The SLC Padel Club has opened as Utah's inaugural venue for padel, a sport blending tennis and squash elements. Co-founder Pedro Bautista emphasizes building community through social events and inclusive play. The club aims to introduce the sport to newcomers while fostering friendships in the state.
Padel, invented in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera in Acapulco, Mexico, emerged from a modified tennis setup using enclosed courts with walls. Lacking space for a full tennis court at his holiday home, Corcuera and his wife Viviana adapted rules to incorporate the walls, enhancing gameplay. The sport spread after Prince Alfonso Hohenlohe encountered it and constructed courts in Andalusia, Spain, leading to its growth across Europe, Latin America, and beyond.
The SLC Padel Club, which debuted in September, stands as Utah's sole padel facility to date. Played on a court smaller than a tennis one and enclosed by walls, padel prioritizes strategy over raw power, as noted by Kevin Theos, vice president of the Racquet Sports Professionals Association. Players can rebound the ball off the walls, distinguishing it from sports like tennis or pickleball.
Co-founder Pedro Bautista highlights padel's social nature, requiring four players per game. He advises newcomers to join community events to connect with others. "Join as many community events as you can. This is a social sport and you always need four people," Bautista said. The club hosts Tapas Tuesday for beginners, Tapas Thursday for advanced participants with two hours of play and provided food, and women's days every other Sunday.
Bautista reassures beginners that Utah's padel scene is nascent, allowing everyone to learn together. He clarifies the sport's uniqueness: "You have walls around the court, and you can use them as a strategy." Looking ahead, four additional clubs are slated for Orem, Lehi, and two Salt Lake area spots, with Bautista eager to collaborate in expanding Utah's padel community.