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Hey, it's Cesc from Padel Smash TV, and
today I'm in my hometown of Connecticut,
yes, at the Oxridge Padel Club.
Next to me, I have Jake and Paulo.
Jake and Paulo, how are you guys doing?
Um, how did you g- how did you
get to this Padel club here?
Um, so Jake had a client, uh, whose
friend, uh, asked… So they were
talking about, "Do you know any coaches,
any pros-" Well, that's, that's the-
that would be good?" … that's the
biggest thing here in Connecticut,
in USA, there's no coaches.
So everybody's looking for coaches.
So where were you, uh,
coaching prior to this?
So I was in Portugal, in, uh,
Algarve, and, uh, Jake was
in Leeds, in, uh, in England.
Wow, that's incredible.
So how long have you been
playing Padel there in Portugal?
I've been for about 10, 12 years.
And what about you, man?
Yeah, probably similar.
We started playing back
home before it was big.
Yeah.
Before it had really taken off.
We used to… The first time we'd
ever jumped on a Padel court was at
tennis tournaments when we used to
play Red Ass, where you had three
lives, and if you lost your life, we'd-
you get to serve a ball
at someone bending over.
So that was how it all- … all started.
Um- So did you play
another racket sport prior?
Yeah, we played lots of tennis growing up.
Tennis.
Right, right.
Lots of- So now things are
crazy there in UK, right?
Can you talk to us a
little bit about that?
It's taken off massively in the UK.
Yeah, I'd say it's probably a little
bit ahead development-wise in terms of
number of courts and number of cl- well,
your country's obviously enormous, but-
Right, right … kind of per capita, I'm
sure we've probably got some more courts.
This year has probably been the real boom
where every other week courts are opening.
Right.
I started early on where, at Stratford
Padel Club in London, when it was
one of the few clubs that existed.
Wow.
Ended up moving back home
to Yorkshire in Harrogate.
So how did that happen?
I mean, uh, you said you
were there at the beginning.
How did you transition to, to Padel?
Did you just see it, you loved it?
I mean, how… A, a lot of tennis
players, they won't transition.
They only want to play
tennis, especially young ones.
So how did that happen for you?
Paulo was one of the purists.
Paulo was one of those guys.
I jumped ship first.
You did, right?
And I was pestering him and nagging him
for ages while he was coaching tennis.
So I used to coach a bit of
tennis just as a summer job.
Okay.
But Paulo was full-time, and I was trying
to tell him that padel's so much fun.
Okay, so you guys knew each other then?
We grew up… So I grew up in Portugal.
Oh, gotcha.
So that's why I had played pad- Oh.
Yeah, I didn't, I didn't
grow up playing in the UK.
So you guys were close
together or friends?
Yeah, we used to train tennis together.
Oh.
So we were training tennis together,
uh, and we did the tennis, uh,
coaching course together as well.
Right.
And I just kind of went full-time.
And then as he was saying, I just
wanted to play tennis, you know?
Just tennis.
Yeah.
I, I was one of the purists.
So how did you go to the
dark side of playing padel?
Like how, how did he convince you?
Like- Yeah, 'cause it was this guy and
another two friends that the coaches, the
tennis pros back in Portugal as well, was
like, "Nah, you have to come and play.
You have to come and play." And eventually
I went and, uh, the moment- He cracked.
Yeah, yeah.
I was… Straight away I knew.
Everybody knows, man.
I knew it straight away, Cesc, it
was like, nah, there's no going back.
Right, right, right.
There's no going back.
Wow.
You never liked running
anyway, so, so- No, I didn't.
So then, so then you started
getting into padel, right?
So how did you get your
positions there in, in Portugal?
How, how, how, how were things
at that time in Portugal?
It was- I'd say big- bigger than
the rest of Europe, but definitely-
Yeah … not massive at the start.
Yeah.
So we did our coaching
qualifications over in Marbella.
Okay.
