The APP Next Gen Series has signed The Kitchen Dink as its official leisure partner, combining the pickleball apparel brand’s power with the first-of-its-kind mentorship program to develop the next generation of pros.
A Pioneering Development Platform
The APP Next Gen serves as a pioneering development platform tailored for aspiring pickleball professionals aged 16-23. Since its inception in 2021, these three-day tournaments not only offer competitive play but also provide invaluable educational seminars and coaching sessions conducted by seasoned veterans and APP professionals.
Participants vie for a share of the $15,000 prize purse. Moreover, top performers get the chance to showcase their skills on both national and international stages alongside the APP.
Creating Meaningful Opportunities
Tom Webb, the chief marketing officer of APP, emphasized the crucial role of fostering the next wave of pickleball talent, stating, “The future of pickleball relies on creating meaningful opportunities to uplift the next generation of stars.
“We’re pleased to welcome The Kitchen Dink as an official partner of our Next Gen program based on our shared goal of empowering pickleball players of all ages and skill levels. Now, these talented young athletes will have a brand by their side to keep them fashionable and comfortable as they pursue their pickleball dreams.”
Benefitting From Significant Visibility
This agreement means The Kitchen Dink will benefit from significant visibility at the 2024 APP Next Gen Series events, scheduled to take place from February 16-18 in San Antonio, July 18-21 in St. Louis, and November 22-24 in Dallas.
Adam Bender, the Founder of The Kitchen Dink, articulated the brand’s mission succinctly, stating, “If one kid gets to attend college on a pickleball scholarship, then we have succeeded in our mission, and everything else after that is just a bonus.”
@tkdinkk Where to play if its raining in soflo… Diadem Pickleball Complex 😜 #pickleball #pickleballtiktok #diadempickleball #diadem #pickleballhighlights #fypシ #florida ♬ original sound – P I C K L E
APP Next Gen National Team
Building upon its recent success, the APP expanded the Next Gen platform when they established the APP Next Gen National Team in 2023.
Comprising 12 of the nation’s most promising pickleball professionals under 23, this initiative provides members with comprehensive training, coaching, and mentorship. Furthermore, they undergo evaluation and proudly represent the APP in international competitions.
For those interested in learning more about the APP Next Gen Series, upcoming events, and registration details, visit theapp.global or read our article.
The Kitchen Dink
The Kitchen Dink was founded in 2021 with the goal of making pickleball more exciting and engaging for the younger generation. The company creates apparel and hosts events that intentionally lean into a more attractive aesthetic and experience.
Its ultimate goal is for pickleball to be a ubiquitously sanctioned high school and collegiate sport as soon as possible.
Its website states, “The Kitchen Dink seeks to slow it all down a little. Rather than a cacophonous racket, we prefer the rhythmic soothing back and forth of that shot where you’re in the no-volley zone and you hit the ball softly over the net. The dink from the kitchen. The Kitchen Dink.”
Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
