1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:00,590 Hello everyone. 2 00:00:00,590 --> 00:00:03,389 Welcome to another exciting episode of Padel Smash Academy. 3 00:00:03,420 --> 00:00:09,540 Today, we're so excited to have Luis Ramirez, the head national coach of 4 00:00:09,540 --> 00:00:14,749 the National team that is going to play the world cup championship in Qatar. 5 00:00:20,290 --> 00:00:23,509 Thank you for having me and exciting to be in the smash academy. 6 00:00:25,949 --> 00:00:27,879 Back and forth for a while, right? 7 00:00:28,279 --> 00:00:31,290 We did the course together. 8 00:00:31,350 --> 00:00:32,000 Follow me. 9 00:00:32,020 --> 00:00:32,249 That's right. 10 00:00:32,250 --> 00:00:35,820 That's where I met you at the beginning, you know, uh, paddle MBA, right? 11 00:00:35,820 --> 00:00:36,540 Learning paddle. 12 00:00:36,810 --> 00:00:37,020 Yeah. 13 00:00:37,020 --> 00:00:37,280 Yeah. 14 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:38,580 And how did you like that anyways? 15 00:00:38,580 --> 00:00:39,160 How was that? 16 00:00:39,160 --> 00:00:40,449 I think it was a great experience. 17 00:00:40,449 --> 00:00:43,339 You know, an experience that we don't have much in the, in the States 18 00:00:43,339 --> 00:00:44,880 yet, but it's, I think it's coming. 19 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:48,580 There are a few, uh, outlets right now out there and it's always 20 00:00:48,610 --> 00:00:50,159 good to learn more, more paddle. 21 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:55,130 People that were enthusiastic paddle in, in every level because there weren't not, 22 00:00:55,150 --> 00:00:58,369 not just coaches, there were players, there were people that were just wanting 23 00:00:58,369 --> 00:00:59,629 to learn a little more about paddle. 24 00:00:59,630 --> 00:01:01,879 So it was a great experience to network, to learn and. 25 00:01:02,399 --> 00:01:05,550 For example, we got to be, you know, friends during that weekend 26 00:01:05,550 --> 00:01:07,530 and talked a lot about paddle. 27 00:01:07,620 --> 00:01:08,080 Yeah. 28 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,640 Yeah, you're right I mean there is there's a lot of people that were into tennis or 29 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,550 that were into other racket sports and you could see that But you could see them 30 00:01:15,550 --> 00:01:19,719 exciting, you know to play paddle now, you know or becoming a coach in a different 31 00:01:19,719 --> 00:01:23,450 club I mean, I met a lot of people there 100 percent which was a great experience 32 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:25,010 I thought the class was really good. 33 00:01:25,010 --> 00:01:26,010 The online class was great. 34 00:01:26,010 --> 00:01:26,189 It is. 35 00:01:26,190 --> 00:01:27,370 It is a great tool. 36 00:01:27,370 --> 00:01:30,870 For us coaches, it is a great tool to prepare classes, etc. 37 00:01:31,180 --> 00:01:32,270 Let's talk a little bit about you. 38 00:01:32,630 --> 00:01:33,720 Where are you originally from? 39 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:35,040 I'm from Venezuela. 40 00:01:35,070 --> 00:01:37,710 I came to the United States when I was 18. 41 00:01:37,730 --> 00:01:39,349 So right now I'm a dual citizen. 42 00:01:39,369 --> 00:01:40,680 I'm a U. 43 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:40,890 S. 44 00:01:41,079 --> 00:01:42,299 citizen and a Venezuelan. 45 00:01:43,110 --> 00:01:46,540 I came because of tennis, on a tennis scholarship to play in 46 00:01:46,540 --> 00:01:47,910 New Mexico State University. 47 00:01:48,790 --> 00:01:52,690 Uh, that's a division one super amazing experience and what they do here with the 48 00:01:52,690 --> 00:01:57,530 NCAA, it's beautiful and they actually bring the best talent and level to, to 49 00:01:57,530 --> 00:01:59,250 compete and it makes you grow a lot. 50 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,569 Uh, then from there, I played three years of professional tennis. 51 00:02:03,199 --> 00:02:07,860 That led me to having a green card here as a resident with a special talent a 52 00:02:07,860 --> 00:02:09,850 special time That's how they call it. 53 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:10,850 I don't know. 54 00:02:10,889 --> 00:02:11,979 I mean that's not easy. 55 00:02:11,980 --> 00:02:12,310 Wow. 56 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,820 No it is It was actually an amazing reward and an accomplishment for me because 57 00:02:16,869 --> 00:02:20,509 venezuela wasn't going through the best times at the moment Still isn't but at 58 00:02:20,510 --> 00:02:24,540 that moment, especially and it was for me an escape And a solid escape because 59 00:02:24,549 --> 00:02:26,460 it wasn't easy to find alternatives. 60 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:30,909 I was only a venezuelan So I started a master's there in the university of 61 00:02:30,910 --> 00:02:34,965 miami here in miami, and that's why I moved here in sport administration, then 62 00:02:34,985 --> 00:02:39,935 they Continued on with life opened up a tennis academy, uh worked in wealth 63 00:02:39,965 --> 00:02:44,195 management after that now i'm doing real estate and paddle came in my life 64 00:02:44,195 --> 00:02:49,645 in 2018 and has been Following me hard and trying to get me in more and more 65 00:02:49,645 --> 00:02:52,950 and more and more and today i'm the national coach of the Like Julian said 66 00:02:52,950 --> 00:02:56,050 of the men's national team and super excited because we have, uh, the world 67 00:02:56,050 --> 00:02:59,800 champion championships coming up and, uh, I think we have a good team to make it. 68 00:02:59,940 --> 00:03:03,420 So tell us a little bit, how did you, how was in 2018, how 69 00:03:03,420 --> 00:03:04,919 was that transition from tennis? 70 00:03:04,980 --> 00:03:05,789 How did you get involved? 71 00:03:05,930 --> 00:03:06,330 Okay. 72 00:03:06,529 --> 00:03:07,640 So more importantly. 73 00:03:07,810 --> 00:03:09,079 How far did you get into tennis? 74 00:03:09,250 --> 00:03:12,059 And then at what point did you say, you know what, okay, I'm 75 00:03:12,059 --> 00:03:14,909 going to start living my life or I'm going to transition to paddle. 76 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:16,409 How did, how did that whole thing happen? 77 00:03:16,419 --> 00:03:19,899 So back in 2018, I'm sitting with a tennis academy that 78 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:21,140 that was operating in Brickell. 79 00:03:21,169 --> 00:03:25,069 It was super successful and got me to, to meet so many different 80 00:03:25,079 --> 00:03:26,499 people from different nationalities. 81 00:03:26,519 --> 00:03:29,429 It was prior to COVID right before COVID. 82 00:03:29,459 --> 00:03:34,920 So that's when some of one of my students took me to To a paddle court for the 83 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:39,549 first time ever in my life 2018 going to real paddle with you know The OG 84 00:03:39,549 --> 00:03:41,570 club and the cradle, the cradle paddle. 85 00:03:42,079 --> 00:03:43,130 That's where you have to begin. 86 00:03:43,820 --> 00:03:46,250 So were you still competing in tennis at that time? 87 00:03:46,260 --> 00:03:47,730 Just coaching at the, at the moment. 88 00:03:48,420 --> 00:03:52,429 But I started right away competing in paddle since day two, I guess. 89 00:03:52,459 --> 00:03:54,379 Uh, I went to play there for fun. 90 00:03:54,609 --> 00:03:58,609 I lost that match to people that used to play tennis and I used to 91 00:03:58,610 --> 00:04:02,600 be easily and then got me real quick and, and I'm like, okay, I got you. 92 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:03,450 I went right away. 93 00:04:03,450 --> 00:04:06,489 I went to the USPA, you know, website and got into the first tournament 94 00:04:06,489 --> 00:04:08,000 available and that's how I started. 95 00:04:08,359 --> 00:04:11,109 So how was your transition, uh, from tennis to paddle? 96 00:04:11,109 --> 00:04:14,079 Because, you know, at the beginning, whether you're playing squash, 97 00:04:14,090 --> 00:04:18,069 racquetball, or tennis, you're kind of, you're playing that sport inside. 98 00:04:18,069 --> 00:04:21,220 So how long was that transition or when you learned, Hey, look, 99 00:04:21,220 --> 00:04:23,300 okay, this is paddle, not tennis. 100 00:04:23,390 --> 00:04:27,579 You know, the transition still happens because when you are a tennis 101 00:04:27,779 --> 00:04:30,690 player, like me, that, that since I was three years old, I was playing 102 00:04:30,690 --> 00:04:35,389 tennis, your instinct and you're born to, to not let anything go. 103 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:36,880 You know, anything has to be. 104 00:04:37,130 --> 00:04:38,635 You need to touch it, put it back in the court. 105 00:04:38,635 --> 00:04:38,914 Mm-Hmm. 106 00:04:38,995 --> 00:04:39,469 and competing. 107 00:04:39,710 --> 00:04:41,750 I got to play in every level of tennis. 108 00:04:41,750 --> 00:04:48,469 In, in I-T-F-I-I-I was top, uh, 200 in the world and in, in division one in NCA. 109 00:04:48,469 --> 00:04:51,910 Then I was up to 585 in the world in a TP. 110 00:04:51,910 --> 00:04:54,610 So I got to leave and I played Davis Copi, Venezuela. 111 00:04:54,610 --> 00:04:56,350 So I got to leave like every aspect of tennis. 112 00:04:56,990 --> 00:05:00,850 So the transition to paddle, I think it's going to continue for the next 113 00:05:00,850 --> 00:05:04,040 10 years because tennis was, you know, so structured and the way you have 114 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,700 to prepare to be a player that we're still learning, you know, in paddle and 115 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:09,339 people are still adapting and learning. 116 00:05:09,339 --> 00:05:13,690 And for me personally, to play paddle in a better level, it 117 00:05:13,729 --> 00:05:16,700 takes time because adapting to the walls, adapting to the lobs. 118 00:05:17,155 --> 00:05:20,935 Adapting the instinct of being a killer the entire time to now you have to 119 00:05:21,255 --> 00:05:22,935 control the pace, control the points. 120 00:05:23,085 --> 00:05:25,315 But you've been playing now for how many years now? 121 00:05:25,325 --> 00:05:27,695 For, well, yeah, since 2018. 122 00:05:27,735 --> 00:05:28,995 So I've been playing for a while now. 123 00:05:28,995 --> 00:05:32,944 And, and obviously right now, you know, you think you, now you master 124 00:05:32,944 --> 00:05:36,165 the game and you understand it more, but you have to watch a lot of padel. 125 00:05:36,175 --> 00:05:36,565 Oh, yeah. 126 00:05:36,665 --> 00:05:39,975 And get in the core a lot and listen to a lot of people like, for example, 127 00:05:40,035 --> 00:05:43,885 Julian and directors here and there in every club that, I tend to give you know 128 00:05:43,885 --> 00:05:47,515 that advice that comes from paddle, but you mixing what you have from tennis, 129 00:05:47,555 --> 00:05:48,844 which is the big one, is the big one. 130 00:05:48,844 --> 00:05:52,105 One of the things that, that, that coming from tennis happens, it's, it's 131 00:05:52,125 --> 00:05:57,204 learning the, the tactical aspect of paddle, which is the most difficult part. 132 00:05:57,214 --> 00:05:59,924 You know, everybody can return from the waltz and all that, but returning 133 00:05:59,924 --> 00:06:04,905 with a purpose and, and, and, because I always tell my students, you're not even, 134 00:06:05,445 --> 00:06:08,995 You're playing against a net, against two players, and against the walls. 135 00:06:09,045 --> 00:06:09,305 It is. 136 00:06:09,345 --> 00:06:09,985 Imagine that. 137 00:06:09,985 --> 00:06:11,855 You had to keep it away from the walls, away from the two 138 00:06:11,855 --> 00:06:13,285 players, and above the net. 139 00:06:13,325 --> 00:06:13,665 Yeah. 140 00:06:14,135 --> 00:06:16,635 And it's, that's very, very complicated. 141 00:06:16,865 --> 00:06:18,785 I find it super tactical. 142 00:06:18,785 --> 00:06:21,715 You know, paddle, it's, and that's what got me, gets me the most about 143 00:06:21,715 --> 00:06:24,565 paddle, because you have to really think what you're doing and what's going 144 00:06:24,565 --> 00:06:27,620 on, and How do you approach a match? 145 00:06:27,669 --> 00:06:31,090 You have to have at least six, seven strategies, you know, so you can 146 00:06:31,090 --> 00:06:34,069 actually adapt to what they are doing, to what you're doing, to what's working, 147 00:06:34,069 --> 00:06:35,310 to what's not working in tennis. 148 00:06:35,340 --> 00:06:39,089 It's a little more like two, three plans that you have plan A, plan B, plan C. 149 00:06:39,090 --> 00:06:40,030 And then if not, you're screwed. 150 00:06:40,060 --> 00:06:42,039 You lost, you know, because you have time to adapt. 151 00:06:42,039 --> 00:06:44,209 I think from that aspect, tennis is easier. 152 00:06:44,259 --> 00:06:45,249 Yeah, a hundred percent. 153 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:45,760 You know what I mean? 154 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,820 The thing is that you're obviously, you have to be extremely more 155 00:06:48,820 --> 00:06:50,610 precise in tennis, uh, because. 156 00:06:50,625 --> 00:06:54,735 The margin of error is, is, is less and, and, and 157 00:06:57,025 --> 00:06:57,755 it's in paddle. 158 00:06:57,785 --> 00:06:59,445 I think it's, it's that's in reverse. 159 00:06:59,475 --> 00:07:02,055 No a hundred percent, but you have to go for winners and you have to 160 00:07:02,055 --> 00:07:03,715 take more risk faster in tennis. 161 00:07:04,025 --> 00:07:08,334 So you have to be well prepared with your feet on the ground established 162 00:07:08,345 --> 00:07:09,444 to be able to hit a winner. 163 00:07:09,705 --> 00:07:12,435 And the guys that are playing right now professionally are prepared, 164 00:07:12,435 --> 00:07:14,655 like, like animals, you know? 165 00:07:14,655 --> 00:07:15,165 So, yeah. 166 00:07:15,170 --> 00:07:17,655 I, I think I, I think the tennis is more stamina. 167 00:07:17,685 --> 00:07:19,215 More hundred percent power. 168 00:07:19,245 --> 00:07:19,485 Yeah. 169 00:07:19,635 --> 00:07:23,775 I mean, in, in paddle it's you using legs a lot more, you 170 00:07:23,775 --> 00:07:25,275 know, you're getting really low. 171 00:07:25,395 --> 00:07:27,705 You're using muscles that you've never used in tennis. 172 00:07:27,705 --> 00:07:28,305 A hundred percent. 173 00:07:28,305 --> 00:07:31,515 It's and so's it's, it's a little, yeah, it is different. 174 00:07:31,515 --> 00:07:32,110 It's more strategic. 175 00:07:32,110 --> 00:07:35,385 And if you're talking this, it's, this is, I think it's, it's what talks about 176 00:07:35,415 --> 00:07:39,645 a, a point in tennis lasts in average five to four seconds in the tour. 177 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:43,020 In, in Premier, it's 15 to 20 seconds. 178 00:07:43,039 --> 00:07:48,110 I mean, you can have a rally that, even on intermediate level, like 179 00:07:48,190 --> 00:07:52,239 6, 7, times over the net, where in 10 it's maximum, it's 3, 4. 180 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,349 Yeah, in intermediate, even more. 181 00:07:54,349 --> 00:07:56,249 Yeah, it's more strategic. 182 00:07:56,249 --> 00:07:57,233 It's much more strategic. 183 00:07:57,233 --> 00:07:59,280 It has more power and much more thinking. 184 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,020 If you know all the shots, it's, you're trying to figure 185 00:08:02,020 --> 00:08:03,330 out your opponent's weakness. 186 00:08:03,349 --> 00:08:05,270 You know how to get leverage. 187 00:08:05,635 --> 00:08:10,115 And meanwhile, you're still the game is going now for 20 30 40 seconds, you know, 188 00:08:10,265 --> 00:08:13,944 and it doesn't seem like a lot but when you're moving around getting really low 189 00:08:13,995 --> 00:08:19,294 defending and and trying to It puts it all a lot on you, you know the one one of 190 00:08:19,294 --> 00:08:23,995 the things that that it's very important to understand the concept is that In 191 00:08:23,995 --> 00:08:26,195 tennis, power is your friend, right? 192 00:08:26,195 --> 00:08:26,925 Plays with you. 193 00:08:26,925 --> 00:08:28,635 You can overpower someone, right? 194 00:08:28,685 --> 00:08:29,945 In padel is completely opposite. 195 00:08:29,955 --> 00:08:33,065 You cannot overpower someone because it will just come back. 196 00:08:33,565 --> 00:08:40,185 So it's a such a much more precise and tactically more. 197 00:08:41,205 --> 00:08:44,615 You know, refine because power does it. 198 00:08:44,625 --> 00:08:48,195 So the moment you take power away is now using your brain, where to 199 00:08:48,195 --> 00:08:51,545 find the whole way, where to find the gap for them to make a mistake. 200 00:08:51,565 --> 00:08:54,235 And even though if they can return it from the back wall, so it's even more 201 00:08:54,235 --> 00:08:57,995 difficult, you know, at a higher level, I think it's more patience depending on 202 00:08:58,145 --> 00:09:02,045 the side that you have, it's tactical that that right side is more technical. 203 00:09:02,045 --> 00:09:05,814 And that left side is just waiting for portresa for quarters waiting to put 204 00:09:05,815 --> 00:09:11,505 it that person's like, you know, Comes from tennis or is tall or very powerful. 205 00:09:11,605 --> 00:09:14,594 You've seen it, you know, I just came from Mexico. 206 00:09:14,634 --> 00:09:16,074 I seen it with Vinny, right? 207 00:09:16,114 --> 00:09:19,504 You know, he could put any opportunity has he's putting the ball out. 208 00:09:19,754 --> 00:09:20,014 Yeah. 209 00:09:20,064 --> 00:09:23,274 You know, so if you have the capability, but you have to have the patience 210 00:09:23,334 --> 00:09:26,514 and know when to do it and train, you know, so that way that, that, that 211 00:09:26,514 --> 00:09:30,394 risk of it not going, you know, coming back and getting counter smash or 212 00:09:30,394 --> 00:09:32,425 hitting that back wall net is reduced. 213 00:09:32,425 --> 00:09:34,064 Your exposure is reduced to Yeah. 214 00:09:34,384 --> 00:09:37,304 Um, and that's where some of the young guys kind of like. 215 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,339 Uh, they want everything over, you know, and some of them 216 00:09:41,339 --> 00:09:42,780 are capable of doing that. 217 00:09:42,870 --> 00:09:47,279 You usually tend to trust your power and your, you know, what you, what 218 00:09:47,290 --> 00:09:48,519 you think you can put in the table. 219 00:09:48,889 --> 00:09:52,689 But as soon as the label keeps matching up, and it happened to 220 00:09:52,689 --> 00:09:56,589 us, the tennis players, we started coming in to the USPA circuit with 221 00:09:56,589 --> 00:09:59,610 just a few players, and we would do semifinals, finals every single time. 222 00:10:00,165 --> 00:10:04,195 Now there is more pattern players involved and it's, it's harder, you know, like I 223 00:10:04,335 --> 00:10:05,925 always say, you have to read the book. 224 00:10:05,935 --> 00:10:09,334 If you want to go out there and beat Luisito, Nico, or you know, the Eagles, 225 00:10:09,335 --> 00:10:10,714 now you have to know what you're doing. 226 00:10:10,714 --> 00:10:13,594 You cannot just go out there and, and beat the hell out of 227 00:10:13,644 --> 00:10:15,024 the ball and get away with it. 228 00:10:15,024 --> 00:10:19,059 You know, you learn very quickly that from another sport and you're doing well. 229 00:10:19,059 --> 00:10:22,685 I mean, you have that, that anticipation, the balance and timing, you have 230 00:10:22,685 --> 00:10:24,625 all that and eye hand coordination. 231 00:10:24,645 --> 00:10:26,525 But then once you start playing some of the other. 232 00:10:26,775 --> 00:10:28,045 That's not how to play parry. 233 00:10:28,055 --> 00:10:30,725 Like, Oh, you know, I got to go back to the instruction manual. 234 00:10:30,725 --> 00:10:31,185 Is this that? 235 00:10:32,345 --> 00:10:34,495 So tell us, how did you get involved with the USPA? 236 00:10:35,285 --> 00:10:39,535 Well, the USPA, uh, got to me when I played my first 237 00:10:39,845 --> 00:10:41,175 national match with Venezuela. 238 00:10:41,204 --> 00:10:44,355 I actually got to play with the national team of Venezuela as a player, the first 239 00:10:44,385 --> 00:10:46,335 ever national team that got formed. 240 00:10:46,715 --> 00:10:48,865 We did a friendly game, uh, in Texas. 241 00:10:49,445 --> 00:10:50,445 against the USA. 242 00:10:50,864 --> 00:10:53,545 And that's where I met the people that were involved at the moment. 243 00:10:53,555 --> 00:10:57,305 They told me there was a need, you know, for volunteers to join committees. 244 00:10:57,324 --> 00:11:01,254 And, uh, I right away jumped in, in one of them in the competition 245 00:11:01,284 --> 00:11:02,994 committee that was in 2022. 246 00:11:03,855 --> 00:11:07,385 Alongside with Scott Culliburn, who has been a big help over 247 00:11:07,385 --> 00:11:09,585 there, Nick was at the moment. 248 00:11:09,805 --> 00:11:11,255 Marcus was just leaving. 249 00:11:11,675 --> 00:11:15,735 Martin Sweeney was getting into the presidency at that moment. 250 00:11:16,095 --> 00:11:20,154 And we were just a few people, you know, at that moment when I got into the USPA. 251 00:11:20,154 --> 00:11:24,214 But I think I brought a lot of experience of what I have left in the USPA. 252 00:11:24,375 --> 00:11:29,595 In tennis and, uh, try to, uh, give that experience towards the USPA, you 253 00:11:29,595 --> 00:11:32,845 know, as a volunteer and trying to structure, especially at that moment, 254 00:11:32,855 --> 00:11:37,704 my task was to structure a, a better and more solid, uh, competition, uh, 255 00:11:37,755 --> 00:11:42,154 tour, you know, that right now you have at least a tournament spread around 256 00:11:42,155 --> 00:11:45,815 the entire us and you, everyone has possibilities of competing and playing 257 00:11:45,815 --> 00:11:48,905 and getting some points towards the ranking, which was extremely important. 258 00:11:49,425 --> 00:11:53,574 And, uh, making some sense of what was going to be required for the national 259 00:11:53,574 --> 00:11:57,324 teams to be able to jump in and, and be a part of that national team, you know? 260 00:11:57,324 --> 00:12:01,794 So that was when I started, uh, I've been, uh, evolving since then, right now, 261 00:12:02,204 --> 00:12:05,584 apart from being the head coach of the national team of the men's national team. 262 00:12:05,645 --> 00:12:07,895 Uh, in the absolute level. 