Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Hey Padel enthusiasts welcome to Padel Smash Academy, I am Cesc and I am here with Julian and we're all about Padel! Whether you're new to the sport or an experienced player, you've come to the right place. Our goal is to provide you with the best tips & tricks, news, and weekly lessons to help you improve your game and take your Padel to the next level. So grab your Padel Racket and let's get started with all things Padel on Padel Smash Academy.
Welcome to Padel Smash Academy.
We
are all things Padel.
Hello everyone.
Welcome to another exciting episode
on location from Padel Smash Academy.
We're here in beautiful San
Francisco, more exactly at
Embarcadero Plaza in this beautiful,
beautiful club called Park Padel.
Please let me introduce you to the
owners, Jessica, Neil, and Katie.
Uh, how are you guys doing?
Good.
So Jessica, tell us, uh, You guys
are the brains behind this project.
Tell us how the whole thing started.
First of all, I guess
introduce us who you are.
What have you guys been doing
before Padel and all that?
Yeah, absolutely.
Jessica, we're the three co
founders, Neil and Katie as well.
And our backgrounds, we've got
varied backgrounds, but mostly
in tech in San Francisco.
But we found this sport
traveling in Europe last summer.
Specifically, we were in Lisbon.
I think riding bikes in Lisbon.
Um, I was learning how to play tennis
at the time and failing pretty badly.
Um, it was really hard.
Um, this I was able to
pick up a lot easier.
Um, Katie and I played
rugby together in college.
Um, so we weren't necessarily
Padelsports people before that.
Um, but now we're hooked.
Yeah, anything to add you guys?
Neil, well, tell us how the
pork Padel thing started here.
So you came back from
playing Padel in Europe?
Yeah, so we came back, uh, after
last summer, after seeing it first in
Portugal, then again by happenstance
in Rome, and then we saw it again.
In Spain, and we decided to actually spend
a week in Madrid to learn for a week.
We learned in Spanish.
Uh, Canadianized Spanish is not, uh,
the best, but it's actually honestly
pretty easy to learn a sport or a
dance in a foreign language because
it's all just moving your body and
you just can demonstrate it rather
than having to learn the words.
Um, but I think from that
moment on we were hooked.
We tried to see if there
were any clubs in the U.
S.
We noticed that there
was a number in Miami.
Um, and there was a couple in
New York and maybe in Texas,
but nothing in the Bay Area.
And we felt that the San Francisco Bay
Area was primed to really take this,
this sport and make it their own.
And because of a couple of things,
um, there is a huge appetite for, uh,
socially athletic activities, right?
Um, people love to just go out to the
beach or go to the park and play spike
ball or volleyball or tennis or soccer.
Um, just like that is, that is
kind of the way the social life
works around here in the Bay Area.
Um, also a lot of expats here, a lot of
people from Europe and Latin America.
I think one of the things that we realized
that there's a couple of things that make
San Francisco Bay Area really primed to
take this sport and make it their own.
The first and foremost is just
how socially athletic people are.
Um, when somebody, people want to
hang out, they'll go to the park.
And they'll grab a beer or a white
claw and play spike ball or volleyball,
or they'll hit some balls around
and play some tennis or pickleball.
Um, and then the second thing is that this
city is just full of international people,
expats from all over the world, especially
Europe, especially Latin America.
And it's just kind of a perfect
confluence of really good weather,
uh, people who are excited to play and
people who know about the sport already.
So, Katie, tell us,
how did you learn this?
place for, you know, a ferry station
right behind us and Barcaro Plaza.
Unbelievable.
How did you end up in this place?
I mean, it's just the prime
location in San Francisco.
We looked everywhere in the Bay Area.
Um, we did, we, we really wanted
to find a place in San Francisco
proper as kind of our first location.
Um, we explored tons of different
options as I'm sure many know.
It's not a lot of real estate
in the city, um, and so we
kind of took different avenues.
