Another year of the National Sports & Physical Activity Convention is over, and what a week it was!
Every year, it reminds us of why we love the sport and recreation industry. Getting to meet and speak with people from around the country who are driving the Australian sector forward is invaluable for our team, and the energy made it clear that it’s in a really exciting place.
Our activation court was no doubt the talk of the convention! Created in collaboration with longtime partner Artcourts and local artist Arina Apostolova, the design drew inspiration from the ‘Next Generation’ theme and the vibrant creativity of Melbourne’s unique laneway culture.
It was also an opportunity to showcase our capability for custom colors across our core surface range, opening more than a few conversations about what’s now possible for facilities at this scale.
The pickleball takeover
Pickleball was truly front and center at NSC26. The evolution of multi-sport and pickleball’s emergence as a sport in its own right was a conversation happening all over the floor. Our partners at Pickleball Australia brought some of their best players to our court, giving attendees the chance to have a hit alongside the pros.
Our inaugural PicklePoint tournament was high energy and a lot of fun, with recreational and amateur players taking on the professionals before joining them for a doubles matchup. Congratulations to our winner Kalam for taking home a net, pickleballs and paddles, courtesy of Pickleball Victoria!
Measuring up on slip resistance
We had the privilege of hosting an industry panel on netball slip resistance right on the activation court, joined by Shelley Haynes from Netball Victoria, Kyle Loughlin from Courtcraft, Kellie Duff from 2MH Consulting, and Grant Humphreys from Acoustoscan.
Their discussion covered BPN measurement, why court surfaces perform differently, and the steps involved at every stage from surface preparation through to maintenance. The panel agreed on one clear takeaway – the industry needs to decide on a unified way forward for Australian sport, and that conversation needs to move to action.
Inclusion on the court
One of the most meaningful parts of NSC26 was welcoming to our court the Freedom Sports Foundation, who are dedicated to making sport accessible and inclusive for people of all abilities. Attendees had the chance to get in a wheelchair and experience sport from a completely different perspective, and the response was incredible.
Accessibility is something we take seriously, so when we say our surfaces are built for performance and playability for everyone, we mean it.
An incredible thank-you to each of our partners for bringing their energy and expertise to our activation. Together, it was a celebration of the Australian sports community at its best, and the ongoing support of all those involved is something we don’t take for granted.
And to everyone who visited our stand, had a discussion with our team, or joined us on the court, we’re very grateful. This event is one we look forward to every year, and we’re all in agreement that NSC26 was our best yet!
If you’d like to continue the conversation, we’d love to hear from you.