A CBS 6 Morning Show rematch! You may recall a few months back, CBS 6's Julia Dunn and Lara Bryn faced off against Chet Davis and Alyssa Caroprese in a nerf gun game for one of Julia's Positively Upstate stories. This time, we tried out pickleball and got a taste of the health benefits it has to offer in this week's Wellness Wakeup. It was a revenge rematch set in a new location. This time, the CBS 6 morning team hit the pickleball court at True Pickleball in Latham. They opened about eight months ago.
"We’ve been really jammed. It’s exciting," said True Pickleball co-owner Mike Bibbo. He says there are a number of things driving people to pickleball. It's social, good for your mind and great for your body."The health benefits are huge. You burn an average of 500 calories an hour and it doesn’t even feel like you’re doing it. They’re sweating. They’re like ‘Oh my God, my Apple watch. I burned 1500 calories,’" said Bibbo. So, cardiovascular health: check. But Bibbo also says brain health is another benefit. "There’s a lot of studies out there,that it keeps our minds sharp. Because you’re playing and you’re trying to figure out where the ball’s going to go. You got to stay four steps ahead."
So who stayed four steps ahead between the four members of the morning crew? It started out a close one. Julia and Lara kept Chet and Alyssa on their toes. But as with anytime you're trying something new, there were mishaps too. Ultimately Chet and Alyssa remain the champs of this ongoing CBS 6 morning team tournament.
The teams were good sports...mostly.
More good news? No one got hurt, which does happen in these matches. Bibbo says they have stretch mats and bikes so people can warm up before playing. And once you've warmed up, it's game on.
"Pickleball, you can pick it up pretty quick and I think that’s the beauty of it," said Bibbo.
To further their injury prevention game, they're looking to work with massage therapists and physical therapists for any of their 4,000 members who do get injured.
Source: https://m.cbs6albany.com/news/wellness-wakeup/cbs-6-morning-team-discovers-health-benefits-and-competitive-nature-of-pickleball#