A Champion on the Court and at Home: Erik Lange Opens Up About His Pickleball Journey
The Premier League star gets candid about competing, family, and more in lively chat with host Mary Brascia
Mary Brascia, host of The MaryGoAround podcast, sat down with premier league pickleball player Erik Lange this week for a wide-ranging and upbeat interview. Lange, known for his kind and genuine nature on tour, opened up about his pickleball origins, the decision to go pro, and how he balances life on the road with being a husband and father of two.
1. Into to Episode 5 
0:15
Brascia kicked things off by recapping her absence from recent tournaments due to illness and highlighting her Miami Pickleball Club teammates' success in Atlanta. She then warmly welcomed Lange to the show, praising him as "one of the kindest, most genuine humans on tour."
2. Erik Lange Intro 
1:20
Brascia introduced Lange as a Premier League player for the Chicago Slice, Oregon native, father of two, and former full-time employee who made the switch to full-time pickleball this May.
3. Mary and Erik Catch Up 
1:46
Lange shared that he's been training back home in the Pacific Northwest between tournaments. Brascia recalled watching Lange play "the best pickleball in the world" in Atlanta, dominating opponents during a brilliant run.
4. Erik playing amazing 
2:26
Reminiscing about that stretch, Lange admitted, "I had a moment which was very enjoyable." He credited partner Ben Johns with enabling him to focus and get into a flow. "For that one moment in a big event on Center Court, it was nice to get the upper hand and play really well."
5. Teaming up with Ben Johns 3:37
Lange revealed this was his first time teaming up with Johns. He discussed Johns' strengths as a partner, saying, "He allows me to know what I'm supposed to do and he makes it really easy."
6. Competing over the years 
4:30
When asked about competing against players like Johns and Riley Newman over the years, Lange recalled an early mixed doubles loss with Newman. He praised Newman's athleticism and skills, admitting, "He's gotten the better of me probably more times than not." But Lange cherished having the upper hand during his Atlanta run.
7. MLP in November 
6:00
Looking ahead to November's pro tournament, Lange enthused about the "great chemistry" of his Chicago Slice team after staying together in Atlanta. "We try to make it not about pickleball," he noted, learning about each other's lives off-court. "You just learn more about your teammate, your new friend, and you really want to perform for them."
8. Eriks Pickleball Journey 
7:10
Lange chronicled his pickleball origin story, starting as a competitive hobby while working for HEAD Penn and discovering a fun community of local players. As he improved, opportunities arose in the growing sport. "At 42 years old I quit my full-time job to focus on pickleball," he remarked. "It's a pretty exciting sport to be part of at this moment."
9. The decision to go full time 
9:28
Asked about going pro, Lange called it "different for each person depending on where they're at in life." As a married father of two teenagers, he explained, "It's a unique time for me." With his wife's support, he was ready for a new challenge and figured he'd "take the plunge" into full-time pickleball.
10. Balancing life with Pickleball 
11:09
Lange credited his "very supportive wife" Beth in helping manage his pro pickleball life. He tries not to discuss pickleball at home, focusing on family. Getting his kids into the sport has also been key. "The buy-in from the family really helps with supporting me in this adventure we're all on together," he stated.
11. Eriks Son Playing Pickleball 
13:05
Lange revealed his 13-year-old son loves pickleball and imitates the pros. But Lange is careful not to push too hard, letting his son's enthusiasm guide their playtime. "I want to be real careful not to push it too hard," he explained, avoiding pressuring his son down the path of a demanding, competitive sport.
12. Behind the Scenes of Paddle Technology 
14:22
Asked about changes in paddle technology, Lange said paddles have "come a long way" in generating topspin and power. He observed that some veteran pros have struggled adjusting to these changes which allow newer styles of play. While he wishes players couldn't hit certain shots, Lange feels the technology generally benefits the sport's excitement and highlight reel moments.
13. Favorite shot in Pickleball 16:27
Lange named two favorite pickleball shots: an unexpected popped up lob, and his signature misdirect backhand slice down the line. He encouraged players to incorporate more lobs to back opponents up. "If you can get it over their head to drop in the court, your percentage of winning those points is high," he remarked.
14. Lob talk 
18:33
Brascia agreed that effective lobs are immensely satisfying. She plans to lob more often, taking inspiration from Lange's strategic use of the shot to dominate recent points. "There's no better feeling than being like 'Oh God!'" she exclaimed, making Lange laugh.
15. Favorite shot in Tennis 
19:23
Lange named his favorite tennis shot: a dipping cross-court forehand pass. He focused on doubles as a tennis player, utilizing his quick hands and net skills. He believes that background helped his transition to pickleball.
16. Mary and Eriks learned lesson 
20:32
Brascia recalled a mixed doubles loss where she and Lange realized they took the wrong sides out of a timeout. She advises players to double check positions when resuming play. Lange agreed about verifying the score to avoid such mix-ups.
17. Karaoke Partners 
22:53
When asked about karaoke, Lange said he'd need "liquid courage" but would choose Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" as his go-to song. Brascia volunteered to provide backup vocals support.
Their animated chat offered a window into Lange's experiences competing at pickleball's highest level while balancing life off-court. With his signature blend of humility and humor, Lange provided an upbeat take on the journey to becoming a premier league star.
