After our first part concerning our western part with in particular Mayenne, Aquitaine and the French Basque coast, direction the Spanish Basque coast and this country of padel who has so much to teach us.
This journey will be done with the intervention of two professionals from padel :
Andoni Bardasco : Player of World Padel Tour and originally from Bilbao. World Top 20 (2013/2014). One of the most gifted players of his generation.
Our Hispanic adventure begins in San Sebastian at one of the clubs that has made the history of the region: Padel 4. Composed in particular of a beautiful fitness room on the terrace overlooking the 4 padel, this club of padel indoor immediately immerses us in the atmosphere padel.
Its recent renovation (from 2013) hides an already rich past of padel.
If you come to play San Sebastian, you have every chance to play in one of the clubs managed by Alfonso Zayas.
Today this player of padel whose morphology and his game inevitably reminds us of Cristian Gutierrez (World Top 10) is at the head of a real small empire with 3 and soon 4 clubs of padel, all over San Sebastian.
Teresa Diez Orus, the center manager and player padel 4 tells us that there are regular internal competitions. It has set up a points system which forces players to turn and therefore to change partners. According to her, "Changing partners allows for more conviviality ". We never play with the same partner.
Alfonso Zayas has also set up a lot of '' downhill climb '' in his clubs. It seems that this is a way of doing that is very appreciated by the players, but also by companies, families, etc. A specific points count is set up that is similar to what is set up by the French Tennis Federation.
With 450 students from September to June, Le Zayas Padel club hope to bring out some players for the World Padel Tour in a few years ... "But we will have to wait ..."
The other rather unusual point is the 60% of women, almost 30% more than the Spanish average.
zayas Padel club therefore manages 3 clubs:
WPT stage in Sans Sebastian :
Alfonso Zayas also announces the establishment of a stage of World Padel tour which will take place in Sans Sebastian from November 28 in Plaza del Toro for 3 years. It is he and 2 friends who will manage it.
It is this passionate player, new Star Vie racquet in hand, who welcomed us to teach us a little more about him first and then about the history of the padel in Bilbao.
In the heart of Bilbao, in the legendary club Deportivo de Bilbao, Andoni tells us:
«I discovered the padel at 9 years old. I hardly ever played tennis. I am however a soccer player. I was also in a training center. We had to make a choice and I chose the padel out of passion. »
Unfortunately, when he was launched to enter the top 10 in the world, the repeated injuries lead to an operation last June for a serious injury to the wrist. Rehabilitation began on August 10. Hopefully he can get back to the field quickly. (4 months of rehabilitation).
Deportivo de Bilbao: A centennial club
Andoni continues on this centenary club ". He explains to us that this club has seen the padel develop over the last 30. Club Deportivo de Bilbao still houses its former grounds. No fence, we are in a small cage. These 2 fields allowed him to learn his skills.
Initially, the club was best known for its pediment. La Pelote Basque is the heart of this historic site. But the padel has grown in importance. If part of the padel starts in this club, the grounds are not really topical any more. This is why a project of padel is being considered to boost this activity.
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Andoni Bardasco then sends us to one of the most modern clubs in Bilbao: Padel and Gol
This full indoor complex is located in the outskirts of Bilbao
Padel and Gol is a center made up of 3 managers: Joe Garis / Alejo Alvarez / Jou Meso. And the managers are themselves surrounded by a certain number of teachers whose level is obviously very high: Juan Manuel Vazquez and Masa Perez. Two former semi-professional players who have been talked about during some big Spanish tournaments.
Yes, these socios and non socios are passionate and come to play regularly. But the ratio is very surprising and shows how much these players are addicted to the sport.
Moreover, after questioning a number of players, it became clear to us that a club style of mind like this was very important to the smooth running of the club.
The sports director also explains that to federate all these players, barbecues were organized every week. It allows you to meet other pairs or find your partner.