263 00:12:08,135 --> 00:12:12,215 I also, uh, volunteer in the Governance and Finance Committee, uh, help them 264 00:12:12,215 --> 00:12:16,655 a lot with, uh, you know, everything that the, the, the USPA requires right 265 00:12:16,655 --> 00:12:20,915 now, especially that we're hopefully heading into the Olympics in 2032. 266 00:12:20,915 --> 00:12:24,705 As a, as a sport from the USPA, we need to be ready and prepare, 267 00:12:24,705 --> 00:12:26,765 you know, to, to confront that. 268 00:12:26,765 --> 00:12:28,594 But you played for Venezuelan national team? 269 00:12:28,625 --> 00:12:28,925 Yes, sir. 270 00:12:28,925 --> 00:12:31,055 Was that just a friendly and that's why you could play for the USA or 271 00:12:31,055 --> 00:12:31,870 did you have to wait a couple years? 272 00:12:31,870 --> 00:12:33,094 Yeah, that was a friendly, okay. 273 00:12:33,094 --> 00:12:35,765 At the moment, Venezuela didn't even have a federation, so they were. 274 00:12:35,900 --> 00:12:37,689 Forming the federation at that moment. 275 00:12:38,609 --> 00:12:42,430 Uh, so I got to be involved in the first few, you know, friendly 276 00:12:42,430 --> 00:12:44,079 games that they put together. 277 00:12:44,540 --> 00:12:46,550 All, everything was here in the U S at the moment. 278 00:12:47,020 --> 00:12:50,060 And now they have done an amazing job back home in Venezuela. 279 00:12:50,060 --> 00:12:52,989 And I have to congratulate the federation and the players over 280 00:12:52,989 --> 00:12:55,699 there because I'm super proud of what they're doing recently. 281 00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:58,729 I don't know if you were there in, in, in the Panamericanos, 282 00:12:58,930 --> 00:13:02,729 the Venezuelan under 18 team won actually the, the, the tournament. 283 00:13:02,810 --> 00:13:06,349 The open tournament, which was a huge accomplishment and a 284 00:13:06,349 --> 00:13:07,509 reward for what they're doing. 285 00:13:07,509 --> 00:13:09,319 And I'm super proud of, of them. 286 00:13:10,089 --> 00:13:11,600 Yeah, that was pretty amazing. 287 00:13:11,610 --> 00:13:13,430 Seeing the young kids there, how they play. 288 00:13:13,430 --> 00:13:16,679 It's like, wow, this is like some of the kids in the future. 289 00:13:16,680 --> 00:13:17,499 It's like, wow. 290 00:13:17,509 --> 00:13:20,829 What happens is that right now they, they see a future on it. 291 00:13:20,839 --> 00:13:22,719 You know, now they, there is a hope and a dream. 292 00:13:22,719 --> 00:13:26,890 And so now, now kids from when they're 14, they're professionals, you know? 293 00:13:27,289 --> 00:13:31,890 And my, my goal, my mission here with the national team is to get these kids 294 00:13:31,890 --> 00:13:33,869 to be professional since they're young. 295 00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:37,969 Because in, in order to be able to compete when you're out there against teams like 296 00:13:37,969 --> 00:13:42,089 Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, that are preparing since they're 13, 297 00:13:42,099 --> 00:13:43,379 you're going to have to put that work in. 298 00:13:43,419 --> 00:13:43,449 Okay. 299 00:13:43,449 --> 00:13:45,069 So that's, that's a good point. 300 00:13:45,099 --> 00:13:48,030 And I'm going to ask you a tough question is how do you do that? 301 00:13:48,770 --> 00:13:50,930 How do you do that when there's other sports there? 302 00:13:51,395 --> 00:13:56,115 That there's scholarships and there's money for and you can make real money 303 00:13:56,215 --> 00:14:01,124 or You know, we you end up losing a lot of athletes to those other sports. 304 00:14:01,465 --> 00:14:03,234 And how do you get these juniors? 305 00:14:03,750 --> 00:14:07,849 To kind of like start playing and start getting really, you know, uh, passionate 306 00:14:07,849 --> 00:14:12,810 about it and say, I want, I want to play this sport when there's, I mean, we're 307 00:14:12,819 --> 00:14:17,110 hoping there's a future financially for it, but right now it, most people paddle 308 00:14:17,110 --> 00:14:21,650 players here in the USA and the top five, 10, they can't do paddle a hundred percent 309 00:14:21,689 --> 00:14:23,140 and make, you know, living off of it. 310 00:14:23,150 --> 00:14:26,130 They're rather doing a side thing or coaching or whatever. 311 00:14:26,949 --> 00:14:28,449 So what motivates them to do that? 312 00:14:28,449 --> 00:14:29,160 That's number one. 313 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,010 Number two, you have the juniors. 314 00:14:31,579 --> 00:14:33,310 And it's not made for everybody. 315 00:14:33,310 --> 00:14:39,250 I mean, it's very costly like how can you have, you know, these juniors, uh train 316 00:14:39,530 --> 00:14:44,500 You know twice or three times a week if the courts cost so much money So there's 317 00:14:44,509 --> 00:14:48,729 all these like hurdles And i've been trying to figure out how do you do that? 318 00:14:48,810 --> 00:14:52,520 You know, so number one You talked on how do you do it all you those 319 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,410 two points combined, you know, obviously price is a big Step in 320 00:14:56,410 --> 00:14:57,490 the way that we have right now. 321 00:14:57,610 --> 00:15:01,319 It's a high end entertainment sport, you know It's made only for affluent 322 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,109 families and it's not touched on the mainstream yet because the 323 00:15:04,110 --> 00:15:10,035 infrastructure just started building 2019, you know 2020 So it takes time. 324 00:15:10,555 --> 00:15:14,805 The biggest city that took on to paddle was Miami because we have the Hispanic 325 00:15:14,815 --> 00:15:20,314 background and we have, you know, a, the capability to promote the sport easier. 326 00:15:20,435 --> 00:15:24,604 But Miami is a expensive place to, to be the evangelist. 327 00:15:24,634 --> 00:15:25,134 Let's say it. 328 00:15:25,134 --> 00:15:25,464 So. 329 00:15:25,955 --> 00:15:30,945 In order for us in, in, as, as a paddle world to, to get juniors and to get 330 00:15:30,945 --> 00:15:34,095 people involved, obviously we're going to have to create this spaces where 331 00:15:34,095 --> 00:15:35,554 juniors can participate right now. 332 00:15:35,554 --> 00:15:39,634 They don't have spaces, so I'm a bit advocate for that right now. 333 00:15:39,665 --> 00:15:44,094 Obviously club owners have a, a, a, a big, big task to do, which is 334 00:15:44,164 --> 00:15:49,595 how do I return my investment in while generating spaces for kids 335 00:15:49,605 --> 00:15:51,465 also to participate and play well. 336 00:15:52,515 --> 00:15:55,985 People that are involved like you are, you know, you fell in love with the 337 00:15:55,985 --> 00:15:59,045 sport first and now you have your kids, you know, going to the Panamericanos 338 00:15:59,045 --> 00:16:02,285 and involving them, getting them involved in, in, in the national teams. 339 00:16:02,614 --> 00:16:03,294 That's amazing. 340 00:16:03,315 --> 00:16:04,565 And that's what I need to see more. 341 00:16:04,565 --> 00:16:07,675 You know, I need to see more parents that get their kids and 342 00:16:07,675 --> 00:16:09,144 make the effort to bring them in. 343 00:16:09,564 --> 00:16:10,865 And I think they do. 344 00:16:11,205 --> 00:16:14,495 It's just, it's cheaper to, you know, put your own court in your 345 00:16:14,505 --> 00:16:16,415 backyard and that's going to play. 346 00:16:16,515 --> 00:16:17,595 And that's going to try. 347 00:16:17,935 --> 00:16:21,074 And that's a, that's a, that's a, that's a step in the way, a step in the way 348 00:16:21,074 --> 00:16:24,795 that's, that's obviously there, you know, but the infrastructure, it's 349 00:16:24,795 --> 00:16:26,504 going to be the best way to solve. 350 00:16:26,555 --> 00:16:26,765 Yeah. 351 00:16:26,765 --> 00:16:28,285 But we have to understand one thing. 352 00:16:28,355 --> 00:16:33,455 I mean, it's the natural evolution of any new sport is, is the chicken and the egg. 353 00:16:33,615 --> 00:16:34,194 You know what I mean? 354 00:16:34,685 --> 00:16:36,525 You can't have junior development without. 355 00:16:36,810 --> 00:16:37,510 Paddle courts. 356 00:16:37,550 --> 00:16:39,790 That's exactly the more paddle course that we have. 357 00:16:40,100 --> 00:16:45,130 It's going to be much more accessible to To juniors and everyone else 358 00:16:45,130 --> 00:16:47,529 right now It's the the natural trend. 359 00:16:47,530 --> 00:16:51,450 It's it's it's where United states is 10 years behind and the paddle 360 00:16:51,450 --> 00:16:55,420 evolution compared to the rest and we're the early adopters You know what? 361 00:16:55,420 --> 00:16:59,260 I mean and then after that when we get the the the high end and middle 362 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:03,690 income people Now they're bringing your kids and now you know, that's how and 363 00:17:03,690 --> 00:17:07,079 how goes down to the bottom, which is another great point that you brought up. 364 00:17:07,109 --> 00:17:08,609 How do you compete with other sports? 365 00:17:08,609 --> 00:17:09,089 It's hard. 366 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:12,420 You don't, you can't compete with every single sport, but you're not expecting to 367 00:17:12,629 --> 00:17:14,849 bring in a hundred million kids, you know? 368 00:17:14,910 --> 00:17:15,180 No. 369 00:17:15,180 --> 00:17:16,530 Right now we have five if we can. 370 00:17:16,764 --> 00:17:21,584 Week, five or 10 per club, I'm saying, but you can bring it up to 100 per club, 371 00:17:21,594 --> 00:17:24,204 then you're doing, you know, a big job. 372 00:17:24,284 --> 00:17:25,504 I love, I love this sport. 373 00:17:25,674 --> 00:17:28,214 I'm very passionate about it, you know, and that's why I do this. 374 00:17:28,244 --> 00:17:29,544 And, but I see it. 375 00:17:29,564 --> 00:17:32,814 And I used to like other, I play squash tennis, of course, 376 00:17:33,384 --> 00:17:34,954 little, even racquetball. 377 00:17:34,955 --> 00:17:38,274 And racquetball was, is a dying sport. 378 00:17:39,735 --> 00:17:41,015 It was never a growing sport. 379 00:17:41,315 --> 00:17:43,395 Well, it got pretty strong in the 80s. 380 00:17:43,395 --> 00:17:44,135 You know what I'm saying? 381 00:17:44,725 --> 00:17:46,975 But to build the infrastructure was tough, etc. 382 00:17:46,975 --> 00:17:49,335 And it's indoors, you can only see one way. 383 00:17:49,355 --> 00:17:51,035 So, right now, it's a business. 384 00:17:51,124 --> 00:17:52,074 It has to be a business. 385 00:17:52,275 --> 00:17:53,564 These investors are coming in. 386 00:17:53,815 --> 00:17:57,255 They have to have their money back, a return on their investment. 387 00:17:57,854 --> 00:18:01,194 So, how do you make it, I guess, available for, uh, you know, all kids? 388 00:18:01,194 --> 00:18:05,024 And, you know, maybe, I've seen certain clubs do it at certain times, where it's 389 00:18:05,024 --> 00:18:09,514 like, dead, you know, uh, like, the dead, dead times, and, and giving a discounted 390 00:18:09,514 --> 00:18:12,855 price, which I think is great, but somebody has to, has to run that, right? 