Only at  26 years ,  Théo Barthe  embodies a new generation of enthusiasts who don't just play padel, but who build it, develop it, and transform it. Former volleyball player, player ranked in the  French Top 400 , but also entrepreneur, restaurateur, organizer and director of the  Silk Sets Padel Narbonne , he is at the origin of the  first edition of the FIP Silver Côte du Midi , an international tournament which takes place on its land.

An idea born from a P1000… and a last-minute call

"From the very beginning of the club's creation, I had in mind to organize high-level events there," he explains. After hosting  P1000, P1500, a Nationale 2, the TNJ , the desire to move up a gear is imposed on him from January 2025.
“The P1000 was a real success. I called  David Mateo , I told him I wanted to do a FIP this year. He told me it was going to be tight timing-wise… but we did it.”

The result: a  FIP Silver  set up in a few months, with a quality set, a structured welcome and a room that is always full.

Atypical player, dedicated organizer

Dubbed  “the Narbonne gunner” , Théo is known for his atypical game and his powerful shots.
"I've never played tennis. My backhand is questionable, but it's okay!" he jokes. His strength comes from elsewhere:  volleyball , practiced at a high level in training centers of  Montpellier , which left him with a strong shoulder and formidable striking ability.

"I could have entered the tournament qualifiers, but I prefer to be 100% focused on the organization. Maybe next year..."

A vocation born during confinement

However, padel was not an initial project.
“I was in Paris for my business school studies, and during the lockdown, I returned to Narbonne. I was supposed to set up a basketball and football complex with a restaurant… then my father, who already played padel, convinced me to try it. I hated it the first time.”
But the second attempt changes everything.
"From that moment on, I stopped my old project. I said: I'm going to start a padel club."

Théo Barthe, the "Narbonne gunner": from the super-powerful smash to the organization of an FIP Silver

A family adventure, between struggles and success

With his father,  true enthusiast , Théo builds the project together.
"It took us three years to open. It took a year and a half to find the land, deal with permit refusals, failing contractors, flooding during the initial work... It was educational."

Today,  Silk Sets Padel Narbonne , Those are  six air-conditioned indoor tracks , an  real restaurant , and a warm atmosphere.
"I'm very proud of this club. It was designed to offer the best playing conditions. And here in Narbonne, we can't play outdoors: there are more than 300 windy days a year. Indoors is a given."

A club… and a restaurant

Restoration is a key element of the project.
“I am passionate about cooking. I even passed my  CAP kitchen , and today I work with my former internship supervisor, who has become my boss.
The restaurant doesn't just serve snacks: the dishes are homemade every day.
"It's more work than padel, but it's also what brings in people who don't yet know the sport."

A measured but clear ambition

Théo continues to train regularly with  Loïc The Panse  and the young people from the academy installed in his club.
"I play whenever I can, I'm going to start making some P1000s. But my main goal is to keep the club going and organize quality events."

And the FIP Silver Côte du Midi is just the beginning.
"This first edition is a step. The objective is to  perpetuate the tournament  every year, to make Narbonne an unmissable event on the FIP Tour. Or even more, if conditions allow.

Towards the Narbonne Arena?

A major project is already in the pipeline:
"Narbonne has a new  4000-seat multimodal arena , where the D1 volleyball team plays. It's magnificent. My dream would be to organize an FIP Gold or even a Premier Padel in a few years.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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