Li-Ning Launches First Retail Showrooms in Canada

Li-Ning, China’s premier sports brand, today announced that for the first time ever in Canada its extensive collection of racket sport equipment, shoes and apparel is available in standalone retail showrooms. Specialty sports enthusiasts interested in an expansive collection of Badminton, Pickleball, Table Tennis and other specialty sporting goods products can find Li-Ning items in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa as well as in the Greater Toronto Area.

Prior to this retail showroom expansion, Li-Ning products were available online and through a carefully selected network of specialty dealers throughout Canada via a distribution and licensing agreement with official partner and distributor, LN Distribution Inc. Now, athletes, clubs and tournament organizers can visit Li-Ning showrooms in Burlington, Ontario near Toronto and inside Ottawa’s RA Centre, a not-for-profit organization that has been serving the nation’s capital for more than 75 years.

“We’ve been working with the Li-Ning headquarters in Beijing, China for about eight years and it has been an extremely positive experience,” said Len Carter, president of LN Distribution Inc. “Li-Ning is a leader as a company and brand because the people are progressive and easy to work with and in the wake of global political divergences, we are merging cultures and countries through the cooperation of sport.”

According to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, approximately 50 percent of Canada’s world immigration has come from Asia since the turn of the millennium - with the majority coming from China, where Li-Ning is the official brand of many Olympic teams and athletes making the Li-Ning brand a household name for many new Canadians.

Li-Ning likes to say that “Anything is Possible” and this announcement is a perfect example because it shows that sport can help transcend language barriers, politics and different cultures to forge common ground that benefits everybody. The opening of the first Li-Ning showrooms in Ottawa & Toronto also makes sense because that’s where about 30 percent of the current Canadian Li-Ning business can be found.

Li-Ning is the only sporting good company in this specialty category that has assembled very unique tournament, club and athlete sponsorship programs to help promote and grow these sports in Canada. If you play these sports, run clubs or organize tournaments, Li-Ning can help your cause and help you organize and enjoy your favorite sport more. Li-Ning is the official badminton equipment sponsor of the Canadian College Athletics Association (CCAA) as well as other provincial and college associations and is always looking to help promote top players, clubs and tournaments.

Carter also said that he expects every major city in Canada to soon have Li-Ning showrooms. A national corporate store and franchise offering is in the works now. Visit li-ning-sports.com for more information.

How to Choose a Pickleball Paddle

Pickleball enthusiasts state that the game is addictive and require skill, fitness, precision and more.  Over the past five years, Pickleball has been growing in popularity in countries such as the United States & Canada. There are thousands of people who enjoy the game of Pickleball every day. It’s a game that is filled with fun and can also be played indoors or outdoors by people of all ages. If you want to play your best on the Pickleball court, it is essential to that you have the right Pickleball equipment. Firstly you will need to purchase a high-quality pickleball paddle. When you choose a Pickleball paddle that suits you play level and style, the Pickleball paddle will immensely improve your results and it will also enhance the overall enjoyment of your game.

Choosing the right Pickleball paddle can be a bit of a challenge. There are many Pickleball paddle manufacturers and hundreds of pickleball paddles for sale.  If it is your first time purchasing a Pickleball paddle, you can be overwhelmed by all the choices available. This is because each Pickleball paddle has a unique combination of weight, size, materials, and overall construction.  This article is intended to help you understand what you need to know before purchasing a Pickleball paddle. The information below includes some of the most important aspects to consider when choosing a Pickleball paddle.

Pickleball Paddle Weight & Materials

When choosing a pickleball paddle, weight needs to be one of your primary considerations. The weight of a paddle affects the performance of your game and also it will affect how comfortable you feel when swing it.  The weight of the paddle is dependent on how thick the blade is and the materials that are used to make it.  Some of the materials that are used to make Pickleball paddles include graphite, polymer(plastic), carbon fiber and wood. Most of the modern pickleball paddles are now made from materials such as aluminum, polymer or Nomex. A lightweight paddle is a paddle that is between 6.5 and 7.2 ounces. A medium weight paddle ranges between 7.2 and 8.2 ounces and a heavyweight paddle ranges between 8.2 and 9.5 ounces. When using a heavier Pickleball paddle without enough strength to swing it, you may find yourself at a disadvantage when you try to play against players that have a lightweight Pickleball paddle. Paddles that are easier to handle tend to be lighter Pickleball paddles. These paddles give you increased control.  A heavy paddle is ideal if you want to make more powerful shots and helps you hit greater distances while using less effort.

Pickleball Paddle Sizes and Shapes

Pickleball Paddles come in a variety of shapes and sizes but the combined length and width including any edge guard and butt cap cannot exceed 24 square inches (60.96 cm). The Pickleball Paddle length can also not exceed 17 inches (43.18 cm). There is no restriction on paddle thickness. Longer Pickleball paddles are often preferred for singles play due to the additional reach. Shorter and wider paddles are usually used for doubles and feature a larger sweet spot. The extra court coverage in doubles play negates the need for a longer paddle but players benefit from the extra width.