Hi, I’m Noah Greenfield but my friends call me Greeny. I’m 13 years old and I live in Cooks Beach.
I love sports, particularly surfing, football and table tennis. This year I’m playing for the Junior Boys Mercury Bay Football Club team, now that I’m at Mercury Bay Area School. Last year, my Whenuakite team lost 6-0 to a Tairua team, but by the end of the season, we won 1-0. I also won the Most Valuable Player trophy that year. I go surfing at Hot Water Beach as much as I can – I love being in the water, talking to friends, splashing around and catching waves.
I first played table tennis at my Nanny’s when I was 10, after she bought a second-hand table. At first it felt really unnatural, but my Dad noticed I was holding the racket the wrong way and showed me how to place my index finger against the back of the racket. From then on, it became easier, and I started to get the hang of it.
I started watching some YouTubers from Finland called PongFinity.
They do tons of table tennis trick shots and challenges and even make table tennis tables out of ice and sand.
They really inspired me to play more table tennis and see what I could master.
I set up our dining table at home with a net, which made it shorter than most table tennis tables and much harder to play on but I think it was good practice for accuracy.
I was so happy when the Cooks Beach Table Tennis Club started a junior session at our local community centre.
It’s been heaps of fun, and Kevin, who runs the junior sessions, is really good. He always surprises me with his funky spinning moves! Sometimes, I join the adults’ session afterward as well. Currently, I’m trying to master gaining speed on my serves, and there are so many tricks to learn.
Keen to try out Table Tennis? Join the Cooks Beach Table Tennis Club every Thursday at the Cooks Beach Hall. Kids are welcome from 6pm to 7pm with a $2 entry fee. Adults can join from 7pm to 9pm for $5. All skill levels are welcome, and bats and balls are provided.
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