Urban Squash takes root in Palo Alto with Xtreme Squash

Kids in Palo Alto, California have been given the opportunity to learn from the best and play with the best. Xtreme Squash is the latest program in the ever expanding urban squash fleet. Based at Stanford University, the 14 kids in the program hit the courts with Mark Talbott and hit the books with the Stanford squash team, as well as other tutors.

"Mark Talbott incubates "XTREME Squash" program at Palo Alto.

The program officially launched the first week of January when the kids had their first practice and academic session. All of the kids are students at Hoover School in Redwood City, and are members of the local Boys and Girls Club, which provides transportation to Stanford. They meet twice per week for an hour of squash and an hour of tutoring.

AJ, a seventh grader from Mexico played squash a bit when he was younger. So far he loves the program, for both the court time and the tutoring.

"It's good exercise because you run a lot. You can hit different spots too," he said. "You can play with friends. You don't get mad when you win or lose. It's just a fun game. And there are some really smart kids (the tutors). They help us a lot."

Talbott has wanted to create an urban squash program for many years. He was actually one of the masterminds behind the concept. While Talbott was still playing professionally he launched the Residency Tour. He went and hit balls off gym walls in different cities to expose kids to squash. The program had major sponsors including Prince and Rolex, and received media coverage from local papers in each city, but unfortunately did not last.

"The problem with my program was that I couldn't stay in the cities and devote the time that was necessary," Talbott said. "There was lots of publicity and the local pros would try to keep it going in the city but couldn't."

Talbott's initial work paid off in the form of an invaluable visit with a friend back in 1994, before urban squash had officially begun.

"When Greg (Zaff) wanted to start Squash Busters he came down to my house in Rhode Island and we drew the whole plan out on a napkin," Talbott said. "I went to Boston for the first trials for Greg's program. I wanted to do it because the whole concept is really good. I know it works. I am so proud of the way the whole thing works and how it has grown."

Finally, almost 15years later, Talbott is able to run his own program. Fourteen seventh, eighth and ninth graders are enrolled total, split evenly between boys and girls. Like he did so many years ago when he went into a gym and demonstrated what squash was to the kids of Boston, Talbott did on two outdoor three walled courts at Hoover School. He also went to a parents' meeting to tell them about Xtreme Squash.

"Twenty or so kids applied, and we took most of them," he explained. "There are not that many kids at the after school program that we pull from, so we didn't have a huge pool. I definitely want to expand it, and was anxious to get the program off the ground and get it going."

Eventually the kids will begin community service projects. They will also compete against other urban squash programs, though there not many on the West Coast yet. Right now though Talbott said the kids are "just learning to return a serve."  Helping Talbott with all of this has been T.W. Wiedman, who was a professor in the medical school for over thirty years and just loves squash.

Talbott is optimistic for the continued success of the program.

"There is great potential in Palo Allto, he said. "There are a lot of influential people in area that are excited about the idea. I won't be surprised if it really takes off."

Having brilliant leaders on and off the court, as well as the gorgeous setting of Palo Alto will only help with that.

AJ summed up this recipe for success best. "It's out of the city and you get to meet the number one champion from squash!"

 

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