The following article is from guest contibutor Ben Nichols, Founder and CEO of the world’s first padel-dedicated communications consultancy, Padel 22 — which is looking to help further drive the U.S. padel boom in 2024 and beyond, much like the U.S. padel pioneer you’ll read about here today.
For years, the often cited pattern of the biggest rock bands in the world has been a charismatic front-man, or front-woman, supported by loyal, equally talented in their own rights band members, whether the guitar, bass, keyboard or drums be their thing.
The examples of the prominent front-man, lesser known bassist or drummer runs deep in rock n’ roll folklore. For every McArtney or Lennon, there’s a George Harrison. For every Mick Jagger there’s a Bill Wyman. And for every Axl Rose there’s a Izzy Stradlin (who?).
Even in the superb recent Fleetwood Mac-inspired hit Amazon Prime series Daisy Jones & The Six (if you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for?), you can witness the front man — backing band dynamic common with so many rock bands. Anyway, you get the picture.
So, Who Is the U.S. Padel World’s George Harrison?
In the early-stage padel scene, we’re not yet at rock and roll status. Far from it. However, as with any new scene, we do have a pattern emerging of those carving a name for themselves as the more prominent faces and voices in this burgeoning industry.
Impressive figures such as Marcos del Pilar who has done more than most to get American padel to where it is today. Well-respected Ryan Redondo — the closest thing akin to tennis royalty — who is now making waves in padel with his unique expertise in junior talent development alongside his role as CEO of Taktika and Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego.
Billionaire investor Wayne Boich is another figure gaining a reputation as a public face of that most premium padel brands, Reserve. As is Elliot Carnello — described recently as the closest thing to “the James Bond of padel’” — who is carving his own valuable personal brand through his leadership of the exclusive Beverly Hills-based LA Padel Invitational and soon-to-launch Equinox-come-Soho House lifestyle padel mash-up, Ace Padel.
And then there are the individuals who are also doing a remarkable amount to shape, and transform, the way America does padel behind the scenes. Individuals such as renowned businessman, Gabriel Perez-Krieb, who is the Chairman of San Diego-based Chosen Foods, the largest producer of avocado oil in the world. His success in the business world saw him announced as San Diego Business Journal CEO of the Year in the medium-size business category last year.
So Much More Than Just a U.S. Padel Pioneer
Away from the winning culture and exponential growth that Perez-Krieb’s companies have achieved, the affable Mexican businessman has also dedicated his life to philanthropy and supporting diverse communities.
He is the co-founder of the Colibri Scholarship that delivers more than 100 scholarships to Hispanic kids that have limited resources to excel academically; founder of a Mexican business network in San Diego that was dedicated to supporting the community during the COVID-19 global pandemic; and a board member of Naturally San Diego, Feeding San Diego, and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
And yet it is away from ‘the day job’ that Perez-Krieb is equally making his mark in the world, as Chairman of the Pacific Coast’s largest padel operator Taktika Padel, and Pro Padel League (PPL) team, the San Diego Stingrays, and as a Governor on the PPL Board, too.
As if this wasn’t enough (or, let’s not forget, his co-ownership of two baseball teams and one softball team in the Mexican professional leagues, too) he managed to secure partnerships with Padel Nuestro and Padel Galis, helping bring and manage their licenses on the West Coast as they identified the United States as one of the world’s new padel economies.
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due
Of course, behind every successful business person is a great team, and Perez-Krieb is always the first to acknowledge that his success wouldn’t be what it is without his business partner Inigo Gonzalez and the tireless support of colleagues Francesco D’Arcangelo and Ascan Lutteroth.
For those in the know on the budding American padel scene, Perez-Krieb’s impact will not be news. However, to many others it will be. There can be no doubting the impact the San Diego business mogul has had, because without his efforts to support players, coaches, and the broader U.S. infrastructure in his beloved padel over the years, the sport would not be experiencing the current upturn in fortunes that we now see.
Perhaps unknown to many newcomers in the industry is Perez-Krieb’s role personally supporting the national padel governing body, the United States Padel Association (USPA) for many years, by sponsoring the junior, open, and senior national teams to represent Team USA. And there’s a simple fact to this: without the 53-year-old’s financial support, the teams would never have never been able to compete internationally. The USPA Circuit of today is called the Chosen Foods Circuit, which is testament to the support his company has given over many years.
Perez-Krieb has spent many years on the USPA Board and, as the current vice president, is responsible for competitions and working directly with the International Padel Federation (FIP) to broaden the USPA’s relationship with international competitions –- an essential responsibility at a time when the USPA will surely be looking to build its authority on the international stage.
With his ambitious — yet given his track record, wholly realistic — plans to build 200 padel courts for Taktika in California over the next two years, there is a feeling that this is just the start of Perez-Krieb’s journey in helping to drive the U.S. padel boom.