Yep.
I was at university.
All the boys that were tennis coaches
were going over for a week to do
their, their qualification, and to
be honest, I didn't really have many
plans to be a padel coach, but I
thought, "I can't pass on a weekend."
Yeah.
On, sorry, on a week in, in
Marbella, so I went with them.
We did it, um, and then, yeah, ever
since- How, how, how was the transition?
I know you guys are tennis players and
it takes some time to transition, right?
So how long did it take you,
especially with the aerials?
And you know in tennis there's maybe
eight to 12 shots and, and padel
is probably over 52 shots, right?
So how long did that take you
to tran- kind of transition?
J- j- do you know what's the funniest
thing about is, as I was telling you,
we started playing with another co-
with other coaches, so we were kind
of all giving each other's feedback.
Gotcha.
We're kind of getting the information from
padel players, uh, and good padel players.
We're so close to Spain
and Portugal, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So we're getting, uh, the information
straight from the fountain.
And so all … We were playing, the four
of us, and like, "Jake, let the ball be
a little bit lower," or, "Paulo-" Gotcha
"… bend your knees," or, "Do your-" Gotcha.
"Oh, don't do that backswing." Right.
Right.
And we were all correcting each
other, and it was actually quite
quick- Good … to be honest.
Um- That's great.
I mean, sometimes the
transition is longer.
The- yous get the stubbornness or
sometimes, hey, I wanna … When
you're younger, you wanna learn
this, you wanna learn all the shots.
You're, you … And that's what
kind of, I believe, why people get
so addicted to the sport, you know?
Yeah.
Look, uh, I think, I think it took a
bit longer than Paulo's saying, though.
You still wanna smash and
break the wind, right?
100%. We were, we were
still playing very often.
Yeah.
We were, like, playing almost every day.
The, um, I'll tell you what the very,
very best thing that happened to us
two was kind of backed ourself- selves
as decent enough tennis players,
and we were only playing with our
friends who were tennis players.
Gotcha.
And pretty much from day dot we
went to play, not like a high-level
thing, like a social tournament over
in Portugal, and I'm sorry if these
guys are actually watching this, but
two old fat guys made us look silly.
Yeah.
We rocked up thinking we were awesome-
Oh, my gosh … thinking we were good,
'cause none of us knew how to defend.
Yeah.
We just used to smash it
and play it to the corners.
And volley in the back, back, right?
100%. And these Two older big boys
Yeah made us look- Told you, huh?
… silly.
We were walking, we
were walking the court.
So, um- We were sweating … so then
for, from day one it was like, we,
we need to actually learn this sport.
I know that you guys aren't massive into
your soccer here, but I definitely just
used to think tennis is like 11 a side
football, and padel's just five a side.
Right.
And, um- So you- If you're, if
you're good at one, you're good at
the other So- And that humbled us
very soon … at that point you were
more very high in physical, but the
tactical and technical were pretty low.
Nothing.
And they were probably high in technical
tech, uh, te- uh, technique and they
were pretty low on the physical.
Exactly.
The first… So I wa- I was very lucky.
The first ever padel lesson I did was
in Estepona, in the south of Spain.
Okay.
And I didn't know anything about padel.
I didn't really watch it.
And I went to just the, the local club,
and the guy that gave me a lesson was Godo
Diaz, who's former top 10 in the world.
Mm-hmm.
And, um, he just dismantled
my game completely.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Don't do this.
Stop swinging like that.
And, um- Yeah.
Huge swing from you.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You know?
Yep.
You have a lot of slice in and
then- And he's still the guy that we
like to, like to go back to still.
Yeah, of course.
He's come over to the UK
to deliver some clinics.
He's, um, a magician.
Okay, now for the next que- before the
next question, I'm just gonna double check
my camera, make sure we're, we're on live.
Because that's, when I'm by myself,
that happens a lot, and I wanna… Yep.
All right, so we're good.