One of them was trying
to find a public space.
So got in touch with San Francisco Rec
and Park, who were wonderful to work with,
um, had some great ideas for us, um, a
couple of different spots around the city.
And I think this was one of the
first places they mentioned, we
were like, okay, we don't know.
Um, How, you know, we didn't, we didn't
really know how it would work, how, how
it would, we could, you know, set up
here, um, but then it kind of, the name
kind of kept coming up as like an, as a
great option, um, kind of in the heart
of the city, as you can see right next
to the Ferry Building, views of the Bay
Bridge, um, tons of business around this
area, um, and so we were like, okay,
let's give it a shot, um, and It was
it was a tough build as you can see the
plaza Well, maybe you can't see but I'll
let you know that the plaza is not very
even So we did a lot to Kind of engineer
a platform that could hold these courts
and make sure that they were level and it
was worth it because It's beautiful now.
Yeah, so now we're fully operational.
We're open to the public Uh, let me know.
So if I'm here in San Francisco,
how can I come and play here?
I mean, what, uh, you
know, do I do it online?
There's a platform for it and all that.
Um, so you can go to our
website, uh, parkPadel.
com.
Um, and there's a book, book
now button that you can click.
Um, you can also go just straight to book.
parkPadel.
com.
Um, we also have an app
that's called Park Padel.
Um, in the App Store or Google Play
Store, um, you can download and book
directly through the app as well.
So Jessica, let me know, I know
you were in a public place.
Um, is, um, are we doing any community
hours for the members or people that
they want to come in and try the sport?
Yeah.
Um, uh, that was actually
really important to us.
There's a lot of people here in the city
who know the sport already and love it.
But.
1000 times more who've never heard
of it, who have never seen it before.
Um, and so we're offering free hours,
Monday through Thursday, two to 4 PM.
Um, you can book on the app, um, 24 hours
in advance and we'll give you a racket.
We'll give you some balls.
And if we're around to
play with you, we will.
Um, yeah.
Um, we, one of the things we love about
this sport is that every time somebody
gets on the court for the first time, just
how quickly they fall in love with it.
Um, so it's It was an easy decision for
us to offer free hours because we know
people get hooked and we like love that
way to introduce people to the sport.
I wish more clubs will do that.
I mean having this these free hours, uh.
To come and try the sport.
I think it's crucial for for the
success of the sport overall,
especially in this country.
I think I love that idea.
Absolutely.
Yeah, you reduce some of
the friction from there.
You get somebody on the court because
it can be a little intimidating.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Like I was learning tennis in my 30s.
I was, it was intimidating and I was bad.
Um, you can come learn this
sport and be good pretty quickly.
So Neil, tell us a little bit about
the program and what do you guys
offer here and things like that?
Yeah.
So our slate of programming includes
clinics with our wonderful coach.
Um, beginners, intermediate,
and advanced, uh, all levels.
And we also offer something we call Open
Play, where, let's say you want to play
with people that are your level, but it's
ha you're having a hard time wrangling
three other people to play with you, you
can kind of show up, we have two hour
blocks that we'll have in the evening,
where we'll have, on our two courts, eight
to sixteen players, so you can rotate in,
maybe you'll find a friend that you can
play with in the future, but we just want
to create a low stress way for you to play
and have a good time, uh, in the evening.
We also offer, uh, private
lessons, um, again with Itana.
And we will have, um, events and
tournaments on the weekend sometimes
as well, um, at different levels and
that'll be kind of, we'll have a, we'll
throw an event, we'll turn it into a
party and just come spectate and watch
and have a good time or participate.
So best way for me if I want to
book a lesson, how can I do it?
Best way to book a lesson is
to book on our Park Padel app.
Um, we also have a thriving
WhatsApp community right now.
People of all levels are kind of
we've already got a lot of chatter
in there for people trying to find
other games for people to play in the
mornings or evenings at their level.
Um, How can I get into the
community of WhatsApp group?
I mean, yeah, so if you go to our website,
there's a little header at the top
that says join the WhatsApp community.
You can join from there.
What's really important to us is like
this is such a social sport and it is
important, especially in the early days
of this market to foster community.
And be there to make sure that
we're, we can create matches that we
know people will have a good time.
It's not fun when you're playing
somebody who's much better than
you, or you're playing somebody
who is not as good as you.
So, we will actively be involved in
fostering that community, um, so that the
first time you play is a good experience,
so you want to keep coming back for more.
Great.
Uh, Katie, let me know how, um,
uh, the levels and all that.
How's that work?
I mean, I don't know anybody.
So you guys set up the
levels or how's that work?
Yeah.
So actually right now we are offering,
um, something called verify your level.
Um, it's a 30 minute slot.
Um, we're offering that from
10 to 12, um, Monday through
Friday, Monday through Friday.
Yeah.
Um, and we'll have our coach here,
she'll hit the ball around with you
and she, um, will kind of help rank
you, um, and decide what your level is.
And then what you do is you post
that level in the app, in your,
in your profile in the app.
Um, she will verify it and then
you're able to join matches of
that level or just understand what
clinics you need to sign up for.
Perfect.
And how much is it?
Free.
What?
Free!
All in America, all in San Francisco.
You can come here and play Padel
for free, they will tell you
exactly what level you are at.
Exactly.
I love that.
So let's talk about, uh, I'm sure
not everything is free, right?
So the community hour is
free, check in level is free.
So how much are the booking
hours, the lessons and all that?
Yeah.
So, um, to book for a non member,
it's 40 per person per hour.
Um, if you want to buy a membership, it's,
uh, discounted to 28 per person per hour.
Oh, good.
Yeah.
Good.
Jessica.
Along with other perks.
Okay.
So let's, let's, um, uh, Katie say
something very important about membership.
So, so you, for me to play here, do I
have to be a member or I can be both?
How does that work?
You don't have to be a member, but there's
a lot of really great perks to being so.
Um, especially since we've got two
courts, they fill up really quickly.
But if you are a member, you can
bick up to two weeks in advance.
Um, if you're a non member,
just seven days in advance.
Um, but you also get a discounted rate,
so you'll pay 20, uh, 28 per hour.
Um, versus 40.
Um, you also get 15
percent off merchandise.
Um, which we sell quite a bit of it.
Lots of rackets, balls, um,
really great sweatshirts.
Lots of good battle swag.
Yeah, and you also get three guest passes.
So you get to come and bring
friends and get them to be as
excited about Padel as you are.
And the most important thing,
how much is the membership?
How much is the membership?
The membership is 100 a month
with a 100 initiation fee.
That's it?
That's what it is.
My god, it's incredible, I love it.
It's only 100 a month to become
a member and play Unlimited?
Um, uh, yes, yeah, exactly, exactly.
Yeah, um, we wanted it to be,
Something that people could join in,
um, and have a really great time.
That's beautiful.
Yeah.
And I'm sure you guys are
avid players and all that.
Um, and, uh, you guys
get to play a lot, right?
Um, we do now.
See, that was the thing.
People were asking us.
They're like, oh, are you like
really excellent at this sport?
I'm like, not yet.
There's no courts to
play in in San Francisco.
Um, but Julian, have I gotten any better?
She got so much better.
It's incredible how well.
It's a before and after.
Now, she's a real Padel player.
The way she moves, it's like, uh,
seeing a ballerina dancing, uh, the
way she moves, it's just incredible.
Oh my goodness.
Yes.
Very, very good.
So, um, guys, let me ask one thing.
So, I arrived to San Francisco.
I'm here for a few days.
I don't have, I don't have my racket.
I don't have anything.
Can I come here?
Do you guys provide rackets?
How does that work?
Absolutely.
Yeah, you can rent rackets here.
