Tears, Triumph & Redemption w/ Federico Staksrud

The 2025 World Pickleball Championships had everything — drama, emotion, controversy, and the best pickleball of the year. 🏆 In this episode, Zane and Tice break down the wildest moments from Worlds in Dallas — from insane out calls and rule drama to Anna Leigh Waters’ untouchable dominance. Then, Federico Staksrud joins the pod fresh off his emotional semifinal win to talk about: 🔥 The story behind the tears in his viral post-match interview 🎾 Why the new ball changed everything — and how he adjusted 💪 The strategy shift that unlocked wins with Hayden Patriquin 🏌️‍♂️ Which pros are secretly great (and terrible) at golf 💭 What it really takes to go from overlooked grinder to world-class pro This one has everything — chaos, comedy, and raw emotion from one of the best in the game. 👉 Subscribe for new episodes every week and stay plugged into the fastest-growing sport in the world. Maui Nui Venison has more protein per calorie than just about anything else out there, and it tastes unreal. Order your Ohana Reserve Box today and receive a free 12 pack of jerky sticks http://mauinuivenison.com/THEDINK Discover plant-based wellness support from Trulieve https://www.trulieve.com/?utm_medium=... Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/ Contact Zane to work at ProXR here: https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/pages/contact #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 – Worlds recap: celebrity matches, wild calls, and chaos 08:00 – The worst line call of the year 12:00 – Line call fixes are finally coming 13:30 – Anna Leigh Waters “Big Pickle” conspiracy 17:00 – Anna Leigh’s dominance by the numbers 20:00 – Emotional highs & lows of Worlds 26:00 – Federico Staksrud joins the pod 28:00 – Switching brands, balls & rebuilding confidence 34:00 – Why power paddles changed the game 37:00 – Playing with Hayden Patriquin & finding chemistry 44:00 – How to beat Ben Johns & Gabe Tardio 52:00 – The viral tears moment explained 55:00 – Federico’s message to aspiring players 59:00 – Pickleball’s best & worst golfers revealed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices