Hinton may be a small town, but it boasts a rising star in the pickleball world—11-year-old Nate Partridge. Nate’s pickleball journey began last summer when, at just 10 years old, he started learning the game from his dad. Together, they won the local pickleball tournament as a father-and-son doubles team.

This summer, with the wildfires closing Jasper National Park—the family’s usual spot for hiking and paddleboarding—Nate decided to focus more seriously on pickleball. His dedication paid off when he competed in a Red Deer tournament in August, earning a Bronze medal in doubles and a Silver medal in singles in the junior category.

Now fully hooked on the sport, Nate trains twice a day. Recently, his family traveled to Post Falls, Idaho, for the 4th Annual Shootout tournament, where Nate made waves by competing in the men’s singles 3.0 division—since there was no junior category—and took home the Gold!

With aspirations of turning pro, Nate is eager to compete in as many tournaments as possible. You can catch some of his exciting matches on his YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@N8Partridge