It’s called the non-volley zone (NVZ) or the kitchen, a seven-foot area on both sides of the net of a pickleball court, where players are not allowed to volley the ball.
This weekend in Santa Barbara, that restricted area is being renamed the Danger Zone. That’s because hit-making singer/songwriter and local resident Kenny Loggins has joined forces with organizers of the annual American Riviera Classic to put on “Pickleball in the Danger Zone,” a celebrity exhibition that is serving as a fundraiser for the Unity Shoppe.
The eighth annual ARC tournament runs Friday through Sunday at the Santa Barbara Municipal Courts. The format is all doubles competition, with matches beginning at 8 a.m. each day. Mixed teams play on Friday, women on Saturday and the men on Sunday.
Pickleball in the Danger Zone is set for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The event’s name is a play off of the song “Danger Zone,” which Loggins performed for the soundtrack of the 1986 mega-hit movie “Top Gun.”
“We thought this would be a great way to do a fundraiser for the Unity Shoppe,” Loggins told KEYT. “Instead of doing a concert or something like that, which I’ve done once or twice, I figured let’s play pickleball and make fun out of it,” he said. “Let’s call it ‘Pickleball in the Danger Zone.’”
Loggins has supported the local nonprofit Unity Shoppe nonprofit for decades.
“We are so grateful to Kenny Loggins for his continued support of Unity Shoppe throughout the years,” said the organization. “This partnership means the world to us, and we’re honored to have him by our side making a difference in our community.”
Loggins will be joined by another famous local musician, Martin Gore, of the iconic alternative rock group Depeche Mode. They’ll be trading their guitars for paddles to whack pickleballs with celebrities such as actor Duane Henry (“NCIS”), actor James Hervey (“Wonder Years”), screenwriter/director Doug Ellin (creator of “Entourage”), guitarist James Valentine of the band Maroon 5, singer/songwriters Tyrone Wells and James Bourne, and with local players who paid to play in the fund-raising event.
The Danger Zone exhibition matches are a ticketed event. The cost is $50, which includes a post-game social gathering.
Admission is free to the tournament competition. The format will consist of round-robin play in skill levels 3.0 to 5.0 followed by medal rounds.
Among the top players entered is teen standout Aline Morales of Zihuantanejo, Mexico. She won the top women’s and mixed division titles last year at age 13.
There is limited parking at the Municipal Courts, and the parking lot will not be available on Saturday. There will be a shuttle service from noon until 8 p.m., from Friendship Center (across from All Saints Episcopal Church), 89 Eucalyptus Lane, Montecito.
