ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For 100 years, the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard club has been a staple of St. Petersburg.
“We have been a really important cultural part of St. Petersburg starting from the 1920s,” said executive director Christine Page.
The game rose to prominence here as an activity for snowbirds, but has turned into year-round fun for residents.
“We’re the mecca for shuffleboard in the world,” said Page. “Everybody around the world that plays shuffleboard knows about St. Pete and knows about our club.”
While bustling courts have become the norm now, that wasn’t always the case.
She’s seen the transition the club has gone through since she came on board as a volunteer in 2005.
“It was down to about 50 members at that point so I have seen it from a very small amount of people involved all the way up to now which we have 2,700 members,” Page said.
Crystal Zorich started playing here after double knee replacement a couple years ago.
“A sport that anyone can be pretty much equal in and what I love most about it is I think it’s the only sport where you can take points away from your opponent.”
As a former college softball player, Zorich was looking for a new challenge, and she found it.
“So much strategy to this game I’m actually tired when I get home and it’s not physical exertion, it’s mental.”
In just a couple of years, she’s risen quickly in the sport. She’s traveled the United States competing and has won two national tournaments.
“It’s the biggest accolade you can get — to get your national pin. You only get one in your lifetime so if you win multiple national titles or championships that first pin is the one you want to get,” Zorich explained.
Zorich loves the competition, but she also loves the camaraderie, and connecting with players of all ages.
“I can tell you there are people that are a hundred years old that will come out here and stick it to you on the courts and then go have coffee and a doughnut with you after, that’s the best part.”
It’s a big reason why the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club has stood the test of time.
“You make friends that people that you would never have met anywhere else just because of this sport and it’s lifetime friends and people really love that,” Page said.
Whether you’re playing just for fun or a competitor like Zorich, there’s something for everyone.
“Right now what’s happening is the sport is growing. There’s a lot of good players out there that are up-and-coming…we’re facing them here in our home and when we travel as well,” Zorich said.
100 years of rich history, yet still looking to the future.
“In 100 years I hope they’ll look back at our centennial and be really proud of what we’ve done since then,” Page said.
The “St. Pete Shuffle” remains as relevant as ever.