Industry News

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McMahon to Head New Tennis Service Rep Program

A new “national sales force for tennis” may soon provide help to those who are in the field delivering tennis programs at the recreational level.

Dozens of “Tennis Service Representatives” are being hired by the USTA sections, with support from the USTA national office, to help “assess the tennis needs of communities and help people to do their jobs in the most efficient way possible,” says Mark McMahon, the USTA’s new national manager for the TSRs. McMahon, who has been a teaching pro and tennis director for 25 years, joined the USTA in August to oversee the TSR program.

“The objective is to drill down directly to the operators — the people in the field who deliver the programs,” says McMahon. “The TSRs become a conduit, a facilitator, in helping local tennis programs find what they need to increase participation.”

McMahon says there will be at least 47 TSRs, who will report to the USTA sections to which they’re assigned. The number of TSRs will vary depending on the needs of the sections — larger sections generally will have more TSRs. As of mid-October, about 30 TSRs had been hired.

The TSRs will be supported by a combination of national and sectional funding. Kurt Kamperman, the USTA’s chief executive of Community Tennis, says the national office has committed $12 million over the next three years to the program.

Another aspect of McMahon’s responsibilities will deal with Tennis Welcome Centers. “The Tennis Welcome Centers should be a rallying point for the industry,” he says. “They should be a point of differentiation and represent value for the player and the center operator. One of the goals of TSRs will be to help raise the standards at every tennis center.”

McMahon, who grew up in Australia and learned tennis at a public park in Melbourne, came to the U.S. in 1979. He’s a PTR member and a USPTA Master Pro, and most recently was the director of tennis at the Dunwoody Country Club in Atlanta. Prior to that, he was at clubs in Florida for many years, and has also served on various committees and boards.

“My perspective is built on 25 years of being a teaching pro and club pro,” says McMahon. “This is a real opportunity to put the service back in tennis.”

Racquet Sports Industry Launches Magazine Website

Now, all the news and features you’ve read about in Racquet Sports Industry are available on the internet. In September, we launched racquetsportsindustry.com.

The new website features an issues index, which lists every edition of RSI with links to all the stories that have appeared in the magazine. And if you’re looking for a particular topic, we include a search feature.

We also have pages that deal with our advertising rates and page specifications. And you can even subscribe to RSI, or have your friends and colleagues subscribe, via our website.

USTA Recognizes 10 Facilities for Excellence

Ten public tennis centers have been honored in the 24th annual USTA Facility Awards Program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of public tennis facilities in the U.S.

The names of the 10 will be inscribed on a large wall plaque displayed in the lobby of the USTA National Tennis Center, home of the US Open. Each of the facilities will also receive a one-year complimentary membership to the USTA, a certificate of recognition, and a wooden wall plaque and large lexan sign to display on the outside of their facility.

“We are pleased to recognize these facilities for their hard work and commitment to achieving higher standards … [and] in helping the USTA to promote and develop the growth of tennis,” says Kurt Kamperman, the USTA’s chief executive of Community Tennis. The award winners are:

Public courts (2-9 courts): Ottawa Township High School Tennis Courts, Ottawa, Ill.

Public courts (10+ courts): Barbara S. Wynne Tennis Center, Indianapolis; Centro De Tenis Honda, Bayamón, Puerto Rico; Swim & Racquet Center, Boca Raton, Fla.

Collegiate tennis centers: Princeton University Tennis Center, Princeton, N.J.

Private facilities that support the USTA and other growth of the game programs open to the public: Carmel Valley Athletic Club, Carmel, Calif.; Carmel Valley Ranch Resort, Carmel, Calif.; Chad Gamble Tennis Courts, Paducah, Ky.; I’on Club, Mount Pleasant, S.C.; The Atlanta Athletic Club & Tennis Center, Duluth, Ga.

