Two weeks ago, I came back with you on the history of padel in France, with some anecdotes, notably concerning a certain Yannick Noah and a certain Stefan Edberg. In this post, I admit, I made a mistake. I announced that: “ the very first center of padel in France was created in 1992 in the city of Perpignan".
However, many of you reacted, highlighting this gross error. In fact, the first club of padel did not open in Perpignan, but in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. It remains in the south, close to the Pyrenees, but definitely not in the good department.
Consequently, after having told you about the beginnings of padel in France, it is time for me to present to you the first three clubs of padel (and no, Perpignan is not there).
The first club of padel opened in 1985, in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. He was at Trinquet Anderenia. Two plots of land had been built and they are still present, one of them is still passable. But you will have understood, at Trinquet Anderenia, we find first of all Basque pelota, but also squash and therefore these famous “paddle tennis”.
The same year, still in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Golf Chantaco also opens its golf courses padel. Two, to be precise. Today, you can still find these two tracks. They have been recently renovated but retain the concrete walls of the time.
Today, the luzien tennis club offers tennis lessons padel and tournaments in this magnificent setting, both so typical and atypical!
I will now tell you about the village of sengouagnet, in Haute-Garonne. So, in this department, these days, it “stinks like padel”, to paraphrase Alix Collombon. With the 4Padel, the Toulouse Padel Club, the Human Padel, we almost can't do more padel than Haute-Garonne.
Because, in 1990. , the small village of Sengouagnet, 1h20 from Toulouse, has two playing fields padel (which you can see in the background of the image). Even today, you can hit the ball in this charming little village of 209 souls.
It is in the southwest, at the gates of the Pyrenees, and therefore close to Spain, that le padel created its nest, late 80s, early 90s. Today, the padel exploded in France but these three clubs will forever be remembered.
View comments
A small inaccuracy in your presentation: it is indeed two tracks of padel which were built at Trinquet Anderenia at the entrance to Saint-Jean de Luz, in 1985. They still exist (the aerial view from Google Maps is authentic) even if the second serves as a shed. The first is still passable... in the old style, with cement wall and tennis fence.
Thank you for your clarification, it is corrected.