INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – There’s a new pickleball pro in town. Troy Akin, PPA Tour two-time gold medalist and a top 100 professional pickleball player, is bringing his skill and passion to Incline Village.

While playing and coaching tennis for 10-plus years, Akin fell in love with pickleball just before it became one of the most talked-about sports in the nation. 

“I got in right before the pandemic boom of pickleball hit,” said Akin. “So I had a little advantage getting in early.”

What was once considered a backyard hobby or a fun game to play in P.E. class, pickleball quickly became a cultural phenomenon during and after COVID-19. The reason for its skyrocketing popularity could be attributed to a number of reasons – it’s said to be as fun as tennis but with less strain on the body, it’s relatively easy to learn, and thanks to preexisting tennis infrastructure, the court is already there. 

“It’s a much more accessible game than tennis because it’s a shorter court, a softer ball, it’s easier to hit,” said Akin. “It’s easier to learn and have fun immediately. I think this generation loves those quick results, but the more you get into it, the more you realize there’s levels to it.”

Akin has now been coaching, touring and playing pickleball competitively for five years. He taught at Santa Monica Pickleball Center in addition to being the Director of Pickleball at the Los Angeles Country Club. 

“I’ve been coming to Lake Tahoe once a summer as a kid,” Akin said. He and his wife were yearning for some nature and needed a change of scenery. As Lake Tahoe often does, it found its way into their hearts. They made the move from Los Angeles to Incline Village in 2025 and don’t have plans of leaving any time soon. 

“We’ve absolutely been loving it,” added Akin who has found a home court at the Incline Village Recreation Center and is now among the pros teaching pickleball there. “We love Lake Tahoe, and we love the community.” 

Akin will be hosting weekly beginner, intermediate and advanced clinics all summer long. Classic beginner clinics will teach you the basics of the game, including how to serve, rules of play, and more. Intermediate and advanced clinics are for those looking to refine their skills, utilize strategies and really hone in on ways to take your game up a notch or two (or five). 

Once a month he’ll hold a larger, intensive three-hour camp to help folks master their game.

Akin is also bringing liveball pickleball to Incline Village and describes it as a “king of the court, fast-paced, social style of pickleball.”

For those looking to get their feet wet, Akin is holding a free clinic at 12 p.m. on Fridays starting June 19.

“We really wanted to give everybody an option to not only get better at pickleball, but also an opportunity to learn from a 6.0 level pickleball player,” said Akin. As a top 100 PPA touring pro, Akin has wins over top 20 pros, including Jack Sock, Connor Garnett and JW Johnson. 

Group and private classes with Akin are available to people of all skill levels, including beginners to advanced players. He’s also a pro technique diagnostician, meaning he can find your problem quickly and fix it quickly.

“Pickleball is a social community, and the lifelong friends that I’ve built through pickleball, it’s just magical. To play two hours of pickleball, then go jump in the lake and then spend your evening playing nine holes at the Incline Village Golf Course – you can have the best summer ever and pickleball is at the forefront of that,” said Akin.

You can learn more about Troy Akin and his services at https://troyakinpickleball.com/ 

For more information about the Incline Village Recreation Center, visit yourtahoeplace.com.

The Incline Village Recreation Center is located at 980 Incline Way in Incline Village, Nev.