USPTA Honors Leaders in the Tennis Profession

The USPTA honored its top teachers, coaches, players, volunteers and managers during an awards ceremony at the USPTA World Conference on Tennis in September. The annual 10-day conference was at the Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Marco Island, Fla.

Rick Macci of Deerfield Beach, Fla., received the association’s top annual member award, the Alex Gordon Award for the USPTA Professional of the Year. Macci, founder of the Rick Macci Tennis Academy, is known for his success coaching some of the world’s top players.

The USPTA Star, recognizing teaching pros who make an indelible mark on their communities through the sport of tennis, was awarded to John J. “Jack” Foster of Sugar Land, Texas, and Robert Reed of Lane County, Ore.

Punam Kersten, director of the McFarlin Tennis Center in San Antonio, received the USPTA Industry Excellence Award. The award is sponsored by the Tennis Industry Association and supported by Tennis Tutor ball machines.

The Facility Manager of the Year award was given to Brad Ellinger, a nonmember in Burlington, N.C., and Mike Woody, a USPTA member in Midland, Mich. Ellinger is general manager of the Alamance Country Club, and Woody is managing director of the Midland Community Tennis Center.

The USTA/USPTA Community Service Award was presented to Ben Press of San Diego. Press is president of a nonprofit group that oversees the use of funds to refurbish and upgrade public tennis facilities.

Martina Widjaja, president of the Indonesian Tennis Association, was named a USPTA Honorary Member.

Other honorees are: Bob McKinley, New Braunfels, Texas, Touring Coach of the Year; Peter Burling, Granville, Ohio, College Coach of the Year; Dale Eshelbrenner, Kansas City, Mo., High School Coach of the Year; Tommy Wade, Tuscaloosa, Ala., George Bacso Tester of the Year.

Division Player of the Year honors went to: Anders Eriksson, Austin, Men’s Open; Kevin Pope, Fremont, Calif., Men’s 35-and-Over ; Jason Morton, Sun Lakes, Ariz., co-Men’s 45-and-Over; Val Wilder, Fort Worth, Texas, co-Men’s 45-and-Over; Julie Cass, Austin, Women’s Open; Robin Keener, Melbourne, Fla., Women’s 35-and-Over; Kathy Vick, Lubbock, Texas, Women’s 45-and-Over.

USPTA divisions receiving awards were: Texas, Division of the Year; Midwest, Newsletter of the Year; Southwest, Most Improved.

In•Tenn Online Magazine Offers Free Subscription

In•Tenn, the video/online tennis magazine, is offering a free 15-month subscription for its new OnLine Edition for RSI readers.

To access the online magazine, visit the In•Tenn website, click on the “subscribe” button, enter the code rsi920 into the appropriate slot, click enter, then register. You will need to remember your ID name and password to log in each time you visit the site. The free subscription to the OnLine Edition will end Dec. 31, 2006.

Korb Wins PTR Wheelchair Honor

Karin Korb of Atlanta received the PTR Wheelchair Pro of the Year Award, presented during the PTR/ROHO $15,000 Wheelchair Tennis Championships, held Sept. 21 to 25 on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Korb, a new PTR member, works tirelessly to promote wheelchair tennis and sports (see page 30).

Korb (right, with, from left, Scott Crosswhite of Quickie, Julie Jilly of the PTR, the tournament director; PTR Founder Dennis Van der Meer; and Tom Oleksy of the ROHO Group) is the program development manager for BLAZE, promoting sports for the disabled. She’s ranked No. 2 in the U.S. and No. 15 internationally in wheelchair tennis.

The PTR’s Golden Eagle Award for service to the game of wheelchair tennis was presented to Harlon Matthews of McDonough, Ga. Matthews, a PTR-certified instructor, coaches many able-bodied players. In recognition of his honor, Sports Tutor gave Matthews a Tennis Tutor ball-throwing machine. The Sportsmanship Award went to Bryan Lankford of Macon, Ga.

