Gaston Chovet: the man who is making padel shine on the Costa Brava

He's worked alongside Rafael Nadal, been a sparring partner for Martina Navratilova, and now runs a dynamic padel club near Palafrugell with his friend Reginald Jouil. At 48, Gaston Chovet is passionate about all forms of sport, but it's in padel that he found his calling. In this interview, he reflects on his career and his club. Padel Indor Punt d'Or in Palafrugell, and gives his advice for progressing.

Who are you? Where are you from? And how did you get into padel?

My life has always been dedicated to sport. I was the Catalan motorcycle trial champion and have practiced almost every discipline imaginable. I started as a tennis teacher at 16, with a sports technician degree that also allowed me to teach handball, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, and even skiing. I also hold the title of national tennis coach and have collaborated with the Catalan Tennis Federation. Some of my players even faced Rafael Nadal in his early days.

I discovered padel at 26, first as a player, then quickly as a coach. Today, I run a club with around 1200 players. My team was once among the top 20 in the province of Girona. As a coach, I have more than 15 years of experience, and I am currently continuing my training with Xavi Figols, one of the best coaches today. As an anecdote, I also had the honor of being Martina Navratilova's sparring partner.

A club on a human scale, designed for all levels

Padel Indor Punt d'Or offers five indoor lanes with a pay-and-play system, with no subscription required. We've designed a smart app that allows players to reserve a court or join balanced matches with partners of the same skill level.

This level is manually assigned by us after observation, which ensures fair and enjoyable games. We also organize tournaments and leagues, and offer unique rewards, such as trips or dinners instead of equipment.

The club also has a bar-restaurant with homemade Catalan dishes prepared by Mosa, a member of our team. We have a padel shop where all products are tested before being offered. The team is multilingual (Spanish, French, and English), which makes it easy to welcome an international clientele.

Every Sunday, we offer a friendly “American” accompanied by a typical Catalan breakfast: an event that strengthens our family and social spirit.

Gaston Chovet: the man who is making padel shine on the Costa Brava

A coach's advice: avoiding common mistakes

Among the most common mistakes made by trainees are a lack of vision specific to padel, excessive power inherited from tennis (often combined with too much topspin), poor management of the glass and rebounds, and a tendency to want to finish points too quickly, thinking that the court is small.

My approach is based on trial and error, followed by targeted work to correct technical flaws. Former football or basketball players often adapt quickly thanks to their team-based culture. For complete beginners, padel is a fun, accessible, and social experience.

My goal is always to give players a clear vision of the game: why, how and when to make each shot, with pleasure and efficiency.

Internships on the Costa Brava to progress quickly… and well

We organize three-day courses, usually from Friday to Sunday, sometimes tailor-made. The typical program includes training sessions in the morning and afternoon, then matches against Spanish players on the last day.

The experience can be complemented by accommodation, gourmet meals, photo shoots, and more. Each course concludes with a personalized assessment, with individualized areas for improvement. While three days aren't enough to radically change your level, they do allow you to lay a solid foundation and integrate concrete tools for progress.

And tomorrow, a less Spanish padel?

I think that in a few years, the best players in the world will no longer be exclusively Spanish or Argentinian. Padel is growing rapidly in other countries, with promising schools.

But to achieve this, we also need to train coaches. In many countries, coaches come from a tennis background without any familiarity with the specifics of padel. Teaching this sport can't be improvised. That's why we've also launched coaching training programs, with a solid foundation in pedagogy and technique.

Spain and Argentina remain ahead, but if the organization continues, padel could become an Olympic sport. And then, national diversity at the highest level will naturally develop.

Sami Massalkhy

I'm Sami Massalkhy, a sports enthusiast, especially of football, tennis, and padel. I enjoy discussing and debating these disciplines, which motivates me to do research, follow current events, and share my analyses.