Selkirk Sport announces unprecedented partnership with University of Virginia Athletics

COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO — Aug. 27, 2024 — Selkirk Sport, the leading pickleball paddles and accessories manufacturer, is thrilled to announce an unprecedented partnership with the University of Virginia Athletics. 

Per the agreement, Selkirk Sport is the official pickleball partner of UVA Athletics. This partnership includes extensive sponsorship rights across multiple sports, including men’s and women’s tennis, lacrosse, baseball, football and basketball. 

In an effort to further strengthen the relationship between tennis and pickleball, Selkirk is also the presenting sponsor of the UVA men’s and women’s tennis programs. 

This partnership, set to run through Summer 2026, marks a significant step in Selkirk’s ongoing commitment to growing the game of pickleball through the support of student-athletes.

"We are incredibly excited to partner with the University of Virginia Athletics," said Rob Barnes, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Selkirk Sport. "This collaboration is a testament to our dedication to expanding pickleball at the collegiate level and supporting prestigious athletic programs like UVA. We look forward to engaging with the UVA community and fostering a love for pickleball among students, athletes and UVA fans."

Aside from exposure opportunities, including PA announcements, presence on Virginiasports.com and ads in game-day programs, Selkirk will be able to engage directly with fans through on-site activations and giveaway opportunities. 

"Selkirk Sport’s commitment to the growth of pickleball aligns perfectly with our commitment to provide remarkable experiences for our student-athletes and fans," said Deputy Athletics Director Tyler Jones. "We are thrilled to welcome Selkirk Sport to the UVA Athletics family and look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on our sports programs and the broader community."

In addition to the sponsorship elements, Selkirk Sport is eager to explore name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities with UVA athletes, particularly those in the tennis program. This initiative underscores Selkirk’s dedication to supporting student-athletes and fostering the next generation of pickleball talent.

For more information about Selkirk Sport and its commitment to the growth of pickleball, visit Selkirk.com.

About Selkirk Sport

Selkirk Sport, manufacturer of pickleball paddles and accessories, is a family-owned and operated company. Selkirk Sport is based in Hayden, Idaho, in the shadows of its namesake, the Selkirk mountain range. Founded in 2014, Selkirk Sport was born from a passion for sport and the Western outdoor leisure lifestyle that was afforded to the company’s founders, Rob and Mike Barnes, along with their father Jim, who is Selkirk’s production manager. Backed by the philosophy of always pushing the limits, Selkirk Sport is committed to manufacturing products that deliver the highest performance with unmatched quality and service. Selkirk Sport has become one of the industry’s fastest-growing companies, with paddles used by many of the game’s premier players, such as Jack Sock, Catherine Parenteau, Parris Todd, Dylan Frazier, Mary Brascia, Maggie Brascia, James Ignatowich and a host of others premier players and national/regional champions.

About UVA Athletics

University of Virginia athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division I level in the Atlantic Coast Conference, sponsoring 27 varsity sports. The Cavaliers have won 34 NCAA  team titles, including six by the men’s tennis program, have twice won the Capital One Cup for men’s sports after leading the nation in overall athletics excellence in those years, and have finished in the top 25 of the Director’s Cup rankings in each of the last 17 years, including back-to-back top-five finishes in each of the last two years. Since 2002, Virginia has won 95 conference titles, the most of any ACC school in that same span.

Media contacts 

Kyle Whatnall: Kyle@Selkirk.com

Brynn Grissom: Brynn@Selkirk.com