Open division winners of the PTR/ROHO Wheelchair Championships are: Men’s Singles: David Hall, Australia; Men’s Doubles: Hall and Jayant Mistry, England; Women’s Singles: Esther Vergeer, Netherlands; Women’s Doubles: Vergeer and Jiske Griffioen, Netherlands.

Loehr to Headline ASBA Technical Meeting in Tampa

Jim Loehr will be the keynote speaker at the American Sports Builders Association’s Technical Meeting and Trade Show, to be held Dec. 4 to 6 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay in Tampa, Fla. Loehr is chairman, CEO, and co-founder of LGE Performance Systems, a training company for business executives, professional athletes, and others.

The Technical Meeting offers seminars and presentations on court building and other topics related to facility construction and maintenance. The Trade Show will feature some of the newest products and services in the industry.

To register for the conference, visit the Sports Builders website. For more information, call 866-501-ASBA.

Wilson, Nickelodeon Offer SpongeBob Racquets

Nickelodeon’s fun-loving, sea-dwelling sponge brings his enthusiasm to the world of sporting goods in a special line of tennis racquets for kids. Through a partnership with Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products, Wilson Racquet Sports created a line of SpongeBob SquarePants tennis racquets that will hit stores in early 2006.

Wilson’s SpongeBob SquarePants line is targeted to boys and girls ages 2 to 11 and is available in 19-, 21- and 23-inch lengths.

“SpongeBob SquarePants is a cultural icon adored by kids,” says Sherice Torres, vice president for Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products. “Partnering with Wilson is a great opportunity to use his loveable character to encourage fitness and get kids excited about playing tennis.”

For more information, visit the Wilson website.

Eight Tennis Teachers Earn USPTA Master Professional

Eight tennis pros recently earned recognition as USPTA Master Professionals, the highest professional rating within the organization. Only about 1 percent of USPTA’s more than 13,000 members worldwide have achieved the Master Pro designation. The eight were recognized during an awards presentation at the 78th World Conference on Tennis in September. They are:

Fred Burdick, Dalton, Ga., owner/director of Mountain View Tennis
Jeff Hawes, Gibsonville, N.C., tennis director at Alamance Country Club
Will Hoag, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., director of tennis at Coral Ridge Country Club
Dan O’Connell, Nadi, Fiji, South Pacific, International Tennis Federation development officer, Pacific Oceania
Albert “Allie” Ritzenberg, Bethesda, Md., founder/director of St. Alban’s Tennis Club
Paul Roetert, Ph.D., Key Biscayne, Fla., managing director of USA Tennis High Performance
Pat Whitworth, Stone Mountain, Ga., director of tennis at Hamilton Mill
David Zeutas-Broer, Worcester, Mass., director of high performance and junior competition for USA Tennis New England.

Peoplewatch

Steve Appleton, Micron Technology Inc.’s chairman, CEO, and president, won the 2005 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Achievement Award, presented by Montblanc and Tennis Week Magazine. Appleton attended Boise State University on a tennis scholarship from 1978-82.
Brad Singer is the tennis national sales manager and business development officer for Tail Inc., and Andrea Varat is the new customer fulfillment manager.
Tim Miles is the new regional sales manager for northern and southern Florida for Gamma Sports. Miles was Gamma’s regional sales manager for Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle since 2004.
Andre Agassi, playing with a Head Flexpoint Radical OS, reached the final of the US Open this year for the sixth time in his career. Agassi and Head joined forces in the summer of 1993, and Agassi has won seven of eight career Grand Slam titles playing with Head’s Radical tennis racquets.
Current No. 2-ranked racquetball player Jack Huczek (right) will wear Ashaway’s new 500i line of racquetball shoes. Huczek, the 2004 world champion, consulted on the design of the shoes.
Jim Kohr, a member of Team Gamma/Fischer, won the Men’s 35 Doubles and Mixed Doubles at the 2005 USPTA International Championships. He plays with the Fischer Magnetic Speed racquet and Gamma’s Live Wire Professional string.