We've got a bunch of different
demos for you to try out,
depending on your skill level.
So you can try out a few
of them if you'd like.
We also sell balls.
Um, uh, so yeah, you can just kind
of show up, hopefully bring some good
shoes, um, that you can train in.
Um, but yeah, show up and come play.
Fantastic.
I mean, I love it, love it.
Please, if you're ever here in
Barcadero Plaza in San Francisco,
you gotta come and check this court.
So you prefer to play right or
left when you're playing Padel?
Left.
Left.
Right.
She's always against the grain.
Good.
Uh, What is your favorite club?
Duh.
My own club.
Park Padel.
Park Padel.
Park Padel at the Marketeer Plaza.
Uh, let me think.
Okay, Park Padel.
That was a tough one.
What is your best shot?
What is my best shot?
Volley?
Yeah, I gotta go volley, yeah.
I got a pretty good slice,
like a backhand slice.
Good.
I don't know if it's my best
shot, but I love hitting it back
against the wall and over the net.
Oh, the back wall.
I like that.
Good.
So what is your favorite racket?
The racket that you love to play with?
My favorite racket?
I like my Schlauzinger racket.
The Challenger?
Yeah, I think it's great.
Yeah, I think, um, it's
got a nice weight for me.
I also have very small hands
for, I don't know, so I need
something a little bit lighter.
How about you, Neil?
Uh, I've been recently playing
with the Babalot Air Vertuo.
Vertuo.
Uh, it is, looks kind of like a bumblebee.
I like the shape and I get a
good amount of power on it.
I definitely need to try more rackets,
but, um, the one I'm using right
now is the Dunlop Galactica Pro.
Beautiful.
Yeah.
Now that we're talking about rackets,
uh, tell us the brands of rackets that
you guys have demos here and for sale.
Yeah.
So we have Dunlop, uh, Babalot,
Schlesinger, um, and then Wilson, um, and
then we also have some hero star demos,
um, that you can try out, um, and Adidas.
Good.
I mean, pretty much all the,
all the great Padeld rockets.
I love it.
Good, good, good.
Excellent.
So, uh, final question on, uh,
what are your goals for 2024?
Well, we have an exciting,
um, new location coming.
Really?
Yes.
Um, we have a huge warehouse in South San
Francisco that will fit six indoor courts.
Wow.
Um, along with, um, you know,
luxury bathrooms and a workspace
and a cool lounge space.
And just more room for
spectating as well, so.
Um, we'll hopefully hold some
exciting tournaments there.
Um, and we're excited to
get that off the ground.
Hopefully, um, launching in
spring or summer of next year.
So, Neil, I know you are the mastermind
behind the construction and all that.
Tell us a little bit, when do we,
are we thinking in opening that club?
Yeah, so the timeline for the indoor club
is, we're working with the city right
now to get the permits and the plans.
We've already submitted them to the city.
Once that is complete, then
the construction begins.
Um, and the construction is
slated to take about four months.
And so we're giving ourselves a little
bit of buffer room, but we're hoping to
open by spring or summer of next year.
That would be excellent.
And that's our six indoor courts, six
indoor courts, 30 foot ceilings, just like
a big, beautiful warehouse, um, a lounge
space, nice bathrooms, just like the
full expression of the park Padel brand.
We're very excited to
get that off the ground.
Let's go park Padel San Francisco.
Yeah!
Thank you guys for watching and
uh, if you're in San Francisco come
and stop by and play some Padel.
We'll have everything here ready for
you guys to have a great time here in
the in the middle of Embarcadero Plaza.
Guys, if you haven't already, make
sure that you hit that subscribe
button and turn on your notifications.
And remember, it's free 99.
It doesn't cost you anything
to hit that subscribe button.
Thanks for tuning in to
Padel Smash Academy.
We hope you'll find our videos
informative, helpful in improving your
game and learning all things Padel.
So until next time, keep improving your
game and remember, learn, play and share.