Show Notes
$20K, one point, zero room for error — Nathan joins the pod fresh off winning the first-ever Paddletek One Point Challenge with Zane as his partner. We break down how they actually pulled it off, plus the chainsaw serve that almost got them DQ'd in the final.
Also this week: the Shock swept the 5s at Beer City Open, Zane's prop bet died in front of everyone, and there's a new S-tier. Federico Staksrud's about to be the most valuable trade chip in the league — we rank who should go get him. Kate Fahey vs. Jorja Johnson gets heated. And Zane's got a real answer for how to stop teams from hunting Anna Leigh Waters all game.
Then the actual news: Paddletek just bought PIKKL and signed the whole Johnson family — JW, Jorja, and Julie — plus Hurricane Tyra Black. Ron and Joe Saslow explain why that deal happened, why paddle brands keep eating each other, and whether Padel is about to eat pickleball's lunch.
Oh, and there's a cereal draft.
🗳️ Vote on our Cereal Draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://www.discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z
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0:00 Intro
1:39 MLP Mid Season recap
6:48 Takeaways from the weekend
8:34 Three S-tier teams
10:52 Everyone needs Federico Staksrud
14:59 Salary cap and salary floor
20:29 Icing out Anna Leigh Waters
Nathan Furness
26:34 The Paddletek 1-Point Challenge
35:50 Going toe-to-toe with Zane
43:10 Somebody hire Nathan
45:55 Cereal draft
54:10 Guess my DUPR
Ron and Joe Saslow
59:25 Ron and Joe join the show
1:02:09 How do the Johnsons fit in?
1:04:42 The age of consolidation
1:12:15 Addressing the “doubters”
1:21:30 Bullish on pickleball
1:25:59 What’s more valuable: reviewers or pros? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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