And believe me, when you're on
your own, you gotta double check.
Yeah, I know.
It happens to you once, that's it.
You're like, "What the fuck?" I know.
Yeah, yeah.
Okay.
So my next question is how did
you get to the USA, and especially
how did you get to Connecticut?
I mean, Connecticut… I mean,
obviously you have Miami and
Florida where it's really booming.
You have Texas, kind of New York.
Boston is kind of following,
but Connecticut's kind of a
little slower into the Padel.
And this is kind of more a
country club type of feel.
How did you guys get…
Who reached out to you?
W- uh, give me that story.
Yeah.
So, um, so Phil, Phil Barker, who
unfortunately isn't here today, who
founded this club, top, ex-top 30
squash player in the world, I believe.
Mm-hmm.
And he used to play for, um,
Harrogate Squash Club, which funny
enough is where I used to give some
Padel lessons back home in the UK.
And, um, one of my really good
friends and clients, Simon, is
also very good friends with Phil.
So I ended up getting a phone
call a couple of months ago
saying, um, "Jake, I'm in New
York celebrating my 50th birthday.
I'm with my old friend Phil.
He's opening a Padel center.
How do you feel about coming out for
the summer?" And then- And that's the
kind of offer you can't turn down. And I
guess you probably said, "I- I'll do it.
I won't do it unless you bring
my buddy Paulo too," right?
Something like that.
Something like that.
Phil then said, um, he said, "Is there
anyone else you can think of that
would like to come out?" Oh, perfect.
And obviously, I mean, straight away
in my head I'm, "Who, who wouldn't
like to come out?" So what'd you say?
"Yes, he would, but he's
very expensive." Yeah.
"Twice the man as I am,
but…" Pretty much.
Pretty much.
A little bit of negotiation.
A little bit of George
Mendes Football Agency.
So, so let's, let's talk about that
because there, there's a lot of coaches
that who want to come here, and maybe
they don't know how to, or they don't
know what the experience is going to be.
Uh, some of them are single,
some of them are married.
How difficult is it to adapt?
All those things.
Have you ever… Were you ever here in
the USA, especially Connecticut, before?
I'd been to the States before-
Okay … but to, to Vegas
for a very different reason.
Oh.
That's very different than Connecticut.
Um, look, we've been here for,
for about two weeks, so still,
still adjusting in a way.
Mm-hmm.
But everyone's been so warm and welcoming.
I think it's a great part
of the world, like you said,
especially here in Connecticut.
Um, definitely probably broken
a lot of the US stereotypes
that we had in our head.
Um- So, so what's the biggest
challenge, uh, coming here to the USA?
You know, number one, of course
you have family in, in Portugal.
Uh, I don't know if you have, uh, wives
or have a, a family of your own, but
how was… How hard was that decision
to make, or was it very easy for you?
So actually it was very easy.
Okay.
As soon, as soon as the, as I
got the call, uh- Sign me up.
Sign me up … I was like, "Yeah, yeah."
I didn't say yes straight away, but
I was like, uh, the yes is implied.
What was the appeal?
What was the appeal of USA?
Um, all of it, like the experience- Okay
… to c- 'cause I've never been, uh, I w- the
first time I've ever been to, in the US.
Uh- Gotcha.
So you're thinking all the
movies and stuff like that's
how it's gonna be, right?
Like that they do it?
Yeah.
Also, and it's like, it
just for the ex- experience.
When one of these experience, uh,
one of these opportunities come-
Right, right … you either take
it or, or regret it later, right?
Okay.
So when somebody makes you an offer
like that, what is, what are their
responsibilities as a company?
Like there's housing, there's a visa.
Yeah.
There's also … Can you give me the
list of what the responsibilities are?
So they were amazing with all of this.
Okay.
Like the, the, the housing, the, they
helped us through the visa process.
They helped us, um, with the plane
tickets, uh, with everything.
So they pretty much cover everything.