Wilson Launches Redesigned Website

Wilson Racquet Sports recently launched a new tennis website with flash features and enhanced product, player, and tour information available at the Wilson Tennis website.

The website features information on top-ranked players and the Wilson gear they use including Roger Federer, the Bryan Brothers, Lindsay Davenport, and Venus and Serena Williams. It also features a special flash section and information on the new W line of high performance racquets for women that debuted prior to the start of the 2005 US Open.

The W line is a series of frames engineered for women that combines Wilson’s nCode technology with a new frame construction, added comfort features, and vibrant cosmetics and patterns. Wilson also plans to add an interactive section where fans can download screensavers and other fun features along with background on Wilson.

USTA Offers ‘Tennis for Life’ Bracelets

The USTA has reached an agreement with Peter Burwash International for the non-exclusive right to use the “Tennis for Life” trademark on 80,000 bracelets to promote the lifetime health benefits of the game. “Tennis for Life,” the title of a book authored by Peter Burwash and the theme for many of the seminars he has given, is a registered trademark of PBI.

“We owe a debt of thanks to Peter Burwash for allowing the USTA and our 17 sections to use the ‘Tennis for Life’ trademark,” says Kurt Kamperman, the USTA’s chief executive of Community Tennis. “‘Tennis for Life’ succinctly positions tennis as a lifetime sport with unparalleled health benefits.”

Roddick Wears New Babolat Tennis Shoe

Babolat and Andy Roddick teamed up just before the US Open to introduce the new Babolat Team All Court tennis shoe to the U.S. market. Roddick, who signed an agreement to wear the shoe starting in 2006, actually began wearing them at the Cincinnati Masters Series Tournament in August, and then at the 2005 Open.

“I wore them for the first time [in Cincinnati] and they performed great,” says Roddick, who will be working with Babolat on his own signature model that will be available in the spring. Roddick, along with executives from Babolat and Michelin, introduced the shoe at a press conference in New York City just before the US Open.

Babolat and Michelin combined their expertise and resources in developing the first tennis shoe with a Michelin sole for sale in the U.S. The Team All Court ($99 suggested retail) is the first in what will be a six-model line of durable, high-performance tennis shoes sold in the U.S.

For more information, visit the Babolat website or call 877-316-9435.

Classifieds

FOR SALE: Gamma 6500 Els NEAR NEW. $300 in EXTRAS incl. Retails for $1,700 + shipping, but can be yours for $1,300 OBO. Buyer pays shipping, but machine can be packed in custom crate for safest ship. Seller located in Davis, CA. (Pickup also available.) Contact Ed @ edmartinet@ucdavis.edu or 530/400-5203. Should go fast, don’t wait!

FOR SALE: Tecnifibre TF5500 electronic stringing machine, excellent condition, with extra center clamps and cover; $3800 includes shipping within continental US. Contact Vince Chiarelli at 727/595-7068 or e-mail stringalong@tampabay.rr.com.

FOR SALE: Wilson H Rival, 4½ grip, strung with Wilson Reaction at 63 lbs.; used once. Asking: $100. Contact: Don Donati, donati18@comcast.net or 860/669-6726.

FOR SALE: 7 Prince DNA Helix squash strings, 17 gauge; 3 Prince Duraflex badminton strings, 21 gauge; 1 Prince Extender squash string, 17 gauge. Call Heidi at 310/573-1331 or e-mail: HeidiWessels@earthlink.net for more info.

FOR SALE: Prince, Wilson, Volkl assortment of grommets for sale. Huge selection available! Call Heidi at 310/573-1331 to make an offer.

FOR SALE: Available spare and extra parts for a Prince NEOS 2000 stringer. Call Heidi at 310/573-1331 to make an offer.

