Barefoot pickleball player makes his mark one shoeless step at a time

Raven Peer, a 31-year-old Tucson transplant from Kansas City, is turning heads at the Udall Park pickleball courtsnot for any flashy gear, but for his lack of it.

Peer plays pickleball barefoot, a habit inspired by his father, who did many things shoeless after a joint injury.

I do it because I like it and I enjoy it, Peer said.

Upon going back to school at the University of Arizona, Peer has become a regular at the Udall courts, where theres no no shoes, no service sign to stop him. His barefoot style shocked fellow players at first, but his skill quickly stole the show.

Last week, we were shocked when this barefoot wonder came on and thrashed all to death, said Bill Weld, a local regular, noting Peers figurative dominance on the court.

Players were initially fixated on Peers bare fe