Now do you, is that something
that is understood, or is that
something you have to, when you do
the agreement, to make sure to have
that in your agreement with them?
Well, I don't know if it's
an, uh, an understand- uh,
understood with every other club.
Right.
But I know that these guys, the,
so Phil, um, he wanted to sort
this all out- Okay … for us.
Like to get it all.
I think, I think what was a big thing was
that, that Phil's been here and done it.
So Phil's from the UK.
Okay.
When he was a similar age to myself.
Okay, gotcha.
I think he might have been maybe 26 or
27- Okay … when he moved out here.
So that helped you a little bit.
So it was … And it definitely
settled any kind of worries because
he's saying from day one like,
"Boys, I've done this myself.
I'm gonna take care of you.
We're gonna look after you.
We're gonna have fun.
It's gonna be a good time." Okay.
So he kind of already knew a little bit
of the pitfalls and made sure you're
not gonna fall into those things, right?
Million percent.
And I think also since our, our club
here and our courts are pop-up ones,
we weren't gonna be here for re- we
weren't signing our lives away, you know?
Okay, so that's another question.
How long are you guys here for?
We're here until the end of November.
Okay.
Um, so M- And then when do you come back?
Is this kind of a trial right now to
see, that he gets feedback from people?
Uh, or is this gonna be a
permanent thing next year?
How- Yeah, so I think obviously these
courts have gone up for the summertime.
Mm-hmm.
They're not covered or anything.
So, so these- So we know the winters get
cold … are non-permanent courts, right?
I can see that here.
So this is, uh … Do you
know what the platform is?
Is it wood or is it kind of
a, a, some type of plastic?
Yeah, no, I think the stage obviously
here, here around and the legs
are made- Are metal, of course
look like some kind of steel.
It's a wooden platform.
It is a wooden platform, okay.
I, I'd played on these courts a couple
of times before Pa- uh, events and stuff.
Okay.
Paolo I don't think had, had
seen any courts like this.
This is the first time obviously I
was been pl- I've been playing here.
I, I've seen them before 'cause at least
in the UK it's easier for them to get
planning permission- Okay, of course
to build the court since it's not getting
drilled into the floor or anything.
If you have a permanent … Right.
It's a lot, a lot easier a, a setup.
So do you know what the plan is?
The plan is to get feedback,
see if there's demand, and
then do it again next year?
Or maybe do permanent
courts next year or h- 100%.
So I know obviously it's a
big job to set this stage up.
Yeah.
And all the courts and everything.
So I'm not sure whether it'll just remain
up throughout the winter Oh and anyone
who wants to brave the cold- … can do.
But I think- You'll be surprised, man.
You'll be surprised.
There's some mad players
I, I see it in the UK.
Sun, rain, and snow.
People are playing.
It's the same, it's the same in Portugal.
When it starts being rainy, you
always have people that- Yeah … "No,
I'll play through the rain.
I'll play through-" Of course "… all
the conditions." Of course.
Doesn't matter.
Um- But I think, um, the vision is to, as
long as, provided it's a success, which
it certainly has been so far- Okay, great
um, I think is to set
up something permanent.
Okay.
So now I see that there's membership.
This is a private club,
and so there's memberships.
How many memberships did you
get for Padel, uh, this year?
Did you reach your goal?
So it's- What was the goal?
Uh, it- it's 200 plus already.
Okay.
Um, I think the goal is around that.
I think we pretty much- Oh, so you
guys reached that goal then … we
pretty much, uh- Excellent … sold
all the, the memberships So you've
proven, you've proven the concept
really and that there's demand.
So next year, um, do you think they'll
try, do the non- the non-permanent
courts first, or do you think they're
gonna, uh, put permanent courts?
No, I think we'll add to that as well.
I think that they sold their 200
founding memberships in, like, pre-sale-
Mm-hmm … so before anyone had
even been here and tried the courts-
Right … which just shows that the
demand and the appetite- Mm-hmm … is
there for, for Padel here in the States.