FOR SALE: Assorted tennis racquets. Demos and new frames, including shoes. Contact Heidi for list and prices at 310/573-1331 or e-mail: heidiwessels@earthlink.net.

FOR SALE: Three (3) Head Prestige midsize frames, 4-3/8 grips, strung w/Intellistring Very good condition. Asking: $75. Contact: Fred Feldman, e-mail Feldman@bard.edu.

FOR SALE: Over 300 sets of grommets available for tennis, racquetball and squash. Will make a deal on large quantities and would like to sell them all. Make offer. I can send an Excel spreadsheet of the exact items. Contact: Larry at 303/422-4540 or e-mail Larry@coloradoracquetsports.com.

FOR SALE: Specialty Tennis Shop located in fastest growing county in SW Florida in major business district. Secured accounts. Established clientele & lessons. Will train new owner. Secured lease with shop frontage at major intersection. Financing available for qualified buyer. Asking: $85,000 US (price dependent on inventory). Serious inquiries only: 941/629-3398.

STRINGERS WANTED: We’re looking for a professional stringer with experience to work in our new store. We’re the largest tennis store in Texas with a large daily volume of racquets. Come join our Team. Send resume to Brad@TennisExpress.com or fax: 713/781-1237.

Prince O3 Technology Wins Design Award

Prince Sports has received the Red Dot Design Award in recognition of its design quality for O3 Technology. The Red Dot Design Awards is one of the largest design competitions worldwide. In 2005, there were 638 entries from 24 countries in the competition.

“This is the inaugural year for O3 Technology, and it has been embraced by the tennis community,” says Linda Glassel, v.p. of marketing communications for Prince. “But it’s also causing people outside the tennis world to do a double-take. It’s an honor to receive such a distinguished design award, and we’re proud of the team inside our company who created a racquet so unique that the world is taking notice.”

In other O3-related news, the Web Marketing Association has recognized the Prince O3 micro website with the 2005 WebAward for Outstanding Achievement in Website Development. It is the third award that the micro site has won in 2005. For more information, visit the Prince Tennis website.

Van der Meer Honored at TTC

Franklin Johnson and Dennis Van der Meer

On Aug. 27, after devoting the day on court for Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, Dennis Van der Meer was presented with the inaugural USTA Faculty Emeritus Award by USTA President Franklin Johnson at the USTA Tennis Teacher’s Conference in New York City. The award was presented in recognition of Van der Meer’s 35 consecutive years giving presentations to attendees at the conference. Van der Meer (below right) is the founder and president of the PTR.

PTR Sets 2006 Symposium

The 2006 PTR International Tennis Symposium and $25,000 Championships will be Feb. 18-24. For those registering before Dec. 1, the fee is $295.

Registration includes more than 40 presentations, the Awards Banquet, Recognition Breakfast, three dinner parties, trade show, and more. For more information or to register, call 800-421-6289 or visit the PTR website.

June / July MRTs

Randy Dugan — Cincinnati, OH
Nate Engler — Grand Rapids, MI
Sharon Hall — Athens, GA
Larry Niemeyer — Desperes, MO
Baris Sevinc — Huntington, CT

August / September MRTs

Adam Arriaga — Kyle, TX
Caleb Brooks — San Luis Obispo, CA
Jose Castaneda — Kyle, TX
Kelly Gunterman — Stratton Mtn, VT
Chris Kohl — Lebanon, MO
Jorge Mesarina — Winter Park, FL
Jesse McNamara — San Luis Obispo, CA
Layne Nielson — San Luis Obispo, CA
Chris Neutill — San Luis Obispo, CA
Darin Norton — West Olive, MI
Preston Payton — Austin, TX
Chris Patranella — San Antonio, TX
Mark Roberts — San Luis Obispo, CA
Robert Russett — Ocala, FL
Matthew Schrader — Ft. Wayne, IN
Steve Smith — Cincinnati, OH
Arun Srinivasan — San Luis Obispo, CA
Erin Stark — San Luis Obispo, CA
Angie Zguna — Winter Park, FL
Kim Zylker — San Luis Obispo, CA

