SELKIRK PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - SUSANNAH BARR
Susannah Barr joined team Selkirk in 2019 and lives in the Seattle area teaching pickleball while not traveling on the pro tour. We sat down with Susannah to learn more about her life on and off the court, including the fact she is fluent in Arabic…?
Follow Susannah on Instagram: @darkhorse_pb
Tell us about the first time you heard the term "Pickleball." How long was it before you decided to give Pickleball a try? Were you addicted from the start? I first heard about pickleball when I saw some courts in Washington State. I was interested from the beginning, but it was probably another couple of years before I went to try it. I loved it from the beginning! But I didn't start playing competitively for about a year.
Is Pickleball a family affair? Yes! Both me and my teenage son, Porter, play.
Best/favorite meal after a few games? I'm never going to say no to sushi.
What was your favorite sport as a kid? Why? Volleyball! Very much for the same reasons. There are a lot of strategies, and competition, and you are on a team with friends.
What is your top vacation spot? Why? I have no specific favorite spot. I always want to go explore new places! I've been to every continent except Antarctica.
If you could pick a superpower, what would it be? Why? My superpower would be to travel through space and time. Because then I could explore not just new places but also different histories and futures.
What is your favorite memory associated with Pickleball? My favorite memory was playing with Porter in a men's open tournament. There were 32 teams and we ended up medaling.
What hobbies do you enjoy? I enjoy hiking, cycling, traveling, reading, and playing games.
Tell us about your pets? I have a miniature bull terrier named Johnny (he looks like the Target dog). And a fat black and white cat named Felix Purrnandez. Both are extremely lazy.
Which do you prefer - chocolate or vanilla? Why? Vanilla! Because it tastes good.
Do you prefer cake or pie? Why? Cake! You can get really creative with cakes and so many flavors. And I'm not much of a fruity dessert person. I make my own cake (or usually cupcakes). My favorite are my white Russian cupcakes.
What has been or is your favorite job? My favorite job is playing pickleball. But beyond that, I really enjoyed teaching English as a second language to immigrants and refugees at a community college near Seattle. I loved this job because I got to meet some of the most interesting people and got to help them improve their lives in the United States.
What do you drive? Subaru Forester
It's comfortable, rugged, and can carry a lot of stuff.
What is your favorite color to wear on the court? Either blue or black. I like black because it's simple but looks good. I like blue because it's my favorite color and there are so many great shades that are just fun.
What routines do you have before games? I don't have any set routines. I like a nice long warm-up and might listen to some music. But otherwise, I just try to relax and visualize my goals, what I want to achieve, how I want to feel, and any strategies I want to employ.
What are your favorite places to play? Why? Indian Wells is one of my favorite places. I also love Bend, Oregon for playing. Both have great courts, great weather, and are fun cities to spend time in.
What is something from your bucket list? Why do you want to accomplish this? I want to bike the Pan-American Highway from Cape Horn to the top of Alaska.
How do your friends describe you? My friends would describe me as loyal, smart, funny, and adventurous.
What did you study in college? I studied anthropology, Arabic, and Adult education.
What is your favorite movie? Why? My favorite movie is Love Actually. It might be a Christmas movie, but it is full of great storylines and characters, and memorable moments.
What is the latest or most played song on your mix? Why? My most played song is I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers. It's easy to sing to, it's upbeat, and I have good memories of it from when I spent a year in Australia during college and it just came out.
Can you share any surprising facts about you? Probably what surprises people the most is that I speak Arabic and was an Arabic linguist for the Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
What is the best advice you have been given? The best piece of advice I have been given is to play my game and not worry about what others think or say.
What is the best advice you can give (any topic)? My best piece of advice is to always make the most out of every experience. There is something to be gained or learned at all times
Susannah Barr has been a valued part of Selkirk for years and we are proud to have her on our team! Check out a few of Susannah's highlights and reviews from over the years:
