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Short a man? Check out this Web site

Ryan Slabaugh

CYBERSPACE – If you spend your afternoons pounding the tennis ball against the garage door or riding the chairlift by yourself, Jacques Pernitz has an answer for you.

Pernitz, from Denver, created PlaygroundUSA.com, a free-of-charge Web site that enables people to find others in their area with similar interests.

“This isn’t just a Denver thing,” said Pernitz, who also founded http://www.denverdateathon.com. “It’s national. You’ll just list your ZIP code and say you’re looking for a certain interest within 5to 10 miles from your home.”



While playing paddle tennis in Boulder, Pernitz and his friends were looking for playing partners. After having a difficult time with the search, he decided to start the Web site. He’s running it as a business and hopes to gear advertisers to help sponsor the site.

It will always be free, he said.



“If you look at the Internet dating industry out there, it’s been successful,” Pernitz said. “But forget the dating thing. We’ll offer something where people can just look for friends. Everybody on this Earth has certain hobbies.”

While the site is up and running, the official launch will be Nov. 12. Once entering the page, a lonely athlete will have the chance to pick a certain sport, enter a profile and wait for a response.

No names, phone numbers or addresses are given and individual e-mail addresses are kept private. All you see in response is a username and the reason they’re interested in meeting.

The sports offered range from football to ping pong. Those entering the site can also choose beginner, intermediate or advanced skill levels for each sport.

The idea, Pernitz said, is to help recreation leagues fill out teams and help circles of friends expand.

The site is also not limited to sports. PlaygroundUSA.com offers activities ranging from art to dog grooming.

Pernitz’s other site, http://www.denverdateathon.com, organizes speed dating groups in the Denver area.

Ryan Slabaugh can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 257, or at rslabaugh@summitdaily.com.


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