SAIPAN — What started as a taped-off court in the parking lot of Paradise Dental Spa during the height of COVID-19 has grown into one of the CNMI’s fastest-expanding recreational communities, with organizers now estimating more than 400 local players and regular tournaments drawing well over 100 participants.
That was the message from Nelson and Donna Krum of Paradise Dental Spa, who joined Good Morning Marianas host Brad Ruszala on Wednesday, December 10, to talk about how pickleball took root on Saipan and how the sport is continuing to spread across the Marianas and beyond.
Donna Krum said the push began in early 2020 after the couple’s family encouraged them to consider pickleball. He sister described pickleball as the fastest-growing sport in the United States at a time when indoor activities were limited. She said they learned the game largely through online videos and played their first matches in June 2020 on a taped court at the dental office with a small group of staff.
Dr. Nelson Krum said the group started with seven players and limited play to Friday and Saturday mornings because the parking lot was needed for patients the rest of the week. He said participation has since climbed to more than 400 players, with tournaments now typically drawing 130 to 160 entrants.
The couple also described what they said was the CNMI’s first pickleball tournament run specifically as a fundraiser, after the Lions Club approached them about partnering on an event. Nelson said the tournament drew more than 150 players and concluded late Sunday night after three days of play.
During the interview, the Krums emphasized beginner development and outreach as key to sustaining growth, pointing to a six-week beginner training program they said helped new players compete in the recent tournament. They also highlighted expansion beyond the original courts, including play at American Memorial Park and Capitol Hill, and said a separate group recently invested in a new indoor facility independent of the federation’s efforts.
Nelson also shared updates from the Global Pickleball Federation’s annual meeting in Manila, where he said 47 countries were represented and where Olympic pathway discussions were part of the agenda. He said the conference highlighted major growth in Asia, and the Krums discussed how sports tourism tied to pickleball could become one additional way the CNMI markets itself to regional travelers.
They also cited local outreach efforts, including introducing pickleball through community groups and sending equipment to contacts overseas, and described the sport as a community-building activity that “brings out the best in people.”