Summary:
The article summarizes the key topics discussed in Erik Lange's interview on The MaryGoAround podcast. It opens by introducing Lange and host Mary Brascia and describing the upbeat tone of their conversation. The article is organized into numbered topic headers with 300+ word summaries of Lange's answers on subjects like going pro, family life, paddle technology, and more. Relevant timecodes and representative quotes are included. The piece closes by highlighting Lange's positive perspective and graceful candor in sharing his pickleball story.
0:15
Brascia kicked things off by recapping her absence from recent tournaments due to illness and highlighting her Miami Pickleball Club teammates' success in Atlanta. She then warmly welcomed Lange to the show, praising him as "one of the kindest, most genuine humans on tour."
2. Erik Lange Intro 1:20
Brascia introduced Lange as a Premier League player for the Chicago Slice, Oregon native, father of two, and former full-time employee who made the switch to full-time pickleball this May.
3. Mary and Erik Catch Up 1:46
Lange shared that he's been training back home in the Pacific Northwest between tournaments. Brascia recalled watching Lange play "the best pickleball in the world" in Atlanta, dominating opponents during a brilliant run.
4. Erik playing amazing 2:26
Reminiscing about that stretch, Lange admitted, "I had a moment which was very enjoyable." He credited partner Ben Johns with enabling him to focus and get into a flow. "For that one moment in a big event on Center Court, it was nice to get the upper hand and play really well."
5. Teaming up with Ben Johns 3:37
Lange revealed this was his first time teaming up with Johns. He discussed Johns' strengths as a partner, saying, "He allows me to know what I'm supposed to do and he makes it really easy."
6. Competing over the years 4:30
When asked about competing against players like Johns and Riley Newman over the years, Lange recalled an early mixed doubles loss with Newman. He praised Newman's athleticism and skills, admitting, "He's gotten the better of me probably more times than not." But Lange cherished having the upper hand during his Atlanta run.
7. MLP in November 6:00
Looking ahead to November's pro tournament, Lange enthused about the "great chemistry" of his Chicago Slice team after staying together in Atlanta. "We try to make it not about pickleball," he noted, learning about each other's lives off-court. "You just learn more about your teammate, your new friend, and you really want to perform for them."
8. Eriks Pickleball Journey 7:10
Lange chronicled his pickleball origin story, starting as a competitive hobby while working for HEAD Penn and discovering a fun community of local players. As he improved, opportunities arose in the growing sport. "At 42 years old I quit my full-time job to focus on pickleball," he remarked. "It's a pretty exciting sport to be part of at this moment."
9. The decision to go full time 9:28
Asked about going pro, Lange called it "different for each person depending on where they're at in life." As a married father of two teenagers, he explained, "It's a unique time for me." With his wife's support, he was ready for a new challenge and figured he'd "take the plunge" into full-time pickleball.
10. Balancing life with Pickleball 11:09
Lange credited his "very supportive wife" Beth in helping manage his pro pickleball life. He tries not to discuss pickleball at home, focusing on family. Getting his kids into the sport has also been key. "The buy-in from the family really helps with supporting me in this adventure we're all on together," he stated.
11. Eriks Son Playing Pickleball 13:05
Lange revealed his 13-year-old son loves pickleball and imitates the pros. But Lange is careful not to push too hard, letting his son's enthusiasm guide their playtime. "I want to be real careful not to push it too hard," he explained, avoiding pressuring his son down the path of a demanding, competitive sport.
12. Behind the Scenes of Paddle Technology 14:22
Asked about changes in paddle technology, Lange said paddles have "come a long way" in generating topspin and power. He observed that some veteran pros have struggled adjusting to these changes which allow newer styles of play. While he wishes players couldn't hit certain shots, Lange feels the technology generally benefits the sport's excitement and highlight reel moments.
13. Favorite shot in Pickleball 16:27
Lange named two favorite pickleball shots: an unexpected popped up lob, and his signature misdirect backhand slice down the line. He encouraged players to incorporate more lobs to back opponents up. "If you can get it over their head to drop in the court, your percentage of winning those points is high," he remarked.
14. Lob talk 18:33
Brascia agreed that effective lobs are immensely satisfying. She plans to lob more often, taking inspiration from Lange's strategic use of the shot to dominate recent points. "There's no better feeling than being like 'Oh God!'" she exclaimed, making Lange laugh.
15. Favorite shot in Tennis 19:23
Lange named his favorite tennis shot: a dipping cross-court forehand pass. He focused on doubles as a tennis player, utilizing his quick hands and net skills. He believes that background helped his transition to pickleball.
16. Mary and Eriks learned lesson 20:32
Brascia recalled a mixed doubles loss where she and Lange realized they took the wrong sides out of a timeout. She advises players to double check positions when resuming play. Lange agreed about verifying the score to avoid such mix-ups.
17. Karaoke Partners 22:53
When asked about karaoke, Lange said he'd need "liquid courage" but would choose Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" as his go-to song. Brascia volunteered to provide backup vocals support.
Their animated chat offered a window into Lange's experiences competing at pickleball's highest level while balancing life off-court. With his signature blend of humility and humor, Lange provided an upbeat take on the journey to becoming a premier league star.
Summary:
The article summarizes the key topics discussed in Erik Lange's interview on The MaryGoAround podcast. It opens by introducing Lange and host Mary Brascia and describing the upbeat tone of their conversation. The article is organized into numbered topic headers with 300+ word summaries of Lange's answers on subjects like going pro, family life, paddle technology, and more. Relevant timecodes and representative quotes are included. The piece closes by highlighting Lange's positive perspective and graceful candor in sharing his pickleball story.
No comments:
Post a Comment