Erik Forsythe

Erik Forsythe, known as the "Pickleball Viking," is a professional pickleball player from Bay Shore, New York who brings a Division I tennis background and a warrior's mentality to every match. After playing competitive tennis since age four and competing at the collegiate level, Forsythe made the jump to pickleball and hasn't looked back. He's competed in over 100 professional matches across the PPA, APP, and MLP tours, including a stint as an alternate for the New York Hustlers in Major League Pickleball. He captained a pro team in Global Sports Pickleball's inaugural championship and continues to climb the ranks.

Off the court, Forsythe is a first-grade teacher at John F. Kennedy Elementary in West Babylon, New York, which means his training sessions are squeezed into late evenings and early mornings. He also coaches at The Academy of Pickleball Training in Long Island and Brooklyn, running everything from advanced tournament prep to Battle with the Pros clinics. He lives with his wife Jean Marie and their three kids: Gwendolyn, Declan, and Evangeline. Between teaching six-year-olds, raising three kids, and grinding on the pro tour, the Viking somehow makes it all work.