391 00:18:12,895 --> 00:18:13,925 Exactly, that's a problem. 392 00:18:13,995 --> 00:18:18,024 Right, and then, right now, the way it is structured is, like, you go 393 00:18:18,024 --> 00:18:20,254 to New England, it's twice as much. 394 00:18:20,595 --> 00:18:23,385 Yeah, as it is here in Miami, you know what I'm saying? 395 00:18:23,385 --> 00:18:24,715 And you go there is even more. 396 00:18:25,045 --> 00:18:28,165 There has to be, there has, there has, there has to be some incentive. 397 00:18:28,205 --> 00:18:31,665 The, the USPA who is the governing body, who's not in charge of 398 00:18:31,665 --> 00:18:35,895 running, you know, how clubs operate or how do they produce talent? 399 00:18:35,905 --> 00:18:38,615 No, they're just the governing body who puts the rules basically, you know, and, 400 00:18:38,864 --> 00:18:40,484 and it's making sure things are happening. 401 00:18:41,314 --> 00:18:45,474 It's trying to promote from a committee that was formed just for juniors right 402 00:18:45,474 --> 00:18:48,495 now, and it's going to incentivize some clubs by providing some grants, 403 00:18:49,385 --> 00:18:53,645 especially Especially to incentivize the junior production in the clubs. 404 00:18:53,885 --> 00:18:56,865 So when you say grants, is that federal grants or corporate? 405 00:18:57,605 --> 00:19:00,365 Let me not lose this point because I think it's super, super important. 406 00:19:01,060 --> 00:19:03,879 How do you approach the opening of a club or the putting the 407 00:19:03,879 --> 00:19:05,509 investment of a club right now? 408 00:19:05,610 --> 00:19:07,729 People are looking location, location, location. 409 00:19:07,729 --> 00:19:10,870 It's a thing that I hear in every single place, trying to find 410 00:19:10,889 --> 00:19:12,360 the most elite and best places. 411 00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:16,459 You know, the moment we start shifting away from that a little bit and start 412 00:19:16,479 --> 00:19:19,949 touching on cities and trying to get that, you know, underdeveloped land 413 00:19:19,969 --> 00:19:24,390 that you can step into, you know, like, The type of volunteers and Valentines 414 00:19:24,450 --> 00:19:29,530 and get involved with what already is in tennis, pickleball, racket, 415 00:19:29,530 --> 00:19:32,600 sports, soccer, et cetera, and just get involved and having the kids to 416 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:34,360 actually see what's going on with paddle. 417 00:19:34,490 --> 00:19:34,750 Yeah. 418 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:37,390 We felt that already when we step on a paddle court. 419 00:19:37,705 --> 00:19:40,514 We don't want to leave the paddle court, you know, I think the first 420 00:19:40,545 --> 00:19:43,685 of locate location you say, but there's a reason why yeah, because 421 00:19:43,795 --> 00:19:45,235 the investors that's what they want. 422 00:19:45,514 --> 00:19:46,585 It's part of the model. 423 00:19:46,605 --> 00:19:50,975 So yeah, but it's our mission to teach the cities that we can create a community 424 00:19:51,014 --> 00:19:54,284 out of paddle, but here's where it's going to be the big differentiator. 425 00:19:54,325 --> 00:20:00,815 It's when you get for the last hundred years, all country clubs in the United 426 00:20:00,815 --> 00:20:02,254 States, there were always golf and tennis. 427 00:20:02,335 --> 00:20:02,804 Yes, sir. 428 00:20:02,815 --> 00:20:03,655 Anywhere in the country. 429 00:20:03,784 --> 00:20:04,105 You know what I mean? 430 00:20:04,105 --> 00:20:06,524 When you go to the typical country club, you can remember and all that. 431 00:20:06,985 --> 00:20:11,235 Now the tennis clubs on those country clubs are adding pickleball and padel. 432 00:20:11,235 --> 00:20:11,695 That's correct. 433 00:20:11,985 --> 00:20:13,485 So now they're becoming racket clubs. 434 00:20:13,485 --> 00:20:13,875 That's correct. 435 00:20:13,875 --> 00:20:16,875 Yeah, that's gonna be the big differentiator where that's 436 00:20:16,905 --> 00:20:18,584 that's which is already happening. 437 00:20:18,814 --> 00:20:20,355 Yeah, that's already done. 438 00:20:20,365 --> 00:20:21,655 They're just adding padel to it. 439 00:20:21,655 --> 00:20:22,004 Exactly. 440 00:20:22,004 --> 00:20:24,094 If I go to all the racket clubs in New England, they have 441 00:20:24,264 --> 00:20:25,774 they have What do you call it? 442 00:20:25,945 --> 00:20:26,014 Pickleball. 443 00:20:26,014 --> 00:20:26,735 Pickle there. 444 00:20:26,774 --> 00:20:28,485 Yeah, they're renting out to health insurance. 445 00:20:28,504 --> 00:20:32,314 And they're like, because honestly the, the tennis club 446 00:20:32,524 --> 00:20:34,264 theme is kind of a dying Yeah. 447 00:20:34,685 --> 00:20:34,985 Club. 448 00:20:34,985 --> 00:20:35,584 The club version, club parties. 449 00:20:35,584 --> 00:20:37,864 It's, it's increasing now in, in, in offerings. 450 00:20:37,895 --> 00:20:38,014 Yeah. 451 00:20:38,014 --> 00:20:39,425 And it's happening to a malls too now. 452 00:20:39,425 --> 00:20:43,774 The malls have to be transforming into us offering retail to entertainment. 453 00:20:43,774 --> 00:20:47,764 No, and look, and look, I mean, all tennis clubs, private clubs and, and memory owned 454 00:20:47,764 --> 00:20:50,185 club, they know that tennis is dying. 455 00:20:50,215 --> 00:20:52,765 And, and let me give you just Mm-Hmm, just a quick number and I 456 00:20:52,765 --> 00:20:54,025 was looking at it the other day. 457 00:20:54,055 --> 00:20:54,595 It's. 458 00:20:55,445 --> 00:20:59,554 Around the world, there are half a million tennis clubs, I mean, tennis courts. 459 00:20:59,844 --> 00:21:01,844 That's the maximum of courts that you have around the world. 460 00:21:02,774 --> 00:21:06,205 280, 000, they're only in the United States, right? 461 00:21:06,335 --> 00:21:09,844 So more than half, more than half of the tennis courts around the 462 00:21:09,844 --> 00:21:11,435 world, they're in the United States. 463 00:21:12,295 --> 00:21:17,415 The USTA has on hand 360 million dollars every single year. 464 00:21:19,530 --> 00:21:22,490 We should have at least a top 10 in the world, they should be Americans. 465 00:21:22,580 --> 00:21:22,850 Yeah. 466 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:24,530 They're doing something wrong. 467 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:28,820 And now it's when these other racquet sports see that gap, 468 00:21:29,229 --> 00:21:30,429 that we're gonna start coming in. 469 00:21:30,429 --> 00:21:33,099 Because if you're a club owner and now you added pickable and 470 00:21:33,100 --> 00:21:34,449 paddle, now you monetize it. 471 00:21:34,790 --> 00:21:37,199 Now you can increase that revenue coming to the club. 472 00:21:37,509 --> 00:21:39,580 Now you're offering three different racquet sports. 473 00:21:39,929 --> 00:21:41,080 And that's going to be the exciting. 474 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:42,929 That's what's going to happen in the near future. 475 00:21:42,939 --> 00:21:46,009 What I think happened with tennis, what you're saying is beautiful 476 00:21:46,019 --> 00:21:49,239 because what you're saying is exactly why Pickleball exists. 477 00:21:49,749 --> 00:21:53,069 Pickleball exists because they got into an old infrastructure 478 00:21:53,070 --> 00:21:54,300 of tennis that was underutilized. 479 00:21:54,869 --> 00:21:58,429 Like I was saying before with the cities and they jumped in there and offer. 480 00:21:58,804 --> 00:22:01,995 Something that people were not finding in tennis because tennis 481 00:22:02,004 --> 00:22:03,735 has become extremely difficult. 482 00:22:03,764 --> 00:22:06,674 And when you see the guys playing there every single time is better 483 00:22:06,674 --> 00:22:09,475 and better and better, you find it like impossible to get there. 484 00:22:09,485 --> 00:22:12,864 And then when the news come out and you see, Oh, only a hundred players 485 00:22:12,934 --> 00:22:16,634 are making money, but they're that good, you know, I think I'm not going 486 00:22:16,634 --> 00:22:20,655 to play tennis, you know, so that's something that tennis has to deal with 487 00:22:20,685 --> 00:22:24,605 and they're trying to create these different scenarios and people jumping in. 488 00:22:24,605 --> 00:22:27,034 But, you know, it is. 489 00:22:27,670 --> 00:22:28,700 Exactly like that. 490 00:22:28,730 --> 00:22:32,480 You know, so now Paddle has, has that opportunity to jump in and you're seeing 491 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,340 it in cities, like you're saying in Raleigh, North Carolina, in Atlanta, 492 00:22:35,699 --> 00:22:39,710 they're doing public facilities, only rackets and Paddle is in there, 493 00:22:39,730 --> 00:22:41,070 you know, so they're seeing it too. 494 00:22:41,529 --> 00:22:46,049 And the good thing, I mean, it's, it's the future is we're still early on, 495 00:22:46,089 --> 00:22:49,789 but the train has already started, you know, we're, we're, we're jumping 496 00:22:49,790 --> 00:22:52,560 on the train and we know where it's going, it's going to go up. 497 00:22:53,195 --> 00:22:55,845 And it's, it's, it's a very, very exciting. 498 00:22:55,855 --> 00:23:00,385 So now going back to, let's get into the juicy stuff, man. 499 00:23:00,385 --> 00:23:04,594 I mean, so now you're going to Qatar. 500 00:23:04,605 --> 00:23:07,345 When, give us the dates of the Qatar, uh, World Cup. 501 00:23:07,635 --> 00:23:11,825 First of all, uh, to Qatar, we had to play a qualifying and 502 00:23:12,215 --> 00:23:13,625 the qualifying was in Monterrey. 503 00:23:13,625 --> 00:23:18,430 That was, uh, A couple of weeks ago, we were super, I'm still super excited. 504 00:23:18,430 --> 00:23:21,410 You know, the performance and what I got to see over there from the players, 505 00:23:21,410 --> 00:23:24,770 both in the men's and women's side, the women's did an amazing performance. 506 00:23:24,780 --> 00:23:28,819 They had one less spot than to qualify or available to qualify to a world 507 00:23:28,820 --> 00:23:33,059 championship and they had to beat Mexico and they did it in Mexico, which was huge. 508 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:34,989 And talks about us in general, you know, the U. 509 00:23:34,989 --> 00:23:35,109 S. 510 00:23:35,109 --> 00:23:38,660 paddle as a, as a whole, because what Mexico, for example, does to 511 00:23:38,660 --> 00:23:40,360 their national team, it's amazing. 512 00:23:40,360 --> 00:23:41,360 They have them. 513 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,700 Support it all the way through and they play tournaments every single 514 00:23:44,700 --> 00:23:48,020 weekend and they train every day and they have various coaches and 515 00:23:48,020 --> 00:23:50,270 various trainers and conditioning. 516 00:23:50,270 --> 00:23:54,299 So it's a big push, you know, that they do and going out there to compete with 517 00:23:54,299 --> 00:23:58,539 players that are self funding, even the tickets, you know, uh, to go and 518 00:23:58,540 --> 00:23:59,779 compete against them and beat them. 519 00:23:59,790 --> 00:24:02,840 It's, it's, it talks about the talent that we're, we're capable to create. 520 00:24:02,850 --> 00:24:03,840 You know, if we actually. 