Short Sets

The U.S. Davis Cup squad beat Belgium, 4-1, in September to remain in the World Group and be eligible to compete for the Cup in 2006. Seeded eighth in the 16-team field, the U.S. will play one of the eight unseeded teams in the first round, Feb. 10-12, at a site to be determined by the host nation.
SlingHopper Inc. and Gamma Sports provided about 20 PTR teaching pros with SlingHopper drill bags during the 2005 Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day of court games and activities. For more information visit the SlingHopper website.
Martina Hingis led the New York Sportimes to its first World TeamTennis champions at the WTT Finals presented by Advanta, defeating the defending champ Newport Beach Breakers 21-18, at Allstate Stadium in Citrus Heights, Calif., in September.
Fila announced that it will continue to sponsor US Open champ Kim Clijsters for the duration of her career. Clijsters has been with the Italian apparel brand for four years.
US Open SmashZone presented by AOL, an interactive tennis experience put on during the US Open, set a record attendance of 145,000 during the two weeks of the tournament.
Humanitarian and world-class tennis player Arthur Ashe was immortalized on a postage stamp when the U.S. Postal Service conducted a first-day-of-issue stamp dedication ceremony under the shadows of the stadium bearing his name. The ceremony took place as part of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day activities kicking off the 2005 US Open.
Tennis Magazine’s Most Memorable Moments of the Past 40 Years, a celebration of the magazine’s 40th anniversary, debuted on The Tennis Channel in September.
Tennis fans who wagered on BetonSports.com that Gilles Muller and Ekaterina Bychkova would upset Andy Roddick and Svetlana Kuznetsova, respectively, at this year’s US Open cashed in. A $100 bet on Muller returned $750, while the same bet on Bychokova earned $650, according to the website.
USTA Magazine won an American Graphic Design Award for its May/June 2004 issue, which featured race car driver Jeff Gordon on the cover (“Rev Up Your Game!”), and contained a “Come Out Swinging” section promoting the Tennis Welcome Center program.
The Lincoln Family Life Center of Los Angeles will honor former Wimbledon and U.S. champion Althea Gibson with a tribute via a Pro/Celebrity Golf & Tennis Invitational Dec. 2-3 at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Resort in Ojai, Calif. A formal dinner will be held Dec. 3. For information, visit the Lincoln Family Life Center website or call 323-293-8535 ext.12 or 15.
American standout James Blake and former world No. 1 Martina Hingis will join other tennis greats at the 13th annual Advanta World TeamTennis Smash Hits presented by the Hershey Company on Nov. 7 at the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pa. For ticket information, call 717-534-3911 or visit the TicketMaster website.
The nominations for the 2006 International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ballot are: Patrick Rafter, Gabriela Sabatini, Michael Stich, Sven Davidson, Christine Truman Janes, Gianni Clerici, and Eiichi Kawatei.
The DecoTurf website, has been redesigned with a fresh, new look, more technical data, court layouts, and a unique tennis court colorizer.

Hot NYC Party Marks Debut of Wilson ‘W’ Line

Wilson Racquet Sports’ tennis stars, including Roger Federer, Venus and Serena Williams, and Justine Henin-Hardenne, took an evening off from their US Open preparations to join the company at its huge launch party for the new W line of racquets for women.

Wilson says the W line is the first-ever comprehensive line of high performance racquets engineered and designed specifically for women. The line combines Wilson’s nCode technology with a new construction and distinct cosmetics in a series of nine frames that hit retailers in October.

“The W line represents a new concept for the industry by developing a line of racquets exclusively for women taking into account playability, performance, look, and feel,” says Brian Dillman, v.p. of Global Marketing for Wilson. “We are the first company to address the needs of the athlete first and then take individual style as a very important criteria in selecting a racquet.”

