We discuss the exhilarating finals in the National Pickleball League, highlighting the championship win by the Outback who have been crowned Season 3 champions. Host Adam, joined by commentators Dylan Kimlin and Ash Williams dissect the gripping final between the Outback and the Heat. Ash and Dylan takes us through the moments they knew it was over for each team in the finals. We talk key matches, standout players, intense moments, strategic plays, the importance of coaching and the potential changes ifor the league next season. The episode wraps up with a discussion on players' professionalism and the evolving nature of pickleball in Australia.

00:00 National Pickleball League Finals Recap

00:38 Commentators' Insights and Highlights

02:59 Team-by-Team Breakdown

04:03 The Adders' Struggles

06:49 Queensland's Boroughs and the 29ers

08:25 The Brumbies' Downfall

12:36 The Tide's Challenges

20:11 The Stingers' Setback

20:42 The Heat's Defeat

22:25 Team Unity and Momentum Shifts

22:50 Strategic Switches and Key Moments

23:49 Outback's Adaptability and Key Players

24:57 NPL's Unique Structure and Key Matches

26:48 Harry Brown's Rise and Future Prospects

31:24 Speculations on NPL's Future Format

40:46 Professionalism and Criticism in Pickleball

47:24 Final Thoughts

Zane Navratil - Our biggest guest yet!!! The accountant turned pickleball pro, known for the chainsaw serve and podcasting success. We discuss Zane's journey from spreadsheets to MLP, his experiences at the Melbourne PPA, and his impressions of the Australian pickleball scene. Zane shares insights into his competitive experiences, views on MLP rule changes, and the financial intricacies of pickleball leagues. We discuss the irony of transitioning from tennis to pickleball and Zane reads a Picklers Parchment article your go to for entertaining fake pickleball news. Zane recommends the best Barbecue in Austin and even has time to give Adam and Colin some tips to take them from a 4.5 to 5 DUPR (hopefully!).

00:00 Intro: Zane Navratil

00:33 How we met and first Impressions

02:42 Pickleball in Australia: A New Experience

05:53 Joey Wild's Journey to Pickleball and a clinic with Zane

08:58 Proton Bankruptcy and the stolen flaming flamingo

14:43 MLP Rule Changes

25:34 PWR League and Player Payments

29:16 The Pickle Pod: Evolution and Insights

32:23 Discovering Austin's Best Barbecue

34:39 Pickleball Training and Improvement

43:18 Pickler Parchment Fake News

49:00 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

In this episode Adam dives one on one into an inspiring conversation with Aaron Blitz, a pioneer of Australian pickleball. Aaron shares his journey from founding the Southeast Melbourne Pickleball Club to becoming the captain of the Melbourne Mavericks in Major League Pickleball Australia. Despite facing significant health challenges, including a battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma, Aaron's resilience and dedication have made him a leading figure in the sport. The episode covers his early days in pickleball, the growth of the sport in Victoria and his experiences as a pickleball ambassador. Aaron's story is one of resilience, leadership, pain and triumph over adversity.