521 00:24:04,525 --> 00:24:08,955 Do it right, you know, and set the right structure going again to Qatar. 522 00:24:08,985 --> 00:24:13,535 Eh, I think we have a great opportunity to showcase, you know, probably 523 00:24:13,535 --> 00:24:16,775 something that we have never done over there in the world championships game. 524 00:24:16,784 --> 00:24:22,214 My goal to, and the goal that I have set up to my team is to be a top 10 country. 525 00:24:22,514 --> 00:24:25,315 It's a super tough task, but I think right now. 526 00:24:26,105 --> 00:24:30,575 We brought in two additions to a team, uh, that are going to make us super strong. 527 00:24:30,585 --> 00:24:34,164 Uh, and I'm confident, I'm confident on the work that we are putting in and 528 00:24:34,165 --> 00:24:35,635 that the players especially are doing. 529 00:24:36,219 --> 00:24:38,409 And, uh, it's gonna be a super fun experience. 530 00:24:38,409 --> 00:24:39,909 Alright, buddy, you have to tell us the players now. 531 00:24:39,999 --> 00:24:42,550 Come on, give us a, to us, give you the juicy stuff to us. 532 00:24:43,090 --> 00:24:43,479 Who are the players? 533 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:49,120 So the, the guys that are gonna come are, uh, be Francesco that 534 00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:50,469 you were with him right now. 535 00:24:50,919 --> 00:24:51,219 Yeah. 536 00:24:51,340 --> 00:24:52,090 Great player. 537 00:24:52,090 --> 00:24:52,091 Great player. 538 00:24:52,097 --> 00:24:55,540 And I have super high hopes on oh yeah, on the future that he's a monster. 539 00:24:56,035 --> 00:24:57,895 That he can bring, he's only 18, right? 540 00:24:57,905 --> 00:24:58,405 He's only 18. 541 00:24:58,825 --> 00:25:03,345 And right now, and I'll jump on the players soon, but right now the FIIP rise, 542 00:25:03,345 --> 00:25:05,844 uh, ranking came up well end of last year. 543 00:25:05,844 --> 00:25:11,225 And we had two players in the top 10, you know, Argentinians, Spanish guys, and 544 00:25:11,225 --> 00:25:15,415 two USA players, which are Matias Segura and who is the second player that's going 545 00:25:15,415 --> 00:25:17,665 to the, to the team and Vinny Francesco. 546 00:25:17,705 --> 00:25:20,415 And that tells you the, the. 547 00:25:20,930 --> 00:25:26,750 Talent and the capabilities that those two guys have and the the You know the 548 00:25:26,750 --> 00:25:29,939 benefit that we have of having them with us, you know Yeah, so we need to give 549 00:25:29,939 --> 00:25:33,259 them that privilege privilege That's the word they didn't grow up in the united 550 00:25:33,260 --> 00:25:36,679 states and they trained somewhere else And they decided and they decided to 551 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:40,420 come and play for us and let me tell you that people think they don't They had the 552 00:25:40,420 --> 00:25:44,730 opportunity to go and play for argentina, you know, yeah, but they Like we are 553 00:25:44,730 --> 00:25:48,629 seeing the eyes of paddle are, are, are with us right now and they wanna be there. 554 00:25:48,629 --> 00:25:49,379 The U US is a market. 555 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:49,845 Yeah, it is. 556 00:25:49,850 --> 00:25:52,560 It is a market for any, any, any, anything. 557 00:25:52,710 --> 00:25:53,760 And including Paddle. 558 00:25:53,790 --> 00:25:54,389 Exactly. 559 00:25:54,570 --> 00:25:57,419 That's what they see and they trusted us and we have to trust, uh, them. 560 00:25:57,419 --> 00:25:58,350 So it's them two. 561 00:25:58,379 --> 00:25:59,550 Then we have, uh, Mr. 562 00:25:59,550 --> 00:26:02,070 America, captain America, uh, Nico Elli. 563 00:26:02,370 --> 00:26:02,520 Yeah. 564 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:03,000 Wow. 565 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:03,210 Yeah. 566 00:26:03,595 --> 00:26:04,125 , come on. 567 00:26:04,615 --> 00:26:05,445 Who's my captain? 568 00:26:05,550 --> 00:26:07,620 And, and a, and a and an amazing guy. 569 00:26:07,620 --> 00:26:10,200 You know, he's a true professional paddle player. 570 00:26:10,770 --> 00:26:11,820 Made in America. 571 00:26:11,850 --> 00:26:12,810 Came from tennis. 572 00:26:13,130 --> 00:26:17,370 Adapted beautiful to paddle and right now he's training like an athlete, you know, 573 00:26:17,370 --> 00:26:20,660 and that's something that you can see on the court on every single tournament. 574 00:26:20,670 --> 00:26:24,850 He's in the finals, uh, competing at a high level and, uh, super 575 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:27,120 high expectations on him too. 576 00:26:27,539 --> 00:26:32,929 Then we have a JP Arispe, JP comes, uh, with a lot of experience. 577 00:26:32,939 --> 00:26:34,090 He has been there a lot. 578 00:26:34,139 --> 00:26:36,600 Uh, he said are only lefty in, in my team. 579 00:26:37,135 --> 00:26:38,985 So it's important to have him. 580 00:26:43,665 --> 00:26:47,560 Being number one in the USA forever until these kids come, came in and, 581 00:26:47,565 --> 00:26:49,185 and took the, he spot his spot. 582 00:26:49,185 --> 00:26:51,395 But now he's, he's trying to fight back for it. 583 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:55,895 I, I always laugh with him about it and he tells me he's gonna come back . I'll see. 584 00:26:55,955 --> 00:26:56,435 You know? 585 00:26:57,305 --> 00:26:59,585 But, uh, he's coming in tough and tougher every year, you know? 586 00:26:59,585 --> 00:27:00,215 It is. 587 00:27:00,215 --> 00:27:00,545 It is. 588 00:27:00,545 --> 00:27:00,875 It is. 589 00:27:00,935 --> 00:27:01,925 But he's a great player. 590 00:27:01,925 --> 00:27:02,165 Oh, yeah. 591 00:27:02,165 --> 00:27:07,935 Has so much knowledge of the game and with the team, you know, he has a lot of, eh. 592 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:10,660 He transmits, you know, that experience to the kids. 593 00:27:10,660 --> 00:27:10,840 Yeah. 594 00:27:11,150 --> 00:27:14,520 Then I have another kid that I have a high hopes is Sebastian 595 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:16,300 Castaneda, who is from California. 596 00:27:16,889 --> 00:27:20,500 He plays half of the year, he in the USA and half in Mexico. 597 00:27:20,540 --> 00:27:22,259 So he plays a lot of that Mexico tour. 598 00:27:22,259 --> 00:27:26,325 Uh, Which has him, you know, improving, improving a lot. 599 00:27:26,375 --> 00:27:29,045 Uh, he's, uh, 21 years old. 600 00:27:29,575 --> 00:27:33,685 Uh, then we have, uh, let me see, let me recap. 601 00:27:34,435 --> 00:27:39,905 Vinny, Matias, Fernando, JP, Sebas Castaneda, Raulito Ruiz. 602 00:27:39,905 --> 00:27:44,645 Raulito Ruiz, who has been also growing as a player a lot and has been 603 00:27:44,725 --> 00:27:48,695 super committed to paddle, you know, in the Bolivian American superstar. 604 00:27:48,695 --> 00:27:49,745 That's exactly right. 605 00:27:49,784 --> 00:27:54,999 You know, big guy, you know, he has a, a, a, Strong tools. 606 00:27:54,999 --> 00:27:58,299 And obviously there is a lot of work to do there, but he's, he's working towards 607 00:27:58,299 --> 00:28:01,730 that, you know, then we have, we like to tell you the brother of the brother 608 00:28:01,730 --> 00:28:08,215 of Nico, he got into Paddle also in 2017 and, uh, It has been improving a lot. 609 00:28:08,235 --> 00:28:11,285 You know, he's become a paddle player and a paddle addict in that family. 610 00:28:11,285 --> 00:28:13,185 I think they only talk about paddle right now. 611 00:28:13,735 --> 00:28:14,545 It's a big problem. 612 00:28:14,545 --> 00:28:17,904 I think they're having with the different wives, but well, not Nico, 613 00:28:17,904 --> 00:28:21,514 but, but Will, but, uh, uh, yeah. 614 00:28:21,524 --> 00:28:26,595 So we'll, and the last one, uh, it's going to be, who didn't I mention? 615 00:28:26,595 --> 00:28:27,134 Let's see. 616 00:28:27,985 --> 00:28:29,685 Vinny, Matias, 617 00:28:31,775 --> 00:28:35,155 JP, Fernando, Sebas, Will, and Raul. 618 00:28:35,254 --> 00:28:36,284 Those are they, yeah. 619 00:28:36,284 --> 00:28:36,715 Beautiful. 620 00:28:37,055 --> 00:28:37,595 Great team. 621 00:28:37,774 --> 00:28:38,175 Thank you. 622 00:28:38,495 --> 00:28:41,204 So these guys are going to be competing with La Creme De 623 00:28:41,204 --> 00:28:42,704 La Creme, the top of the top. 624 00:28:42,714 --> 00:28:43,574 That's right. 625 00:28:43,575 --> 00:28:45,395 Spain, Argentinians. 626 00:28:45,415 --> 00:28:48,555 Uh, I read that Argentina is going with Tapia, Dineno. 627 00:28:49,034 --> 00:28:49,705 How do you prepare? 628 00:28:50,145 --> 00:28:50,575 Tell me that. 629 00:28:50,915 --> 00:28:51,565 I know, right? 630 00:28:51,565 --> 00:28:52,485 How do I prepare that match? 631 00:28:52,695 --> 00:28:54,955 Yeah, Withejo, Chingoto. 632 00:28:54,955 --> 00:28:58,975 I mean, it's, man, that's the dream team, the dream team over there, you know? 633 00:28:59,250 --> 00:29:01,820 Yeah, it's, it's going to be, it's going to be fun to watch it. 634 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:02,430 You know what I mean? 635 00:29:02,430 --> 00:29:05,170 It's, it's, uh, at least it's just showing up. 636 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:06,570 It's going to be a great experience. 637 00:29:06,620 --> 00:29:08,250 I'm super happy for the experience. 638 00:29:08,250 --> 00:29:11,500 Not, not just for, for me, but for the kids, you know, to leave that experience. 639 00:29:11,599 --> 00:29:15,360 I felt like every single time, time there, they step on the court over 640 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:18,499 there, they're going to increase one level and they're going to leave the 641 00:29:18,500 --> 00:29:22,070 experience and they're going to feel what it takes to be, just learning. 642 00:29:22,100 --> 00:29:22,420 Yes. 643 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:24,830 Going, getting on a court and watching and be like, wow. 644 00:29:24,830 --> 00:29:26,180 And learning, you just learn. 645 00:29:26,700 --> 00:29:27,930 I just want the best for myself. 646 00:29:28,815 --> 00:29:31,265 I was watching some of these players and I'm like, wow, you 647 00:29:31,265 --> 00:29:34,835 just, just learn the new, the different way that they're playing. 648 00:29:34,835 --> 00:29:36,865 You know, they're younger, their minds are different. 649 00:29:36,865 --> 00:29:38,515 They're their styles, different grading. 650 00:29:38,515 --> 00:29:40,145 And they move it the way they move. 651 00:29:40,155 --> 00:29:40,675 Yeah. 652 00:29:40,725 --> 00:29:41,745 So it's like, wow. 653 00:29:41,795 --> 00:29:43,765 And you'll get to see the flow. 654 00:29:43,765 --> 00:29:46,075 It's like, you know, they're flowing through that and you'll get to see 655 00:29:46,075 --> 00:29:47,845 them how they prepare before a match. 656 00:29:47,845 --> 00:29:49,005 How do they warm up? 657 00:29:49,015 --> 00:29:52,135 How do they stretch what they're drinking? 658 00:29:52,135 --> 00:29:53,835 What, how they carry the bag, you know? 659 00:29:53,835 --> 00:29:58,215 So you can, I'll take the opportunity to, first of all, congratulate the 660 00:29:58,215 --> 00:30:01,085 guys because they earned it, you know, they earned to be in that spot. 661 00:30:01,615 --> 00:30:07,065 They, they earn it through a tough season, which is the USPA, a brutal 662 00:30:07,065 --> 00:30:10,815 calendar because you have to go all over the States, self funding these. 