Yeah.
I think, um, you guys here in Connecticut,
is it maybe 20 minutes down the
road, already have Sport- Sporthouse.
Sporthouse, yep.
So, um, I think plenty of people had
been exposed already, and we've been
super impressed by the, the level and
the standard because there's so many good
rackets players in the area already- Yeah,
yeah … that play tennis and squash-
With platform tennis … and platform
tennis, which- That helps a lot, right?
we don't have in Europe.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
We're looking forward to, um- You know,
when I wanted to play Padel- … to
trying it out … when I wanted to play
Padel, uh, you know, I, there was a place
in Farmington, Avon, and I went there
thinking that was Padel and they call
it Padel and it was platform tennis.
And I was like- We're changing it
"Oh my gosh." We're changing it.
I played it, but I was like,
"No, this is not it," man.
I re- I, I refuse to say padel.
Same here.
I'm not saying padel.
Me too.
No, I'm not.
I say platform tennis or Padel.
That's the fir- the one and only time
you're gonna see me say padel on camera.
Um, oh, I mean, that is, that is amazing.
Uh, I just love the feel.
I love the country club type of feel.
Um, uh, I, I played on the courts.
For me, they're a little fast, but
you have fast courts, slow courts, and
you just gotta get used to the courts.
It's what it is.
Yeah, I think especially- If you go
anywhere, just like tennis when you
go to clay or if you go to- Yeah, yeah
Wimbledon grass or har-
Yeah … there are different types
of surfaces you gotta adjust.
Well, we've even got the
different colored surfaces here.
Yeah.
So it's like we've got Roland
Garros- I was gonna ask you,
yeah … and Centre Court all in one.
Why is that?
Is, is it just, you know,
that's what it came with?
Or you, what- I think it's because
they wanted to get- This high, high
performance turf, and we didn't wanna, we
didn't wanna go down on a standard kind
of thing So, so this is, this is Mon-
This is a Mondo- This is the Mondo, yeah
Mondo turf.
Yeah, yeah Uh, it's the Mondo turf.
Gotcha.
And I believe that they only had two
of the, the orange color in stock.
Oh, okay.
Gotcha.
So it was a decision where either
we settled and got worse turf-
Longer two or a three width.
Yeah Exactly.
Yeah, gotcha.
So, and I think it's ended
up looking pretty smart.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It looks like we've got our
Wimbledon center court in the middle.
Yeah, and then, and then two French,
you know- Yeah, exactly … two
French French open on the sides.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I think it looks good.
That's great.
So, okay.
So, um, how about you guys?
Are you guys, uh, you
know, homesick at all?
I mean, would you guys have family
at home, or what's, how … Because
next year you'll be here.
You might, they might put tops on
these, you know, if the town lets them.
Yeah.
You know, if the demand is there, so then-
Hopefully we can see it happen … maybe,
uh, something full-time may come to be.
Is that something you guys
are maybe committed to?
Yeah, I'm gonna say the the homesickness
probably hasn't kicked in yet.
Okay.
Okay.
I think so far it's just been excitement.
Okay.
It's been new people.
Like we said, we've never, um, we'd never
been to New York either, so whenever
we've got a chance, we're into the city.
Oh, you haven't gone to … Oh, okay.
We're, no, well, we, we have
been since we've- Oh, okay.
Okay … we got here.
Whenever we've got a
chance, we're into the city.
Well, you guys gotta go to Miami.
You know.
That's next on the list.
They won't let you leave.
That is next on the list.
Maybe, maybe over here
they won't let you go.
That's, that's one of the things
that- It's all Padel … once we
are here now, it's like, all right,
we have to, we have to check- Yeah
what all is going on- Yeah.
Yeah … in, in the other coast.
Uh- Of course.
