Well. . .
Today, my official partnership with Selkirk comes to an end. 🥹
On October 12, 2022, I quit my full-time job and went all in on pickleball.
It was, without question, one of the top 3 pivotal decisions I’ve made in my life.
And I can say with 100% certainty that I would not have been able to do that without Selkirk.
See, six months before, I got a message on Facebook from Jim Barnes. He told me he’d been reading my newsletter — the one I was writing to just a few hundred people — and I should talk to his sons (who own Selkirk) about doing some content together.
I listened, and boy am I sure glad I did.
For more than three years, Selkirk has been my partner.
I've won medals with their paddles. I've been in commercials that ended up on national TV. I've shared their vision for the sport and watched firsthand how they operate with passion & integrity.
Which makes this such a bittersweet moment.
Ya know, I’ve always loved this quote, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” — A.A. Milne
The truth is, I’ve been lucky enough to have a few “somethings” that have made saying goodbye really, really difficult.
I remember crying the day I left my job at a hospital to lead camps at PGC basketball.
I cried again when I left PGC to pursue pickleball full-time.
And now I find myself here — at another crossroads, feeling that same pull of gratitude and the gentle weight of closing a chapter in my life that’s been so meaningful.
This morning, I re-watched this video before sending this email out, and couldn’t hold back the tears.
I am not where I am today without Selkirk taking a chance on me very early on.
And because of that, I will forever be a fan and supporter.
As for what’s next for me?
I can’t share all the details just yet, but here’s what I can tell you.
This decision wasn’t easy.
I’ve had a lot of long walks, late-night talks, and honest conversations with the people who know me best.
And the truth is, every time I zoomed out and pictured the future I want to build in this sport… all signs pointed in the same direction.
And the funny part?
It all started almost exactly like my Selkirk chapter did…
With a simple message out of the blue:
“Wanna join forces?”
A message I wasn’t expecting to receive, but one that I think a lot of you will really enjoy :)
I’ll share the announcement and story behind it tomorrow 🙂
-Kyle
PS. Thank you, Selkirk.
❤️