Former No. 7-ranked player Barbara Schett, who emceed the New York launch party, is the spokesperson for the W line. Schett, 28, retired in 2005 after 12 years on the tour.

The W line is categorized into three headsizes. Suggested retail prices range from $199.99 to $269.99. The line also features accessories that correspond to the racquet design including bags, visors, caps, and trucker hats. In association with Wilson’s Hope line, for every purchase from the W line, Wilson makes a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

In other Wilson news, Federer, playing with the Wilson nSix-One Tour, successfully defended his US Open singles title this year. And in an all-Wilson doubles final, Bob and Mike Bryan defeated Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi. The Bryans play with the nPro Surge and Bjorkman and Mirnyi with the nSix-One 95.

For more information, visit the Wilson Tennis website or call 800-272-6060.

Völkl Launches New Becker Racquet Series

Völkl Sport America’s newest product line is a series of frames designed by, and played with by, former champion Boris Becker. The new Boris Becker (BB) line will consist of racquets for every type of player, along with a series of equipment bags and grips.

Over the next year, a total of four BB frames will be launched: a game-improvement racquet, a “tweener” frame, an entry-level frame, and the BB10 performance racquet, for players 3.5 and higher. Völkl Tennis Vice President Chris Pearson says the BB10 has been out on the international market since early summer and already is the company’s best seller.

The BB10 is available now in the U.S. It has a 100-square-inch head size, a strung weight of 10.9 ounces, and a head-light balance. Suggested retail is $160 (with a minimum advertised price of $139).

The line is the first racquet series to carry the Boris Becker name. “I have put all my personal tennis knowledge and many years of experience into the creation and development that you will find in this new racquet series,” says Becker, who is also a co-owner of Völkl Tennis GmbH. “From the recreational club player to the tournament-level player, every style will find a suitable racquet in this new range.”

The BB series is designed to complement the Völkl DNX racquet series, says Sarah Maynard, director of marketing and promotions for Völkl Tennis. “DNX racquets are still a very large focus,” with minimum advertised prices (MAP) of $150 and higher, she says. “The BB line will have MAP prices between $100 and $150.”

For more information, call 603-298-0314, e-mail tennis@voelkl-tennis.com, or visit the Völkl website.

Tennis Industry Association Update

Cardio Tennis

The official consumer launch of Cardio Tennis took place during the US Open, with fitness guru Denise Austin, Mary Joe Fernandez, Wayne Bryan and his sons, Bob and Mike, the Cleveland Clinic, plus many media representatives. Articles and ads are set to appear in many consumer publications. To date, 3,000 DVDs have been requested and distributed to teaching pros and facilities across the country and more than 800 facilities have gone through the approval process to become an official Cardio Tennis site. A partner’s website was designed for the industry to use which includes a tools section with web banners, logos and marketing material; curriculum section with animated drills and video, plus a Health Beat section with a health & fitness guide.

Cardio Tennis Workshops

TIA Staff and Cardio Tennis Speakers Teams have presented 25 workshops to nearly 700 tennis teachers. The four-hour training sessions include seminars and on-court demonstrations and approaches. More workshops are scheduled for the remainder of 2005, including Michigan in November and Fort Lauderdale in December.

Tennis Welcome Centers

With great exposure of TennisWelcomeCenter.com during the US Open and US Open Series, in addition to the continuing industry support on racquet hangtags, tennis ball cans, shoe box inserts, etc., the Tennis Welcome Center website saw a record number of hits during 2005 and facilities reported an increase in consumer interest. A toll-free nationwide customer service line was added and improved website enhancements, giving TWCs an opportunity to provide program information and receive feedback. An e-mail postcard feature allowed TWCs to receive a record 8,000 direct contacts from the consumer. The renewal process for 2006 begins in December with a new marketing campaign under way and lesson plan: Learn to Play Tennis Fast.

