James Labinski believes he has the best of both worlds, trading one teaching locale for another as the seasons change.

This P-2 member of USPTA is employed as director of tennis at the Boca Grande Club in Boca Grande, Fla. He also serves as head professional at Fairview Swim and Tennis Club in Charlottesville, Va., where he makes his home.

“With two ‘seasonal’ positions, I have the ultimate situation,” James says. “It is almost like I am starting a new job two times a year, so I feel I never burn out. As a result, I go into each and every new season very fresh, full of energy and psyched to being anew.

“Each year at the end of the summer, I alternate between going to the U.S. Open and visiting my family and old friends in Wisconsin,” he says. “Both trips recharge my batteries and prepare me for the trip to Florida.”

James has served as tennis director at the Boca Grande Club for three seasons. Before that, he was the assistant professional for two seasons.

He also previously worked as an assistant pro at the Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande, as well as Puerto Rico, Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

James earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., in 1982.

“Upon graduation from college, I put off getting a ‘real job’ in favor of teaching tennis in Puerto Rico for the next three winters,” James recalls. “The company placed me in Virginia during the summer months. With the opportunity to play and teach tennis on a year-round, daily basis at great facilities and locales, I was hooked on the tennis lifestyle and profession.”

The tennis pro also moonlighted for several years as a certified fitness/aerobics instructor. “The experience in the fitness industry really helps in the training of players at all levels,” James says. “It certainly helped me to raise my level of play. Also, I believe longevity in the tennis business will not be possible without a high level of fitness.”

James says his greatest accomplishment as a tennis pro is “helping young people grow into well-rounded individuals. I love the sport of tennis and the art of teaching. Seeing the junior tennis players developing, not only as athletes, but as individuals, is very rewarding.”

He also receives satisfaction from “helping the older club members enjoy their retirement years and leisure time to the fullest. The mantra, ‘Tennis is the sport of a lifetime,’ is so true and it is very rewarding to see evidence of that working with the older populations.”

James has played occasional professional exhibition tournaments and series in Florida, as well as USTA-sanctioned state and regional tournaments.

He enjoys other sports as well.

“I keep myself in top form by cross-training. I enjoy hiking, cycling, weightlifting and golf,” he says, and would someday like to become a scratch golfer and to learn how to sail.