Well, you gotta get the trends, you
gotta see what's happening, what they're
doing, kind of, you know, use that a
little bit here if, if needed, you know?
Yeah, of … And, uh, there's so much
Padel, uh, growing now in the US-
Yeah … that I, I think that it will
feel different like every place you go.
Uh, if it's- Yeah, definitely … like now
in Florida or in Miami- 100% … should
be much different feeling than what
you get here in Connecticut- Uh-huh.
Definitely … or even in New York.
Yes.
Million percent.
Um, and yeah.
'Cause it's a- Here it's probably like
you've, you've said, it's probably
more that country club- Mm-hmm
kind of feel.
Yeah.
I would imagine that Miami is
a little bit more that- Oh,
yeah … party kind of scene.
Definitely.
I can see you like that.
We got the s- You wanna go there for sure.
We've got the speakers booming.
Oh, yeah.
The drinks are flowing.
Um- It's social.
Social, very social.
Fun.
Here everybody likes their all whites,
but I can imagine that out there
it's a bit of a different story.
And that, and that was the other
thing that got me into, into padel.
I was like, "Okay, the game is fun,
but this is super social." Yes.
Everyone, yeah, wants to have fun.
Yeah.
Have a drink, have a laugh.
Talk after.
You like the beers after as well.
It's just like, yeah.
Yeah.
Who doesn't?
Who doesn't, you know?
It's just, yeah, it's just
the- Maybe the tennis players
summarizing.
You know?
Uh, do you see some of the people
coming from the platform tennis,
uh, coming over to the padel?
Uh, we do see people with- And squash too?
Yeah.
From all sorts of, uh, pa-
uh, racket sports backgrounds.
Right.
And they start this and I
feel like it's unanimous.
Yeah.
Everyone just loves it.
And they make good padel players.
Oh, definitely.
The squash players and platform.
Definitely.
They, it's, they make great padel players.
And I think every racket sport
background will give you good
foundations- Yeah … for, for this.
Yes.
Um, the squash players, they'll
be feel very comfortable
playing off the glass- Mm-hmm
uh, and reading the angles.
Yeah.
Like tennis players will be much
more aggressive and- Yes … the
volley will be so easy.
Yeah, yeah.
And e- every, every racket
sport will give you a good
foundation- Yeah … to start this.
So now you guys are the
two coaches here, right?
Are there any other coaches
or it's just the two of you?
There's just the two of us, yeah.
Okay.
So can you talk about the, the
leagues, if there's any leagues,
open play, um, and what's the cost?
Yeah.
So I think, um, since we've just got
this up and running, the focus has
definitely been more social to begin with.
Oh.
We have done some, like, little fun
tournaments and events where there
is a winner and there might be some
prizes, but the feel is definitely
trying to build a community and trying
to bring as many people together that
L- I think lots of people already, like
you said, through- Awareness, right?
Yeah, 100%.
We want as many people on
court as possible enjoying
themselves and having fun.
Going back to your other
racket sports question, I mean,
we're, we're here to take over.
We're here.
We don't want no more platform tennis.
Right, right.
No more pickleball.
We've had, um, really good feedback
off a lot of people where they've said-
But that's not gonna happen, right?
Uh, people are still gonna
play squash and platform.
I think, look, ten- tennis is
tennis- It's just gonna, it's gonna
add more … and squash is squash.
Yeah.
But we've had a few people tell
us, "I'm never stepping foot
on a pickleball court again."
Well, that's- We've had a few people- But
you guys don't have pickle here, do you?
Not here.
No.
So that, that's more of a- No pickle here.
But, um, there's been a few people
that have said, "I don't think
I'm going back on the platform
tennis courts this winter." Oh.
Wow, wow.
Which, um, I, I think a lot
of people are saying it's more
forgiving on their body as well.
We've not actually tried the
platform out yet, but we've
heard it's quite a tough floor.
A tougher, a, a, a longer, tougher floor.
You can't put the ball out.
