Daily Racquetball’s Women Crush Wednesday Racquetball Influencers!
AKA Women Making Racquetball History Now!
We will feature another woman making racquetball history every Wednesday. Do you know someone else we should be celebrating with this interview and feature process? Drop us a line on Facebook!
———-
Name: Peggine Tellez
Are you a pro player, coach, association board member, tournament organizer, or racquetball broadcaster AKA why do racquetball players know you? I am the 3WallBall Event Director.
Where do you promote racquetball on social media and the web?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3WallBall
Twitter: https://twitter.com/3WallBall1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3wall_ball/
Website: https://www.3wallball.com/
Country of Origin: US
Place you consider home: Colorado
When & how where you introduced to the competitive side of racquetball?
Davis, California. Putting X husband through Law School and I was bored and thought I was done with sports after college. Heard the ball smacking against the wall and thought I’d give it a try. A couple guys started to teach me how to play and 3 months later, played in my first tournament.
Playing hand: Right.
Year you started playing racquetball: 1983
First female mentor or idol in racquetball: Lynn Adams
Favorite racquetball shot: Backhand pinch
Motivation for the game (what keeps you playing):
Continued good health – It has kept me alive and helped to motivate me to regain my health after serious illnesses.
Love most about racquetball:
There is something so freeing about playing, everything dissolves away for that time.
Preferred equipment:
Asics Shoes for 20+ years. ProKennex has been my racquet sponsor for 26 years, Love their consistency and improvements in technology.
Favorite event:
3WallBall Championships in Las Vegas and now the return of Beach Bash in Hollywood Beach, Florida.
Best results at tournaments you’ve played in:
Everything except an international award.
Day job: Financial Advisor
Charity close to your heart:
Military Racquetball Federation now known as Military Adaptive Court Sports introducing wounded service members to a variety of adaptive sports including racquetball.
Family shoutout:
My husband George has also served the racquetball community as a board of director for California Nevada Racquetball Association and supports all the time and energy it takes for me to be immersed in outdoor racquetball events.
Other sports played in addition to racquetball: Pickleball, Padel.
What can we do to activate more female players?
I run across so many people that say “I used to play RB”. Take it a step further and invite them to play with you in a one-on-one situation to rekindle that excitement. Encourage opportunities for your female friends to give it a try, not just sit on the sidelines. Outdoor makes that much easier – Its out in the sunshine! No club required.
What is your hope for the future of racquetball?
I think we are starting to see the crossover with indoor players experiencing the outdoor game which I believe makes us a stronger community. It’s all racquetball – indoor, outdoor, three wall, one wall – Lets Play!
How do you feel is the best way to help grow the sport of racquetball?
We have kids and grandkids that we could be introducing to the game – if the clubs won’t let them in – go outdoor. Tape some lines and find a concrete wall. Encourage communities to put up courts in their parks.
If you could bring one thing back from racquetball past – what would it be and why?
I don’t think it’s productive to look to the past to move forward. Whatever the environment that created successes then just aren’t present today. Adapting to the present circumstances and finding new ways to ignite the passion for the sport.
What do you do to train? Play, lift, play, play, play…
What is the biggest challenge you face right now as it comes to racquetball, and how do you work to overcome that challenge?
Getting the various RB entities to work together to support event success for all who put the time and energy into putting on events. Build alliances and communicating with each other – help to make each group successful. The cost of putting on sizable events is substantial and if the players don’t come out and support the event, if we don’t have new sponsors other than the ones whom have already stepped up or the racquet companies, then these events go away. Entry fees just don’t cut it. That being said – event directors have to really support the sponsors with high quality promoting, illustrate the benefits and opportunities whether it is via social media, media visibility or getting a number of eyeballs on the sponsors. Crafting a good player experience is vital as well. You are not going to please everyone, but the atmosphere and interaction is key to having players spread the word and return next year.