663 00:30:10,815 --> 00:30:12,645 No one is sponsoring them as of now. 664 00:30:12,645 --> 00:30:15,905 Only maybe Niku has a sponsor, but the rest, they're doing it by itself. 665 00:30:15,905 --> 00:30:19,045 And they fight to be on the top of that ranking and to 666 00:30:19,045 --> 00:30:20,975 be, to be There is a reward. 667 00:30:21,015 --> 00:30:25,255 They also got the way in by beating a Canada over there in Mexico. 668 00:30:25,255 --> 00:30:28,925 And I want to shout out to Radu and Jose de Armas who are not coming, but 669 00:30:28,925 --> 00:30:32,835 we're part of that team and, and we're amazing teammates and, and, and guys, 670 00:30:32,835 --> 00:30:34,655 you know, committed to the USA and. 671 00:30:35,125 --> 00:30:37,475 And supporting us in every step of the way. 672 00:30:37,615 --> 00:30:40,325 And Jose D'Armas, I heard that he jumped on the, on the train. 673 00:30:40,325 --> 00:30:43,924 Uh, it was already leaving and he was a last minute call. 674 00:30:43,925 --> 00:30:46,475 That was a tough situation that you have to deal with. 675 00:30:46,475 --> 00:30:49,875 You know, as a coach, there are situations that come and arise and 676 00:30:49,875 --> 00:30:51,115 you have to just find a solution. 677 00:30:51,115 --> 00:30:54,805 One of my players that was elected, uh, in that case was Mateo Colts, uh, 678 00:30:55,885 --> 00:31:00,035 uh, who is a guy that's been preparing hard to be a paddle professional 679 00:31:00,035 --> 00:31:01,895 player and that I respect a lot too. 680 00:31:02,580 --> 00:31:07,570 Had to pull out one literally a couple hours before we, we, yeah. 681 00:31:07,570 --> 00:31:13,820 So I, I, Jose has been informed beforehand that he was one of the possible 682 00:31:13,820 --> 00:31:15,860 candidates to be a replacement, a sub. 683 00:31:16,090 --> 00:31:18,510 You even had to send a list of three possible subs. 684 00:31:18,610 --> 00:31:23,280 Thankfully I had, including him, him, there because, uh, As soon as I called 685 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:26,350 him, he bought a ticket and he was there, you know, so that shows the commitment 686 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:29,540 of him to be a part of the national team. 687 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:32,080 And obviously the excitement he had to be, to be there. 688 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:34,100 And he got to play against Mexico in a great match. 689 00:31:34,100 --> 00:31:37,450 And, uh, and then that experience will remain forever, you know? 690 00:31:37,860 --> 00:31:38,460 So big question. 691 00:31:38,490 --> 00:31:39,620 Are you going to the US Open? 692 00:31:39,670 --> 00:31:41,330 I am going, I'm not going to go play. 693 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:44,030 I'm going to go watch, but, uh, I'll be there with the, with the guys. 694 00:31:44,395 --> 00:31:47,035 Uh, in two, in, in a couple of weeks, you know, we can say, 695 00:31:47,035 --> 00:31:50,965 yeah, we might go to, part two. 696 00:31:51,035 --> 00:31:51,695 We'll do it there. 697 00:31:51,925 --> 00:31:53,565 A short, short interview to see what we're seeing. 698 00:31:55,265 --> 00:31:58,625 So Luis, tell us about your paddle vision. 699 00:31:58,625 --> 00:32:01,695 Where do you see yourself five years from now, 10 years from now? 700 00:32:02,055 --> 00:32:05,005 Not only just promoting this, but financially being able to 701 00:32:05,005 --> 00:32:06,305 support yourself with paddle. 702 00:32:06,335 --> 00:32:07,225 Do you see that? 703 00:32:07,285 --> 00:32:11,425 And what are your goals there when it comes Look right now as a, as a, as 704 00:32:11,495 --> 00:32:13,615 me personally, you know, I see myself. 705 00:32:13,965 --> 00:32:17,465 Mixing what I have done my entire life, which is, which is sports 706 00:32:17,465 --> 00:32:20,725 at a high capacity, you know, and the past four years I have 707 00:32:20,725 --> 00:32:22,055 been involved with real estate. 708 00:32:22,055 --> 00:32:27,085 So my idea is to combine those two passions and hopefully open a few 709 00:32:27,085 --> 00:32:31,245 clubs or join a group of people that, that are, that are opening up clubs. 710 00:32:31,245 --> 00:32:33,415 And so your goal is to open up a club. 711 00:32:33,415 --> 00:32:38,525 I would, I would dream right now after five, six, seven years with paddle, you 712 00:32:38,525 --> 00:32:42,570 know, you, you, you fell in love with it, you know, so That would be the ideal, 713 00:32:42,660 --> 00:32:47,520 uh, way of doing things I want to do as an operator or, uh, just, well, I think 714 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:51,440 when you're doing an entrepreneurship and especially in a, in a raw market, like 715 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:55,690 paddle list, because right now, Mark, uh, paddle list as Ross, he gets, you know, so 716 00:32:55,930 --> 00:32:57,790 you have to be on a kind of an operator. 717 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:01,239 Me being a national coach obviously helps, you know, to run things 718 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:02,460 a little smoother, I think. 719 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:05,410 And, uh, but I'm not close to anything right now. 720 00:33:05,430 --> 00:33:06,650 You know, I'm, I'm. 721 00:33:07,035 --> 00:33:09,765 Seeing opportunities that what I think is that you have to do it, right? 722 00:33:09,805 --> 00:33:13,075 You know if you're gonna put your name and everything out there Oh, so 723 00:33:13,075 --> 00:33:15,065 yeah, so would that be locally here? 724 00:33:15,065 --> 00:33:16,995 Would that be anywhere in the world or no? 725 00:33:16,995 --> 00:33:20,985 No, obviously right now I'm super compromised with the usa, you know, I have 726 00:33:21,035 --> 00:33:26,050 a a Small investment in a, in a club that we opened with the family in Venezuela. 727 00:33:26,340 --> 00:33:30,310 Uh, but because my parents are living there and my uncles live there and we had 728 00:33:30,420 --> 00:33:32,660 a piece of land, so we basically used it. 729 00:33:32,740 --> 00:33:36,200 Uh, and that, that was a great experience because it's a learning experience 730 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,460 on how the process works, how do you, the logistics works and, and. 731 00:33:40,215 --> 00:33:43,385 It's something that I think the U S is going to be the big market. 732 00:33:43,385 --> 00:33:47,055 And we have, if we do it right, the promoters, because we are all promoters 733 00:33:47,055 --> 00:33:50,855 here, you know, if we do it right and get to the right amount of people, it's 734 00:33:50,855 --> 00:33:52,055 going to be a big market for all of them. 735 00:33:52,055 --> 00:33:56,995 I see a pedal moving from Miami up, up more, more North, you know, and 736 00:33:56,995 --> 00:34:01,475 I'm seeing other coaches or friends of mine or people I play with. 737 00:34:02,025 --> 00:34:05,585 Moving up to those areas as well, you know, and I see that's kind of the 738 00:34:05,855 --> 00:34:09,535 trend and I think it's going to continue Happening like that because those people 739 00:34:09,535 --> 00:34:10,945 they're in the north need coaches. 740 00:34:11,135 --> 00:34:14,795 It's need the person has experience, you know, and uh, And so that's what i've 741 00:34:14,795 --> 00:34:18,895 been saying i've gotten i have gotten calls from different clubs here and there 742 00:34:18,895 --> 00:34:23,225 that are opening and you know I'm super happy when I see that a club is opening, 743 00:34:23,225 --> 00:34:24,855 it's like, you know, this is real. 744 00:34:24,895 --> 00:34:26,355 This is going to continue to be real. 745 00:34:26,355 --> 00:34:31,955 Someone is putting up the money in Kansas, in Virginia, in Arizona. 746 00:34:31,955 --> 00:34:34,805 I read they're, they're opening up a few clubs in California, what they're 747 00:34:34,805 --> 00:34:37,045 doing with Tattica here, Ultra, Reserve. 748 00:34:37,045 --> 00:34:40,410 You know, it's, you know, We're all adding towards something, you know, 749 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:41,790 and we need to do it right though. 750 00:34:41,790 --> 00:34:43,310 We need to interconnect a little better. 751 00:34:43,310 --> 00:34:44,930 We need to have a better ecosystem. 752 00:34:44,970 --> 00:34:49,130 And imagine if right now we're starting, we already have, you know, a 753 00:34:49,210 --> 00:34:52,120 little conflict here and there, we're just starting where we should, we 754 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:55,400 should right now be all friends, you know, because we need to be friends. 755 00:34:56,220 --> 00:34:58,710 Yeah, we, that's a very, but it's a tough one here. 756 00:34:59,010 --> 00:35:00,120 I mean, it's very competitive. 757 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:03,090 How, but you here in Miami you have at least 25 clubs or, or now. 758 00:35:03,090 --> 00:35:05,730 Now you see how the com So so what do you think about that? 759 00:35:05,790 --> 00:35:10,020 I mean, when we first started a paddle smash, I think there was, I don't know, 760 00:35:10,260 --> 00:35:12,930 one, two, no, maybe three or four. 761 00:35:12,930 --> 00:35:13,740 The most right. 762 00:35:13,890 --> 00:35:15,450 , well, pedal Love, R and Winwood. 763 00:35:15,630 --> 00:35:16,465 Yeah, pretty much. 764 00:35:16,465 --> 00:35:16,705 Yeah. 765 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:20,150 And then, you know, now it's like, it's growing. 766 00:35:20,150 --> 00:35:22,210 I mean, there's a dozen clubs or even more. 767 00:35:22,230 --> 00:35:23,770 Um, what do you think? 768 00:35:23,770 --> 00:35:26,440 Do you think it's, you know, oversaturated right now? 769 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,800 Is there more clubs than players or is it about the same right now? 770 00:35:30,515 --> 00:35:34,395 I think clubs are getting to see here in Miami firsthand that if you don't 771 00:35:34,395 --> 00:35:38,785 offer something different than the rest, yeah, they won't come to you. 772 00:35:38,785 --> 00:35:43,095 You know, if your coach, the courts are not good, if, if, if 773 00:35:43,115 --> 00:35:46,185 you don't have coaching, if you don't have the right atmosphere, 774 00:35:46,195 --> 00:35:47,265 they're not going to come to you. 775 00:35:47,705 --> 00:35:49,485 Obviously you got to see where you're located. 776 00:35:49,515 --> 00:35:52,535 If you're in magic city, you're not going to offer the same that if you're 777 00:35:52,535 --> 00:35:56,164 in Key Biscayne, or maybe you do, but in a different way, you know, to, to 778 00:35:56,165 --> 00:35:59,445 adapt, but that's, what's going to happen, you know, at the end of the day. 779 00:35:59,995 --> 00:36:02,275 And in New York, it's going to happen too. 780 00:36:02,325 --> 00:36:05,245 As soon as they open six or seven, you'll see that it will happen. 