It, it's, it's, it's
definitely not for me.
And I think it'd actually suit me.
That, that would be a very bad
game for me- … 'cause I just
like to smash them all the time.
Yeah.
I just don't like to- One, por
tres, por cuatro … yeah, yeah.
And that's it.
You're done.
For me, it's perfect.
I'll, I'll stay out- But tennis
players, they wanna pow, you know?
I'll stay out there four
hours just grinding you down.
Right, right.
So I don't mind.
It suits me.
Oh, okay.
That's great.
Okay.
So now, um, what is the cost?
Is there … This is a
private, uh, you know, club.
Is there … What's the
cost for membership?
Is there a yearly membership,
seasonal membership?
'Cause I know this is outside.
Uh, and is there a pay to play?
Can you give me all that information for
anybody who wants to be a member here?
Yeah.
So I think, um, I think the
memberships are sold out now.
We … They were different, there
were d- different membership types.
Okay.
So our ambassador members, there was a
certain number where they've paid a bigger
fee and they can just play unlimited
and come to as many clinics and events-
That's great … and stuff as possible.
And how much is that?
I hate to put you on the spot, but
Price list is somewhere No, so- Okay.
So you know- It's, it's in the back.
It's in the back.
But I think it's a fair bit.
Look, we're in a very, very pretty- Okay
… nice, wealthy part of the world, so- So
there's ambassador, you get to play all
the time … that was a substantial fee.
What's the next one from there?
Just regular membership?
Just a regular kind of
summer membership- Okay
which th- th- there's still perks to.
Okay.
There's still people can come.
Um, we welcome guests as well.
I mean, our members have a s- certain
amount of guest passes that they can use.
Yeah.
But also as it-- if there are
courts available and free,
non-members can come and play.
So it's not super, super private.
Okay.
They just, they don't have the advanced
court bookings and the fees- Okay.
Okay … slightly, slightly higher.
So then, so then it's open to
the public too, uh, um, as long
as the courts are available.
Million percent.
So if anyone's around here in Connecticut,
please feel free to get in touch
and we'd love to have you on court.
And is-- what platform are you guys using?
Are you using Playtomic or Play by
Point, or are you guys what, you know?
We're using Serve- Serve.
Okay … which I see you've got
the Kiff Ivy T-shirt on there.
Yep.
I believe that they are the booking
system- Mm-hmm … for, for you guys.
So- Yeah … I think it's
a relatively new one.
We'd never heard of it in Europe before.
Yeah.
Where almost everything's Playtomic.
Right.
There's Matchi as well.
There's Paddle Mates.
Mm-hmm.
Um, we've heard a lot about Play by Point-
Play by Point, yep … which I think
is quite big out here in the States.
Mm-hmm.
But since we are a private club, our,
our founders didn't wanna go in with
Playtomic and something like that.
Right.
Of course.
We wanted our own app.
That's fair.
So although it is Serve, it is under
Oxridge Padel- Okay … on the App Store,
not, not Serve, not open to other clubs.
Right, right.
Just our, just our own.
So they can download that and they
can, you know, see if there's any,
you know, courts available and- 100%.
Or look, r- reach out to us on
Instagram, reach out to the club.
There'll be- So the pay to play- … phone
numbers and stuff on the website.
So the pay to play, a non-member,
what does it cost for 90
minutes per each player?
Um, so, um, if y- it will depend on,
uh, if it's, uh, peak or off-peak.
Let's say peak.
Uh, so at peak time, uh, if
you're just a, a summer member-
Let's say non, a non-member
non-member, so you'll
be paying $70 an hour.
For one hour.
Okay.
For one hour, yeah.
Okay.
Um, that's peak time.
Off-peak time, it's just $50 an hour.
Okay.
Um- Any of our friends in Portugal right
now are going, "How much?" Like, what?
What?
All Europe.
What's going on?
All Europe.
All of Europe.
