Pro shop, internships, partnerships with France: Sébastien Ducros' new projects in Llançà

Since 2019, Sébastien Ducros has been at the helm of Club Garbí in Llançà, a few kilometers from the French-Spanish border. On the cusp of what promises to be a lively summer, the fifty-something unveils all the new developments at his club, while also looking ahead to the future.

We last saw him in March 2025in Catalonia, under a generous sun illuminating the four tracks of its complex. One year after our first visit, Sébastien Ducros , an entrepreneur originally from Bourgoin-Jallieu, has once again received Padel Magazine in Alt Empordà. And clearly, he has no shortage of ideas to continue the development of his club.

From a sporting perspective, a positive dynamic

“Today, we have approximately 160 members in the club. Our goal of 180 members, mentioned last time, has not yet been fully achieved, but we are moving in the right direction. Regarding the teams, we have created a new men's team for the interclub competitions in Catalonia. The other women's teams continue to operate as normal.”

Renewed infrastructure

“People are very happy with our new terrace and our new little pétanque court. It allows for a friendly get-together and adds a slightly more ‘VIP’ feel. We’ve also revamped our shop, with more than twenty rackets from different brands for sale and a partnership with the French brand Tecnifibre for 2026. A range of clothing in Club Garbí colors and a padel board game complete the offerings. Finally, on the food side, we offer bocadillos, empanadas, paninis, and pastries. Something we didn’t have two months ago.”

Capital that is diversifying… and opening up to France

“Before summer 2026, our company will receive a significant capital increase with the arrival of new shareholders who, each in their respective field, will bring their expertise to the club. One person will be in charge of maintenance and minor repairs at the club, and another will handle the digital aspects. We are currently finalizing a new website. And it won't just be a showcase: it will allow users to follow interclub news, book courts, and more. In addition, two other new recruits will be joining us: someone to assist me with sponsorship, and a French padel instructor who works in France. The goal is to develop partnerships with clubs through tailored packages.”

An unprecedented collaboration between France and Catalonia

"The year 2025 served primarily as a test for us to experiment with three internship formats. Given the positive results and the satisfaction of the interns, we are proposing the following for 2026: Racket Trip internships over two longer periods: From March 15th to the end of July, then from mid-August until November 15thWe have established a partnership agreement with a padel club located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, near Vienne. I already knew its manager from when I lived in the Lyon area; we played in a few tournaments together! He can present his padel school with the possibility of sending players to Spain for a training camp, which is currently the black "In Europe. Here on the Costa Brava, we're only a five-hour drive from Lyon! We have a first training camp planned with this club in the spring, then a second one in the autumn."

Barcelona Masters Finals 2025 — *Credit PP*

A busy summer program is on the horizon.

“This summer, we’ll be offering three unrated, one-day tournaments. Our main event is the anniversary tournament, which will take place from August 5th to 14th. We welcomed nearly 200 players last year. This year, we’re expecting around 240 players! Everyone is welcome, especially since there will be a great surprise for the participants. We’re going to hold a raffle to win tickets to the Barcelona Master Final, scheduled for December 2026. In any case, our goal remains the same: to maintain the friendly and social atmosphere that makes Club Garbí so special.”

Auxence Cams

It was through his father that Auxence discovered padel, one evening in June 2016. Today, he passionately follows the international circuit and teases the pala in his training club, Toulouse Padel Club. You can also find it on La Feuille de Match and LesViolets.com, two specialist media on Toulouse Football Club.