🏓 At just 16 years old, Mackonner Dy is already turning heads across the pickleball world.

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations – A Pickleball Podcast, I sit down with one of Canada’s brightest young pickleball talents for an honest and inspiring conversation about competition, discipline, faith, family, and what it really takes to chase a dream.

Despite his incredible accomplishments—including winning Canadian National Championship gold, earning a spot in the Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) with the Vancouver Owls, and competing against some of the best players in North America—Mackonner has a refreshingly humble perspective on success. In fact, you’ll hear why he doesn’t yet consider himself a “professional” pickleball player.

This conversation goes far beyond pickleball. It’s about mindset, resilience, personal growth, and why enjoying the journey matters just as much as winning.

🎙️ In this episode we discuss:

🏓 How a 10-year-old discovered pickleball during the pandemic
🏀 How basketball helped shape his game
🥇 Winning Canadian National Championship gold
🇨🇦 Being drafted by the Vancouver Owls in the CNPL
🎯 What it actually means to be a “professional” pickleball player
🧠 The importance of mental toughness and confidence
🙏 How faith helps him handle pressure and competition
📚 Balancing homeschooling with elite-level training
🌎 Why Asia may become the future powerhouse of pickleball
💪 Training, nutrition, sleep and recovery for young athletes
❤️ Why pickleball is one of the most welcoming sports in the world

Whether you’re brand new to pickleball or a seasoned tournament player, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in Mackonner’s maturity, humility and outlook on life.

🔗 Follow Mackonner Dy

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackonnerdy

🌐 DUPR Profile: https://dashboard.dupr.com/players/mackonner-dy

🏓 Canadian National Pickleball League (Vancouver Owls):
https://www.cnpl.ca

🎧 Listen to Kitchen Conversations

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If you enjoyed this conversation:

✅ Like the video
✅ Subscribe to the channel
✅ Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway
✅ Share this episode with someone who loves pickleball—or someone who needs a little inspiration today.

Every share helps us introduce more people to the incredible game of pickleball and the amazing people behind it.

#Pickleball #MackonnerDy #CNPL #CanadianPickleball #KitchenConversations #VancouverOwls #PickleballCanada #JuniorPickleball #PickleballPodcast #PickleballLife #MentalPerformance #SportsPsychology #AthleteMindset #CanadianAthletes #RoadToPro

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jessie and Dominic, the husband-and-wife team behind BOOMA, a proudly Canadian family-owned pickleball and ping pong equipment company.

What started as a family discovery of pickleball in Florida has grown into a serious Canadian brand producing USAPA-approved paddles, pickleball gear, protective eyewear, bags, nets, balls, accessories, and ping pong equipment.

We talk about family business, entrepreneurship, raising kids around sport, the explosion of pickleball, paddle technology, product development, Canadian-made passion, and what it really takes to build a brand from the basement up.

This is a great conversation about more than paddles. It is about family, risk, passion, sport, community, and the growing movement to support Canadian pickleball.

🔥 Visit BOOMA:https://boomastore.com/

🔥 Follow BOOMA on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091676805689

In this episode:
• The story behind the BOOMA name• Building a family business as husband and wife• Discovering pickleball in Florida• Why pickleball is such a powerful intergenerational sport• How BOOMA develops and tests new paddles• The importance of USAPA approval• Paddle lifespan and what players should know• Pickleball eye protection and safety• The Montreal Canadiens BOOMA paddle story• Why supporting Canadian pickleball brands matters

If you love pickleball, Canadian businesses, family-run companies, or stories about people taking a risk and building something meaningful, this conversation is for you.

Please like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who loves pickleball.

#Pickleball #CanadianPickleball #BOOMA #KitchenConversations #PickleballPodcast #PickleballCanada #FamilyBusiness #PickleballPaddles #SupportCanadian #PickleballLife

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

What happens when two guys sit down and just start talking about pickleball?

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with David for a raw, wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the court. What starts as a simple chat quickly turns into something much deeper. From growing up in Montreal to navigating a winding career path, David’s story is anything but linear. Then one day, like it does for so many, the game found him. And everything changed.

You’ll hear how David discovered pickleball, why it hooked him almost instantly, and how that moment eventually led him to build Pickleball Authority Canada from the ground up. But this conversation doesn’t stop there. David also opens up about a bold decision he’s made as a business owner, choosing to support Canadian manufacturers only. In a space dominated by massive global brands, he’s doubling down on local, backing Canadian-made paddles and products, and putting his values ahead of convenience.

Along the way, the conversation weaves through the growth of facilities like Kingston Racquet Centre, the early days before the boom, and what it really looks like behind the scenes of a game that’s exploding.

But this isn’t an interview. It’s two people sitting down, telling stories, challenging ideas, and getting honest about what matters and what doesn’t in pickleball. 🔥

In this episode:

• How David found the game and why it stuck
• The early days before pickleball took off
• The real story behind Pickleball Authority Canada
• Why he made the decision to support Canadian manufacturers only
• Why most players are focused on the wrong things
• What actually matters if you want to get better

🔗 Connect and learn more:

👉 Kingston Racquet Centre
https://tennisclubs.ca/kingston-book-a-court/
👉 Pickleball Authority Canada https://pickleballauthority.ca

📌 If you’re here for real conversations and the stories behind the game, subscribe and follow along. #Pickleball #KitchenConversations #PickleballCanada #SupportLocal #CanadianMade #BehindThePaddle #KingstonOntario #PickleballAuthority #RacquetSports #Podcast

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.