32 Absolutely. I agree 100%. It just makes me smile.

00:24:32 --> 00:24:39 Yeah, absolutely. Thanks again, Kim. And hopefully next time I'm at an event, we can get a little face to face and talk in person.

00:24:39 --> 00:24:42 Okay. Thanks so much for having me. I appreciate it.

00:24:42 --> 00:25:15 Hope you enjoyed our conversation with Kim. Check out National Pickleball League action Cincinnati, end of the month and hey, at the end of the day, folks, let's pickle.