781 00:36:05,245 --> 00:36:09,295 And in the entire, uh, USA, it's going to, yeah, I mean, the first 782 00:36:09,295 --> 00:36:12,115 club, oh, is always difficult, you know, they're paving the way. 783 00:36:12,245 --> 00:36:15,025 And as soon as investors see, Oh, it's working. 784 00:36:15,035 --> 00:36:16,445 What we need to understand is that. 785 00:36:16,855 --> 00:36:19,675 By interconnecting the clubs, it's what you're going to get, 786 00:36:19,785 --> 00:36:23,015 you know, a bigger community and a community that stays longer. 787 00:36:23,030 --> 00:36:25,079 Yeah. 788 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:26,840 I mean, I, I live it every day. 789 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:29,960 I think what's going to happen the next couple of years, it's going to 790 00:36:29,970 --> 00:36:36,020 be, uh, uh, the ones they're going to be a lot of clubs, you know, in 791 00:36:36,020 --> 00:36:37,830 two, three years going downhill. 792 00:36:37,950 --> 00:36:40,610 I mean, they're going to be belly up happens in other countries. 793 00:36:40,650 --> 00:36:41,070 Yeah. 794 00:36:41,150 --> 00:36:45,200 It's, it's on the ones that are going to survive are the ones who has the best 795 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:49,560 programming, the best coaches and the, the, the, the ones that know how to do it. 796 00:36:49,570 --> 00:36:52,020 Because I see so many clubs opening right now. 797 00:36:52,220 --> 00:36:52,560 Actually. 798 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:52,790 Yes. 799 00:36:52,830 --> 00:36:53,390 They were telling me. 800 00:36:53,925 --> 00:36:55,965 They're opening three right here in Wynwood, three 801 00:36:55,965 --> 00:36:58,505 more, three more in Wynwood. 802 00:36:58,505 --> 00:37:01,125 And they've been saying that about me, is that actually happening? 803 00:37:01,735 --> 00:37:05,235 So, so what I'm saying, it's, you know, you have five, six clubs 804 00:37:05,235 --> 00:37:06,445 now within walking distance. 805 00:37:06,455 --> 00:37:09,445 And let me tell you something, Wynwood rent is not, it's not cheap. 806 00:37:09,475 --> 00:37:12,615 So, so at the end of the day, when you start, yeah, it's, it's, when you 807 00:37:12,615 --> 00:37:18,390 start doing the numbers, uh, the ones that, Has the best programming and 808 00:37:18,420 --> 00:37:19,980 management are going to be the ones. 809 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:24,590 And I'll tell you something that's extremely important that we attack. 810 00:37:25,090 --> 00:37:30,010 Paddle is a sport, a niche sport that came from Argentina and Spain, mostly 811 00:37:30,010 --> 00:37:31,830 Hispanic and Latin, Latin people. 812 00:37:32,060 --> 00:37:37,629 If we don't get into the American culture and teach him how to play paddle in an 813 00:37:37,630 --> 00:37:41,650 American way and not in an Argentinian and Spanish way, which is hard to do 814 00:37:41,650 --> 00:37:45,520 because you cannot like forget what paddle brings, because But if you don't get to 815 00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:47,680 the culture, you will never get there. 816 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:51,230 What they are feeling with Pickleball is real and Pickleball has to be our 817 00:37:51,260 --> 00:37:55,450 number one ally right now and understand their case studies, what they did, 818 00:37:55,530 --> 00:37:58,620 how they did it, you know, and, and learn from them because they're, 819 00:37:58,620 --> 00:38:00,100 they're putting out their big numbers. 820 00:38:00,110 --> 00:38:01,480 I think that Pickleball is more approachable. 821 00:38:01,850 --> 00:38:06,180 You know, when it comes to paddle, uh, there's a lot of Spanish names, a lot of 822 00:38:06,180 --> 00:38:07,410 Spanish people, that's what I'm saying. 823 00:38:07,420 --> 00:38:09,230 You cannot intimidating a little bit in my opinion. 824 00:38:09,350 --> 00:38:10,260 And this is only me. 825 00:38:10,790 --> 00:38:13,770 You cannot be always forever teaching, but they have, and they have, and they 826 00:38:13,780 --> 00:38:16,190 have, they have, because there's people that don't feel control, you know, by 827 00:38:16,190 --> 00:38:18,040 saying that, or Rulo, imagine rude. 828 00:38:18,050 --> 00:38:19,600 You have to say root for an American. 829 00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:20,610 It's almost impossible. 830 00:38:20,860 --> 00:38:24,410 So we need to find ways to not feel like. 831 00:38:24,895 --> 00:38:28,875 For the paddle, you know, uh, OGs that we're overstepping into them 832 00:38:28,885 --> 00:38:31,525 because we're not, we're trying actually to increase, you know, 833 00:38:31,745 --> 00:38:32,985 the amount of people that are here. 834 00:38:33,570 --> 00:38:37,240 For the benefit of them and for the benefit of us and for the longevity 835 00:38:37,330 --> 00:38:41,150 of the sport, you know So we need to find a way to mix it up, you know, you 836 00:38:41,150 --> 00:38:44,990 know, it's a tough things I said this before, you know, just like in uh, you 837 00:38:44,990 --> 00:38:48,350 know international football and american football, you know International football 838 00:38:48,350 --> 00:38:53,350 is european south american mostly and you know, the americans have the american 839 00:38:53,350 --> 00:38:57,680 football, you know So we in america right now have the pickle You know and 840 00:38:57,680 --> 00:39:00,110 then now that europeans and southern we're gonna kind of have the paddle 841 00:39:00,445 --> 00:39:05,245 How do we get the Americans to adapt to battle, you know, and so you, you said 842 00:39:05,245 --> 00:39:09,335 it there, you have two great products because MLS has shown to be an amazing 843 00:39:09,335 --> 00:39:11,655 product, you know, that's a long time. 844 00:39:11,695 --> 00:39:15,025 It takes time if you organize your field before, but how you did it, 845 00:39:15,045 --> 00:39:17,195 you bring in the world cup in 94. 846 00:39:18,470 --> 00:39:20,970 And that's when they bring it an international coach. 847 00:39:20,990 --> 00:39:24,410 Not before you had to have people playing a lot, that sport. 848 00:39:24,410 --> 00:39:28,090 And then you bring an international coach that professionalized everything. 849 00:39:28,140 --> 00:39:29,480 Who was, I forgot the name. 850 00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:33,510 I think what helped was the internet and also the video games, the kids. 851 00:39:33,580 --> 00:39:36,610 I used to, you know, never be able to watch some of the games when 852 00:39:36,610 --> 00:39:39,170 I was younger, we have to go to somebody's house at a huge antenna 853 00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:40,530 and be able to see some of the games. 854 00:39:40,530 --> 00:39:40,730 Right. 855 00:39:41,410 --> 00:39:44,410 And then afterwards online, we're able to get access to it. 856 00:39:44,410 --> 00:39:44,910 And then. 857 00:39:45,410 --> 00:39:47,500 No kids ever wore anybody's shirt. 858 00:39:47,700 --> 00:39:49,250 Maybe they wore a USA shirt. 859 00:39:49,300 --> 00:39:52,200 I don't know, a national team shirt, you know, because their 860 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:53,580 dad's from Spain or whatever. 861 00:39:54,220 --> 00:39:57,830 Now, I was, I was watching in the nineties, you know, in two 862 00:39:57,830 --> 00:40:00,760 thousands, I'll say people would actually names of shirts of players. 863 00:40:00,770 --> 00:40:01,530 How do they know that? 864 00:40:01,540 --> 00:40:03,780 But how like video games, I saw video games. 865 00:40:03,810 --> 00:40:08,820 How did the infrastructure change from 92 to 2000 in terms of soccer 866 00:40:08,820 --> 00:40:10,780 fields availability in the nation? 867 00:40:10,830 --> 00:40:11,790 It changed completely. 868 00:40:12,210 --> 00:40:14,670 And right now you see soccer everywhere, you know, so it's part 869 00:40:14,670 --> 00:40:16,480 of, of, of, of a building process. 870 00:40:16,530 --> 00:40:17,640 It cannot be easy. 871 00:40:17,640 --> 00:40:20,660 It takes a lot of money, you know, and it takes time. 872 00:40:20,850 --> 00:40:22,100 And people that actually. 873 00:40:22,645 --> 00:40:26,085 Think that the, the dream, because at the end we're selling not a dream, but 874 00:40:26,175 --> 00:40:30,135 kind of, because you don't have extremely that accurate data to support what you're 875 00:40:30,145 --> 00:40:34,625 selling, but that people to believe what, that this is real, you know, if 876 00:40:34,625 --> 00:40:38,125 we're going to the Olympics, if it's not in 32, it's going to be in 36, you 877 00:40:38,125 --> 00:40:39,725 know, so it's, that's going to happen. 878 00:40:39,725 --> 00:40:40,625 And that's an incentive. 879 00:40:40,625 --> 00:40:45,105 Yeah, but honestly, I mean, the Olympics, it will help. 880 00:40:45,985 --> 00:40:48,385 But it, look, if you think it doesn't change much. 881 00:40:48,835 --> 00:40:50,905 Tennis became an Olympic sport in the, it doesn't change much. 882 00:40:50,910 --> 00:40:53,965 The, in the early eighties, in the, I think it was 86, it wasn't 883 00:40:53,965 --> 00:40:55,315 really a, an Olympic sport. 884 00:40:55,320 --> 00:40:56,680 It, it's a validation sport. 885 00:40:56,680 --> 00:40:57,240 It's a validation. 886 00:40:57,245 --> 00:41:01,135 It's a validation as a sport that helps exposure, but that helps find 887 00:41:01,195 --> 00:41:03,265 more support from the city within. 888 00:41:03,265 --> 00:41:03,385 Yeah. 889 00:41:03,610 --> 00:41:03,970 Okay. 890 00:41:03,990 --> 00:41:09,780 So grants, uh, from the national committee, uh, to, to, to actually help 891 00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:13,180 massify the sport a little more, but from here to there, we need to have 892 00:41:13,180 --> 00:41:17,210 at least 3000, 3000 clubs open in the United States, you know, as soon as 893 00:41:17,210 --> 00:41:21,190 people, because when, you know, I, I watch Olympics and I can always go and 894 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:25,600 watch some of the unique stuff, like, you know, and so people do that if they see 895 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:27,570 Pat Paddler, They're going to do that. 896 00:41:27,570 --> 00:41:28,590 I'm like, what the hell is that? 897 00:41:28,590 --> 00:41:30,640 And we need to, and we need to leverage. 898 00:41:31,950 --> 00:41:36,340 Look, I've been in houses and, and, and private homes of millionaires and 899 00:41:36,340 --> 00:41:38,720 billionaires in the this past year. 900 00:41:38,720 --> 00:41:40,850 You come over all the time. 901 00:41:41,130 --> 00:41:41,640 Exactly. 902 00:41:41,860 --> 00:41:43,670 But you haven't, you haven't well seen it. 903 00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:50,120 And these people, I mean, I've been in one of the, you know, 904 00:41:50,680 --> 00:41:52,870 billionaire home in, in Palm Beach. 905 00:41:52,870 --> 00:41:55,720 I won't say the name, but it's one of the most influential 906 00:41:56,490 --> 00:41:58,150 Wealthiest persons in the planet. 907 00:41:58,730 --> 00:42:01,910 Uh, they invite me there to go and teach a lesson. 908 00:42:02,250 --> 00:42:06,320 And I ended up going to that house, which was incredible. 909 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:07,400 I mean, it was tremendous. 