A Sunshine Coast-based company specialising in pickleball equipment has won a major national business award.
Family-run Birtinya business Six Zero Pickleball was named as the winner of the 2025 Australian Export Awards in the Emerging Exporter category.
Since starting out in a garage in late 2022, it now exports to more than 100 countries, including the United States, Japan, Canada, the UK and Germany.
Six Zero Pickleball makes premium, high-performance paddles, apparel and accessories, and has grown to become one of the top three brands for the sport globally.
“We hope Six Zero Pickleball leaves a legacy of innovation and inclusion, improving the quality of pickleball gear while making the sport more accessible worldwide,” co-founder Dale Young said.
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“It’s important to us that our products not only elevate performance but also help more people experience the health, joy and community benefits of pickleball.”
Mr Young founded the company after becoming frustrated with how often his paddles broke. Together with his father, the pair built and tested more than 180 prototypes in their garage, focusing on durability and quality.
Since starting out, Mr Young and his wife, Dr Tanya Young, a former research scientist who now runs operations and systems, have seen strong month-on-month growth.
Exporting has allowed their product to reach players all around the world, seeing them stocked in major international retailers and used in top-level tournaments.
“In export markets, brand awareness takes time — but a world-class product speaks instantly,” Mr Young said.
“One of our biggest challenges is navigating rising tariffs and increasing global competition, especially from copycat products that undercut quality. We’re tackling this by doubling down on innovation, reinforcing our IP protections and continuing to educate customers on the unique performance and engineering behind our paddles.”
Now in their 63rd year, the Australian Export Awards are the country’s longest-running business awards program and celebrate the achievements of exporters and their contribution to Australia’s economic prosperity.
In 2025, there were more than 370 applications submitted across eight states and territories and 95 national finalists.
“I commend all of this year’s finalists and winners who have collectively generated more than $4 billion in export earnings this last financial year,” Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell said.
