Selkirk Sport buys LevelUp to build out pickleball coaching
What's the deal? Selkirk SportDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired LevelUp Pickleball Camps, the companies announced November 5, 2026. Terms were not disclosed. LevelUp runs more than 400 camps a year across more than 35 states and has coached about 25,000 players since its 2016 founding.
What changes? LevelUp joins Selkirk's instructional lineup, including Selkirk Academy. The Dollard family that built LevelUp stays on as head pros, the 2027 calendar is set with new international camps, and campers keep the brand's 30-plus coaches.
What's the endgame? Selkirk, an Idaho-based paddle and accessories maker founded in 2014, is pushing beyond equipment into coaching and player development. The move follows its 2026 purchase of paddle brand Bread & ButterDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and a strategic investment from Bluestone Equity PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → that backed further acquisitions.
Why now? Selkirk Academy only launched in 2026, with destination camps in Arizona, traveling camps in California and the Great Lakes region, and a recent expansion to Malaysia. Folding in LevelUp's larger footprint accelerates that build-out.
Selkirk says the combined operation is the largest provider of pickleball camps in the world — a claim that would benefit from independent confirmation.
"Camps are where players get better fastest," said Mike Barnes, co-founder and co-CEO of Selkirk Sport. "Bringing it together with Selkirk Academy means more players, in more places, can learn from great coaches with Selkirk behind them."
"Joining Selkirk gives our camps the resources to grow," said Wayne Dollard, founder of LevelUp.
The signal: Selkirk is betting on recurring participation and instruction, not just paddle sales. As pickleball matures, equipment brands are moving to own more of the player's journey — from first clinic to pro-level coaching.
Read more: endurancesportswire.com
Image credit: Catch Central Florida