Growing Tennis 50/50

More than 100 entrepreneurs took advantage of the extra marketing dollars available from the USTA/TIA Co-op program to help promote tennis to new adult and junior players. Approved facilities can receive $500 to $5,000 in matching advertising/promotional dollars to reach new players. Visit he Growing Tennis website.

TennisConnect.org

In one seven-week period alone, more than 100,000 online court bookings took place, and the testimonials continue to roll-in on how the player-match engine, court scheduler, program calendar and online registration system have been successful additions for both members and facility operators. Visit the Tennis Connect website.

TennisWire.org

Featuring industry news from TIA members and affiliates, TennisWire.org has expanded its frequency and is electronically distributed to more than 12,000 industry contacts in addition to tennis writers and publications.

Research

The most comprehensive single-sport participation study — the U.S. Tennis Participation Study — is under way for the fourth consecutive year. With 25,500 telephone interviews starting and follow-up interviews with 1,500 players, former players and non-players, Sports Marketing Surveys and The Taylor Research & Consulting Group have combined efforts to produce the largest report of its kind to measure tennis participation in the United States.

Community Tennis Development Workshop Set for California in February

The theme for the 2006 Community Tennis Development Workshop, “Heroes Among Us,” is designed to honor those who have shaped community tennis. And, if the last few years are any guide, the upcoming CTDW will continue the tradition of shaping tennis in communities around the country.

By many accounts, the CTDW, which will be Feb. 3-5 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, Calif., is one of the most impactful in terms of educating, informing, and inspiring those who actually deliver tennis programs at the grassroots level. For the last few years, the event has been growing in popularity and attendance. Last year, the CTDW, held in Destin, Fla., brought in nearly 700 people from around the country. Now, officials at the USTA are realizing how important this conference is — and can be — to growing the game, so they’re planning on ramping up the promotion of the event.

The 2006 CTDW will feature a full lineup of educational sessions, designed for anyone who is involved with Community Tennis Associations, tennis facilities, public parks, teaching and coaching tennis, and more. Negotiations are pending at press time for keynote speaker Jim MacLaren (who also spoke at the USA Tennis Teachers Conference in August in New York), a motivational and inspirational speaker who appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show in September (right).

Registration details were still being worked out at press time, but visit the USTA website for more information.

Tennis Groups Rally For Hurricane Victims

Many associations and companies involved in tennis donated to relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims. The USTA announced that it will donate $500,000 from the US Open proceeds to the Red Cross effort. In addition, donations were taken on-site from fans. Other relief efforts include:

Tecnifibre has donated racquets, string, grips, bags, and tennis balls to the Tulane University men’s and women’s tennis teams, which have relocated to Texas A&M University. “Our teams got out of New Orleans essentially with overnight bags and the clothes on their backs,” says David Schumacher, Tulane’s head women’s coach. “Tecnifibre has generously offered what we need to get back in the game.”

Prince Sports has donated nearly $50,000 worth of apparel to hurricane victims, and the manufacturer also has launched a program through its dealers called “Demo For Relief,” in which participating dealers who require racquet demo fees have been asked to donate the money. “We encourage all tennis enthusiasts to demo a racquet and help make a difference in the lives of those affected,” says Prince USA President Doug Fonte.

USPTA is asking for donations to assist its member tennis-teaching professionals and their families. Many not only lost their jobs, but they also lost their homes. Donations may be made at the uspta website. donations of cash or assistance with temporary or permanent jobs will be accepted by the uspta world headquarters and distributed by the uspta’s southern and florida divisions and districts. employers with job openings should contact fred burdick in the uspta southern division, at usptaexdir@alltel.net.

The USTA Southern Section is donating at least $100,000 to help with tennis-related relief and recovery efforts, including the rebuilding and repairing of damaged facilities, assistance to displaced tennis pros and the re-establishment of adult and junior USTA programs at temporary sites.

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