Among the usual fixings at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre auditorium on a typical Wednesday and Sunday night, you'll find racquets, birdies and even senior citizens holding them.
The Prince Rupert Evening Badminton Club has attracted everyone from 17 to the golden ages and they're inviting everyone else this Saturday.
Kathy Liu and the organizing committee within the club has developed the first-ever Prince Rupert Adult Badminton Tournament, open to anyone in the city, and it's a great introduction, they think, to a friendly, competitive game that's already growing as one of the centre's most popular associations with 40 to 50 participants.
"We have adult categories [like men and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles] and we have a juniors division," said Liu.
The cost to register for one event is $35 and for two to three it is $45. A pot luck dinner willl follow from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m. with door prizes being awarded right after the finals of the tourney. The day's festivities kick off at 10 a.m. at the Civic Centre gymnasium.
"It doesn't matter how young or how old, we have people in their 70s and 80s and it's really encouraging to see that," said Liu.
Kathy's son and international badminton star Adrian Liu will also be in attendance to support the first-ever citywide competition, and the Rupertite has been named to Team Canada for July's upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
"He's very fortunate, we have a lot of support from Prince Rupert," said Kathy.
The game of badminton, one of the fastest racquet sports in the world, has many intriguing qualities that make it suitable for everyone to pick it up and play, says Liu.
"Cohesiveness, because you have to work well with your partner ... and it's also great for [personal] fitness."
Anyone interested in the tourney can call 250-627-7415 by the end of May 7.