There have obviously been all sorts of major developments in the U.S. padel world over the past year or so that suggest the sport has an incredibly bright future ahead (like this… this… and this). But something just happened (rather quietly) in Austin, TX, that I believe could prove to be a major turning point for the sport: the first ever high school padel courts were built.
As someone who has been quite involved in the U.S. squash world over the past two decades, I’m well aware of the many obstacles that have kept it from breaking into the mainstream of U.S. sports culture. Chief among them is that, outside of the Northeast and a handful of prep schools around the country, most U.S. high schools don’t have squash teams — or even courts.
Which is why I think it’s such a positive sign that, despite the U.S. padel boom just starting to take shape, we have already seen the first high school padel courts open in the U.S.
It’s also why I recently interviewed Andres Moreno, of AMET International, who was not only a key figure in helping get this all-important project off the ground, but also seeing it through from start to finish.
If You Build It, They… Can Play!
When I ask Moreno about the impetus for this project, he tells me:
“The inspiration came about during a conversation I had with the father of one of our U.S. Junior Team members. He mentioned his son attended a school in Texas (where I am based) with a strong tennis academy and was considering converting some of their retired clay courts into pickleball courts.
However, he was keen on introducing padel instead, and I immediately saw this as an incredible opportunity to promote padel, a sport I’m deeply passionate about. My own experience of not having the chance to compete or train in padel during high school especially motivated me to pursue this project.”
Moreno admits that a lot of long conversations and in-depth presentations had to happen before they finally got it the ball rolling, but he also firmly believes the effort was 100% worth it — both for him personally and the community as a whole.
He says, “Growing up, I would have done anything to have a school-based padel program and a group of friends to play with regularly. This project represents the first step towards making that dream a reality for many students.
It’s amazing to think that over a thousand students at this school will now have the chance to play padel as part of their daily activities. For some, it may just be another sport, but for others, it could become a life-changing experience, just as it did for me and my teammates.”
It (Took) a Village
While Moreno was deeply involved in the project and crucial to its success, he is quick to spread credit around.
Among the many people and companies he calls out are his AMET International co-founder Jordi Gisbert and their architect, Tomas Hoyos… NewLife Construction (which was responsible for most of the GC work)… SmartXP (an MSart Integration company they used to add automated lights that can be scheduled and controlled from anywhere)… and NXPadel, the manufacturer of the courts themselves.
Moreno further points out in a follow-up email, “This project was unique because we installed NXPadel courts from Italy, which feature several innovative elements:
– Patented Fiberglass Structure: The courts themselves have no metal, which means no rusting and they are approximately one-third the weight of traditional steel courts, making them easier to install and maintain.
– Comfort Glass: This acrylic compound glass provides the same appearance and bounce as traditional tempered glass but is much safer, especially for students, as it eliminates the risk of shattering.
-ZeroS Turf: The turf used requires no sand, leading to minimal maintenance.
These features not only make the courts state-of-the-art but also ensure they are safe and low-maintenance, which is ideal for a school environment.”
The Glue That Holds Everything Together
Although he’s more than happy to share credit with everyone just mentioned and more, it’s obvious Moreno is very proud of the role he and his company played in the process and what it will mean for the padel community both in Austin and all around Texas and the U.S.
“Our company took on the entire project management, providing a turnkey solution,” he explains, before adding, “We handled everything from design, to materials, to general contracting work, to electrical setup, to import taxes, to transportation, and even unloading. We even had our entire team who’s usually on the back-end of things come on site to help our install team build the courts. This comprehensive approach ensured the project was completed smoothly and efficiently.”
When I ask him via email what the opening of these courts will mean in the bigger picture, he responds, “There are numerous benefits including:
- Increasing junior involvement by integrating padel into the school’s sports program, we aim to significantly boost junior participation in the sport…
- Creating exposure as other schools visit for various sports competitions, they will learn about padel, spreading awareness and interest, and…
- (Hopefully) developing a central hub for junior tournaments and training.”
Moreno ends our conversation by telling me that an official announcement from the school and a proper grand-opening celebration are still in the works, so he can’t reveal too much more than he already has.
But ultimately he says, “I’m incredibly proud to help bring the first high school padel courts to the U.S. I started off as the first recruit for the U.S. National Junior Team back in 2013, and now I am proud to say that my team at AMET is responsible the first high school padel courts as well. It’s genuinely a dream come true!”
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