Episode #28
Ryan Hanes- Pickleball is just part of his story
From wooden paddles at the YMCA to helping lead Canadian pickleball toward the world stage—Ryan Hanes has experienced the sport’s extraordinary evolution from almost every possible angle. Ryan is a Canadian national champion, elite coach, certified referee, tournament director and the Director of Competition for Pickleball Canada. In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, he shares how one seemingly ordinary visit to the Kingston YMCA ultimately transformed his life—and helped make him one of the most influential figures in Canadian pickleball. Ryan takes us back to a time when Kingston players competed on taped gym floors, dragged mats across RMC and played around walls, pillars and badminton lines. He also reflects on the people who built the local game, the friendships he developed across Canada and the remarkable journey from those grassroots beginnings to today’s dedicated facilities and national competitions. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore: Why pickleball is more accessible than virtually any other racquet sport The early days of pickleball in Kingston Ryan’s rise from new player to national champion The unforgettable experience of playing at the US Open How he became one of Canada’s leading coaches and tournament directors Why some tournaments are struggling despite pickleball’s continued growth His new role as Director of Competition for Pickleball Canada The creation of Canada’s high-performance program and Team Canada Whether pickleball is genuinely heading toward the Olympic Games His candid perspective on DUPR and privately controlled player data His friendship and future plans with Canadian legend Steve Deakin The story of Ryan’s long-haired days as an au pair in the Netherlands Why hearing “O Canada” still carries such powerful meaning for him Ryan doesn’t simply understand where Canadian pickleball is today—he helped build the pathway that brought it here. His perspective on where the sport is heading, and what must happen next, makes this an essential conversation for anyone who cares about the future of pickleball in Canada. Whether you’re a recreational player, tournament competitor, coach, official or someone considering picking up a paddle for the first time, this episode offers an extraordinary look at how one sport can reshape a life—and how one person can help reshape a sport. CONNECT WITH THE KINGSTON PICKLEBALL CLUB: Official website: https://kingstonpickleballclub.com/ Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kingstonpickleballclub/ Kingston Pickleball Club Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/367714510043537/ Pickleball Canada https://pickleballcanada.org Like this episode Tell us how pickleball first entered your life Subscribe to Kitchen Conversations for more honest conversations with the people building, leading and shaping the game #Pickleball #CanadianPickleball #RyanHanes #KitchenConversations #KingstonPickleballClub #PickleballCanada #PickleballPodcast #PickleballOntario #TeamCanada #PickleballCoach #PickleballTournament #DUPR #SteveDeakin #OlympicPickleball #PickleballCommunity And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations. If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do. And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast That’s where these stories really come to life. You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description. Until next time… more than dinks, drops and drives… these are stories from behind the paddle.