All of Europe.
Yeah.
Well, maybe if you play in London
at Canary Wharf, maybe not, but-
just anywhere else.
For, for me normally, $50 you could
play, like, two courts, two hours.
Yeah.
Full court.
Um- Yep.
Well, I mean, it- It's a different place.
It's a different place, yeah.
Yeah.
You can't compare.
It's the cost of real estate, you know?
Of course, yeah.
You know?
Um, okay, so now if they wanted to do,
uh, a clinic or train with you guys,
what is the cost for a clinic, and
what's the cost for training for an hour?
Uh, so, uh, on clinics they can
sign, um, guests, uh, uh, $65.
Okay.
Um, members, um, they do it at 45.
Okay.
Um, then you have the private lessons.
Mm-hmm.
Which, uh, they're one hour.
Okay.
Uh, for those it's $140, the
members, and 180 for the guests.
Okay, gotcha.
Okay.
I mean, that's great.
Uh, that's amazing.
Did I miss anything?
Do you wanna go over anything or want
me to ask you anything that I missed?
Well, uh, just liked the
opportunity to be here.
Um, Cesc, uh, it's been lovely
to have you on court as well.
Yeah.
Playing a little bit before this.
Uh- And we'll have to continue playing,
and you gotta come visit in Miami.
Of course.
Of course.
Yeah.
Now that the invitation.
Yes.
Yeah.
So we'll, we'll definitely be there.
Uh- We'll exchange
information and reach out.
I think we double down on the fact
that Padel's here to take over.
Oh, yeah.
100%. We're here to take over.
We don't wanna hear those
pickleballs anymore.
No, no.
Plat- platform we're yet to try, but so
we will give you our verdict later on.
And, um, what I also love to see
was yourself and Lola rocking
up with the cour- court rackets.
Yeah, yeah.
Which is, um, obviously Pedro's also your
friend- Yeah … and you've been out-
Yes … to the factory in Lisbon recently.
Yeah.
So, um- I love the racket.
I- that's what I use.
That's it.
Well- That's what I use.
I wouldn't use anything else.
I mean, we do, uh, racket reviews.
I, I choose all the rackets.
Yeah.
And that's just the one I lean
towards 'cause I love it, you know?
In- that awesome, like, p- having grown up
in Portugal, obviously a Portuguese brand.
Super cool.
Handmade, one of a kind.
Yes.
Yeah.
Best in the game.
Yeah.
That's just amazing.
Joe, who sat- Yeah, yeah, yeah
down there over to our right, the
squash pro here at Oxridge, um,
tested mine out yesterday and he was
like, "Dude, it's unbelievable." Wow.
He's like, "It's just a sweet spot." Oh.
An- another, another question.
So that membership is
only for Padel, right?
That membership's only for Padel.
Okay.
So although we're under the
same name and Oxridge, um, it's,
it's a separate club obviously.
Got it.
As you can see, there's a
lot of different things here.
We've got, um, the equestrian center with,
I believe, something like 70 horses here.
Yeah.
Some that compete in the Olympics and
some of the top competitions in the world.
We've got, um, six single squash
courts, two doubles courts.
Very lucky to have Joe Wyatt as the pro.
Number one Aussie in the world.
Um, looking to go to the Olympics,
which- Wow … um, I don't think many
clubs can, can say the same and have.
Yeah.
And I think you got a
great landscape here.
You know, I see the horses walking around.
I mean- Yeah … it's beautiful.
The grass, the trees.
People have been just enjoying it.
Yeah.
The great weather too.
Yeah, yeah.
Great weather outside.
Then you have the horses.
Yeah.
Uh, just been loving the- All
right, Paulo, Jake- … this
view … congratulations for this.
You know, uh, I look forward to coming
back in a, in the spring, summer,
and fall and playing with you guys.
You know?
Awesome.
Thank you so much for having us on.
Of course, of course, man.
Thanks for visiting.