Life is a Sport in South Texas…

Story and Photos by Eryn Reddell Wingert

…at least it can be. There are so many sports activities to choose from during the winter. Take your pick from senior softball to horseshoes, shuffleboard to pickle ball, bicycling to paddle boarding, frisbee golf to traditional golf. It’s here, and all you have to do is step up to the plate.

The City of McAllen supports the Ed Martens Senior Texan Softball League by providing the Westside Softball Fields for practice and play Mondays through Thursdays. The League has been around for over 30 years, and the average player is in his or her 70s.

In Pharr, the Tropic Star RV Park is home to ten horseshoe courts and an active club that meets each weekday morning. The Park also holds a horseshoe competition for the annual Golden Olympics, hosted by McAllen Parks & Recreation.

Pickle ball may be the hip new thing in the United States, but it’s been hip in the Rio Grande Valley for a while now. Local resorts and RV parks saw the demand years ago and incorporated indoor and outdoor courts to accommodate our active winter visitors.

Down on South Padre Island, find water sports galore, including standup paddle boarding, kite surfing, and kayaking. The Laguna Madre Bay, which sits between mainland Texas and the Island, is home to calm waters ideal for paddling and kayaking. And for those windier days, you’ll catch air kite surfing. Whatever your sport, it’s here in South Texas, waiting for you to join the team! •