910 00:42:07,400 --> 00:42:08,040 It was huge. 911 00:42:08,040 --> 00:42:11,460 It was a palace in front of the Atlantic Ocean Bay. 912 00:42:11,510 --> 00:42:12,730 I mean, it was, it was incredible. 913 00:42:13,110 --> 00:42:14,030 He didn't have a tennis court. 914 00:42:14,030 --> 00:42:15,110 He didn't have a pickleball court. 915 00:42:15,190 --> 00:42:16,390 He had a paddle court. 916 00:42:16,500 --> 00:42:16,940 Beautiful. 917 00:42:17,260 --> 00:42:17,680 Right? 918 00:42:18,150 --> 00:42:22,294 And now when you see these people bringing That's what I'm talking about. 919 00:42:22,695 --> 00:42:24,035 Paddle course into their homes. 920 00:42:24,265 --> 00:42:28,035 Same thing happened in tennis in the early seventies and eighties. 921 00:42:28,065 --> 00:42:28,245 Yeah. 922 00:42:28,245 --> 00:42:29,735 But golf, you need a golf course. 923 00:42:29,735 --> 00:42:29,845 Yeah. 924 00:42:29,845 --> 00:42:30,015 Yeah. 925 00:42:30,015 --> 00:42:31,415 But it built around the real estate. 926 00:42:31,425 --> 00:42:33,985 But in the seventies and eighties, all the millions and billionaires, 927 00:42:33,985 --> 00:42:35,005 they put tennis courts in their home. 928 00:42:35,055 --> 00:42:35,355 Exactly. 929 00:42:35,385 --> 00:42:36,475 Now they're putting paddle courts. 930 00:42:36,935 --> 00:42:40,735 And I tell you, this, this person told me I fell in love with the sport. 931 00:42:40,775 --> 00:42:41,304 I put. 932 00:42:41,585 --> 00:42:46,605 Paddle courts in my homes in Saint Tropez, in the UK, in the Hamptons, in New York 933 00:42:46,605 --> 00:42:49,175 City, in Colorado, and in the West Coast. 934 00:42:50,065 --> 00:42:52,605 She put paddle courts all over their homes. 935 00:42:52,835 --> 00:42:57,035 So when you see that trend, uh, you know where it's going. 936 00:42:57,215 --> 00:42:57,455 Yeah. 937 00:42:57,605 --> 00:43:01,365 I've been in San Francisco, in Napa Valley, in the middle of a vineyard. 938 00:43:01,375 --> 00:43:04,455 They took me to this place where I was in heaven. 939 00:43:04,665 --> 00:43:07,075 A huge vineyard, which is the paddle court. 940 00:43:08,050 --> 00:43:11,410 And, and, and you see this, and you know where the sport's going. 941 00:43:11,600 --> 00:43:13,670 Now when the wealthy and the billionaires and millionaires are 942 00:43:13,670 --> 00:43:16,640 playing with this sport, it's going to trickle down much, much faster 943 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:18,438 than it's going from the way up. 944 00:43:18,438 --> 00:43:19,910 Yeah, that's what we're, that's what we're hoping. 945 00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:20,190 Yeah. 946 00:43:20,580 --> 00:43:22,750 Because right now it's just operators, you know? 947 00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:28,110 Yeah, but it's, the more courts that we have, The cheaper it's going to be, the 948 00:43:28,110 --> 00:43:31,550 easier it's going to be to access when you have now the country clubs on the, 949 00:43:31,660 --> 00:43:36,570 you know, on, on, on the, look, if, if you see what happens in Spain, why is Spain 950 00:43:36,570 --> 00:43:42,640 became such a mega force in, in the paddle world in the 1890s, they had a huge, uh, 951 00:43:42,660 --> 00:43:47,690 real stable in, in, in, in, in Spain, the president of Spain was crazy about paddle. 952 00:43:48,475 --> 00:43:52,325 He put all the developers, not to put tennis courts in the new 953 00:43:52,355 --> 00:43:54,435 developments, but to put paddle courts. 954 00:43:54,445 --> 00:43:55,965 So he got it involved in the real estate. 955 00:43:56,045 --> 00:43:58,645 Every community had a paddle court. 956 00:43:58,705 --> 00:43:58,995 Gotcha. 957 00:43:59,165 --> 00:44:01,075 And that's how it became what it is right now. 958 00:44:01,085 --> 00:44:03,635 And you see that the coaches that are around those communities 959 00:44:03,635 --> 00:44:06,895 that want to make, you know, some cash and they learn how to teach. 960 00:44:06,975 --> 00:44:07,195 Exactly. 961 00:44:07,810 --> 00:44:11,560 Paddle NBA has, has done a good job in, in, in, in getting 962 00:44:11,570 --> 00:44:12,800 more and more and more coaches. 963 00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:16,320 And there, there are many more outlets, but I totally agree. 964 00:44:16,350 --> 00:44:19,050 You know, infrastructure is what's going to get us to the next level. 965 00:44:19,270 --> 00:44:23,270 And the right infrastructure is, it's, what's going to get us to the actually, 966 00:44:23,270 --> 00:44:25,120 actually higher and massifying level. 967 00:44:25,210 --> 00:44:25,440 Yeah. 968 00:44:25,500 --> 00:44:28,940 You need to have good operators and people that have experience in sports and in 969 00:44:28,940 --> 00:44:32,555 different sports that can bring in the best The wrong that was done in those 970 00:44:32,555 --> 00:44:34,625 sports and, and, and, you know, filter it. 971 00:44:34,665 --> 00:44:34,805 Yeah. 972 00:44:34,805 --> 00:44:37,105 It's a good balance of business, you know, knowing the sport 973 00:44:37,315 --> 00:44:38,335 and being passionate about it. 974 00:44:38,335 --> 00:44:39,765 I mean, you have to be well around it. 975 00:44:39,765 --> 00:44:44,015 I mean, we see, I mean, we see a tons of clubs and, you know, 976 00:44:44,015 --> 00:44:46,355 and we see little errors here. 977 00:44:46,365 --> 00:44:47,545 We see, okay. 978 00:44:47,920 --> 00:44:51,440 You know, they're really thoughts about this and we know, okay, we've seen that. 979 00:44:51,620 --> 00:44:55,290 I'm not gonna work, you know, but You don't say anything. 980 00:44:55,380 --> 00:44:58,320 You're kind, you know, but they learn they have to learn, you know 981 00:44:58,320 --> 00:45:01,050 And then there'll be other clubs that fail other clubs that i'm see. 982 00:45:01,050 --> 00:45:03,035 Wow, they get it They get it. 983 00:45:03,035 --> 00:45:04,090 I, this is gonna work. 984 00:45:04,090 --> 00:45:06,610 You, you're selling an experience, you're selling someone a hundred 985 00:45:06,610 --> 00:45:09,275 percent, you're not selling a gym, you know, or a Starbucks. 986 00:45:09,275 --> 00:45:12,275 So it's important that clubs understand that you're not selling 987 00:45:12,275 --> 00:45:14,975 just numbers and an Excel sheet that you thought it was gonna happen. 988 00:45:14,975 --> 00:45:16,445 You're selling much more than that. 989 00:45:16,445 --> 00:45:19,925 You know, you want have people that stick to you and stick to a club, an experience, 990 00:45:19,925 --> 00:45:22,235 a lifestyle, you know, creating habits. 991 00:45:22,355 --> 00:45:22,475 Yeah. 992 00:45:22,535 --> 00:45:22,625 Right. 993 00:45:22,625 --> 00:45:26,645 You know, uh, other forms of, of, of verticals, you know, it, all those 994 00:45:26,645 --> 00:45:28,955 things are just really important, especially at the beginning. 995 00:45:30,630 --> 00:45:33,240 Yeah, no, but how do you, how do you get people in the door? 996 00:45:33,400 --> 00:45:35,730 Yeah, you know, budget for marketing more. 997 00:45:35,900 --> 00:45:39,030 I mean, there's just so many things that need to be done in the business 998 00:45:39,030 --> 00:45:40,940 part at the beginning when nobody knows. 999 00:45:41,010 --> 00:45:43,210 But I mean, you could put one here and you'll be fine 1000 00:45:43,430 --> 00:45:44,660 because everybody knows battle. 1001 00:45:44,670 --> 00:45:44,690 Yeah. 1002 00:45:45,370 --> 00:45:48,724 But in areas that it's not too popular. 1003 00:45:49,315 --> 00:45:50,435 How are they going to know what it is? 1004 00:45:50,445 --> 00:45:53,305 You need to put it next to a tennis, pickle, et cetera. 1005 00:45:53,305 --> 00:45:57,195 So people come for pickles, see puddles, stick to puddle, you know, it's and 1006 00:45:57,195 --> 00:46:01,385 it's, you need to, you need to bottle the whole thing is when you, when you 1007 00:46:01,385 --> 00:46:05,745 walk into a court, that feeling that you get like, Oh man, this is going 1008 00:46:05,745 --> 00:46:07,655 to be best hour and a half of my day. 1009 00:46:07,655 --> 00:46:11,115 That needs to be bottled up. 1010 00:46:11,505 --> 00:46:15,515 And that needs to be thrown out to every single person within, let's say a 20, 1011 00:46:15,555 --> 00:46:17,495 30 mile radius, hopefully every day. 1012 00:46:18,325 --> 00:46:19,625 And then that's how it'll work. 1013 00:46:20,005 --> 00:46:23,665 For all those listeners and viewers, just say it with me, say it with us. 1014 00:46:24,025 --> 00:46:25,645 Paddle is a beautiful sport. 1015 00:46:26,445 --> 00:46:26,725 That's right. 1016 00:46:26,725 --> 00:46:32,425 If we want to help the national team, what, I mean, is the 1017 00:46:32,435 --> 00:46:34,205 USPA doing something about it? 1018 00:46:34,665 --> 00:46:37,565 Well, well, right now, and that's a great question, because right now, 1019 00:46:38,515 --> 00:46:42,185 players in the national team, in the absolute team, which are, you know, the 1020 00:46:42,185 --> 00:46:46,405 ones that, you know, represent us at the elite level are self funding some 1021 00:46:46,405 --> 00:46:49,825 parts of the, of the, their travels and their trips and their training. 1022 00:46:49,825 --> 00:46:54,605 So any support it's going to be, uh, hope super appreciated. 1023 00:46:54,655 --> 00:46:58,515 And, uh, if you want to support, there is a link in the USPA website 1024 00:46:58,775 --> 00:47:03,725 where you can donate, and that's going straight to the national teams in 1025 00:47:03,725 --> 00:47:05,735 terms of a budget that they use yearly. 1026 00:47:05,735 --> 00:47:08,220 And, uh, That's one of the best ways to do it. 1027 00:47:08,250 --> 00:47:12,550 And then in a few days, we're going to put up a GoFundMe, especially for 1028 00:47:12,550 --> 00:47:16,620 this trip, uh, of Qatar, uh, that that's going to be promoted everywhere. 1029 00:47:16,620 --> 00:47:17,990 You probably are going to see it somewhere. 1030 00:47:17,990 --> 00:47:21,370 If you like paddle, we're going to put the link right below it. 1031 00:47:21,370 --> 00:47:24,360 So please, if you want to help the national team and you want to help 1032 00:47:24,440 --> 00:47:27,990 out on the United States, please link below and you will have, we need it. 1033 00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:31,940 You know, the, the USPA is based on volunteers, people that are putting 1034 00:47:31,940 --> 00:47:36,410 this, like me, uh, Out of pure heart and trying to get something better, you 1035 00:47:36,410 --> 00:47:40,120 know what we have usp is what we have It's what we have and we gotta we gotta 1036 00:47:40,120 --> 00:47:43,130 make it better We gotta make it better because I think right now we have a lot 1037 00:47:43,130 --> 00:47:47,050 of good people around the usb And a lot of people that want to participate, you 1038 00:47:47,050 --> 00:47:50,990 know It's obviously easy to complain and to say oh I can be better come and 1039 00:47:50,990 --> 00:47:54,390 work with us and try to get it better You know, all right, at least first. 1040 00:47:54,390 --> 00:47:57,280 Thanks for coming on pal smash academy I want to wish you all the 1041 00:47:57,280 --> 00:47:59,510 luck and catch us in the next review. 1042 00:48:00,020 --> 00:48:02,000 We are all things paddle