CHIX talk pickleball with Ritchie Tuazon - Owner of Pickleball Dynasty TEAM BLQK

CHIX talk pickleball with Ritchie Tuazon - Owner of Pickleball Dynasty TEAM BLQK

Bring me the next shiny new thing. The pickleball CHIX are obsessed with America's fastest growing sports pickable. Get ready for on and off the court hot topics, lots of last cocktails and champagne with your hosts, Annie and Rebecca.

This is the seventh episode where the Pickleball CHIX talk with Mr. Ritchie Tuazon founder and co-owner of major league team BLQK. BLQK was one of the first 8 teams to be a part of major league pickleball in 2021. They made history as MLP's Season 1 Champs. It's an exciting episode, thank you for joining us!

Today’s “Word of the Day”

JOY - learn about BLQK's dedication by clicking here.

Today’s In the Kitchen Cocktail

BLQK TINI - in honor of our guest.

History of the Drink - inspired by BLQK Coffee, who are on a mission to grow the exciting sport of pickleball, and to spread joy that comes from playing pickleball.

Meet one of the nicest guys and owners in the Major League Pickleball space. Mr.Ritchie Tauzon, co-owner of TEAM BLQK. BLQK was one of the original eight major league pickleball teams in 2021 and made history taking the championship in 2021 with their first team members: Ben Johns, Irina Tereschenko, Rob Nunnery and Andrea Koop. In fact, we’ve heard BLQK has been called “the first pickleball dynasty”. Way back when in 2021. Team BLQK is in their third year within the pickleball major league world, and have had top name players in 2022 like Zane Navritil, Parris Todd, Rafa Hewett and returning Irina Tereschenko. Moving into the current year of 2023, Team BLQK has returning player Andrea Koop, who was their 2023 #1 draft pick, along with Dylan Frazier, Frederico Staksrud and Maggie Brascia.

So let’s learn more about Ritchie. Ritchie shares he feel in love with pickleball in January of 2021, and is a big fan of all of the positive aspects of pickleball.  So how did Ritchie get his start with owning a pickleball team?

He met with Steve Kuhn, Books Wiley and Christine McGrath. Christine was working with BLQK Coffee in Los Angeles. Ritchie and Justin met each other playing golf together in Burbank, and Ritchie thought this may be a good way to bring more attention to the , and co-owner of BLQK, Justin Watson, former NFL Superbowl Champ and Ritchie and the premise behind BLQK Coffee donates 25% of profits to social justice. Whether that be building courts or donating to high achievers.

 Fast forward to 2023 we now have 24 teams. In November of 2022, Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association’s new VIBE Pickleball League agreed to merge....