Pickle Paradise! Nola Pickle Fest with Drew Brees and Smirnoff, Back-to-School and RV Living
Laura Gainor
Founder & CEO of Pickleball in the Sun, World's First Pickleball Marketing Agency
This past weekend was an honor to be part of yet another incredible Smirnoff SMASH event with the Proof Media Mix team, this time supporting the Brees Dream Foundation and Drew Brees' 2nd annual Nola Pickle Fest. Smirnoff proudly featured the VIP Lounge, tournament participants played on our iconic Smirnoff SMASH court, and samples of Smirnoff SMASH Vodka Soda were provided in our activation area.
With many incredible vendors coming together to support this cause, and Drew Brees and Keegan-Michael Key entertaining the crowd with their celebrity exhibition match, it was an unforgettable event. Pickleball brands onsite included The Picklr , JOOLA（优拉）乒乓球 , PickleRoll , OluKai , and Stack Athletics .
The excitement peaked when Drew announced that the 3rd annual Nola Pickle Fest will feature none other than Andre Agassi taking on Drew in the 2025 event!
It was also a personal honor to represent Smirnoff in the Midnight Madness Sponsor tournament, where Courtney Clark, Pickleball in the Sun's pro, and I made it all the way to the Semi-Finals against the New Orleans Saints team. We can't wait for the 2025 event! Be sure to follow Pickleball in the Sun for highlights.
Courtney and I played an epic pickleball match against the New Orleans Saints ' Jonathan Pizzo and Michael Wolfert Jr that ended just after midnight with 3 intense games.
I loved having Brian Gainor and the kids in New Orleans to experience the event! Clara and Garrett got the opportunity to meet Drew Brees and one of our favorite comedians, Keegan-Michael Key.
Check out our Pickleball in the Sun Instagram channel for highlights from Nola Pickle Fest!
Smirnoff SMASH Vodka Soda 'Rallies' at Nola Pickle Fest with Football Legend Drew Brees to Kick off Fall "SMASH" Pickleball Series
If you couldn't make it down South this time for the Nola Pickle Fest, Smirnoff is taking the competition on the road and calling all pickleball fans to join in on the Smirnoff SMASH Series! Bringing SMASH Vodka Soda's doubly delicious flavors to three additional markets, including Illinois, Michigan and Arizona, the new Ready-To-Drink offering is teaming up with local legends to host the tournaments and play alongside fans. Who knows, you might get a chance to meet (or beat) your favorite legend on the court! Dates to be announced in advance of other markets.
Premier Pickleball Destination Feature: Luray RV Resort & Campground and Endless Caverns Resort
This past May, our family kicked off the summer with an unforgettable trip to Luray RV Resort & Campground and Endless Caverns in Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley. If you love camping and pickleball, these two fantastic resorts owned by Blue Water are a must-visit. They offer a variety of accommodations to suit your style, from bringing your own RV or tent to renting cabins, airstreams, or glamping tents. With countless activities for all ages, including brand-new dedicated pickleball courts, we can't wait to return and experience the Shenandoah Valley in every season. Highly recommended!
Be sure to check out our latest feature in Pickleball Magazine and watch our highlight reel on Instagram.
领英推荐
Our dog Charlotte celebrated her 8th birthday while on vacation:) Such an incredible trip in the Shenandoah Valley and we cannot wait to go back!
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Build Fellow @ STVL | Innovation & Growth Strategy | Author | Educator Solving Wicked Problems
3 个月I love that your family is so involved in what you do! Reading your stories and posts is like having a front seat to pickleball history and learning about how something becomes a movement (pickleball is a movement right?).