PIK Padel in Grateley has marked another milestone in its remarkable first year, welcoming two of the biggest names in world padel for an exclusive three-day Padel Pro Camp.
Held from 25–27 September, the Legends Edition brought former World No.1 Carolina Navarro and legendary coach Miguel Sciorilli to the independent Hampshire club, giving players the rare opportunity to train directly with two figures who have operated at the very highest level of the sport.
Navarro spent nine years as World No.1 and has won 100 international titles during a career spanning three decades at the top of the game. Sciorilli has coached some of padel’s greatest players, including Fernando Belasteguín, Juan Martín Díaz and Pablo Lima, with players under his guidance winning more than 200 titles.
The intensive three-day programme catered for improver, intermediate and advanced players, combining small-group on-court coaching with tactical sessions, supervised match play, workshops and individual feedback.
But one of the highlights of the weekend came when the professionals swapped coaching for competition. A showcase match featuring the visiting professionals drew a large crowd to PIK Padel, giving local players, members and spectators the opportunity to see elite-level padel played at close quarters.
The event was extremely well attended, with spectators packing the club to watch the action and experience first-hand how padel is played at the highest level. The atmosphere around the courts underlined the rapidly growing enthusiasm for the sport in Hampshire and the surrounding area.
For PIK Padel founder Jake Harwood, hosting names of this calibre was an especially proud moment.
“When we opened PIK Padel, the ambition was always to create much more than somewhere people could simply book a court. We wanted to build a club and a community where people could experience everything that makes padel such a special sport.
“To have Carolina and Miguel here, sharing their knowledge with our players and then putting on a showcase for everyone to watch, was incredible. Seeing the club packed with people enjoying world-class padel was a really proud moment.
“We only opened our doors in February, so to be bringing genuine padel royalty to Grateley just a few months later is something I’m incredibly proud of. The response to the weekend has been fantastic and it gives us huge excitement about what we can bring to the club next.”
The reaction from those attending the camp was equally enthusiastic, with players praising not only the calibre of the coaching but also the organisation, atmosphere and facilities at PIK Padel.
Garreth, Clare and Olivia, who attended the camp together as a family, described bringing an event of this calibre to the UK for the first time as “something really special”.
“To have the opportunity as a family to learn from former world number one Carolina Navarro and the hugely experienced Miguel Sciorilli was a real privilege and an experience we’ll remember for a long time.
“The standard of coaching was outstanding. Carolina and Miguel have an incredible depth of knowledge and experience, but what impressed us most was the way they delivered it. They were approachable, engaging and able to explain things in a way that players could understand and take onto the court. You genuinely felt you were improving rather than simply going through a series of drills.
“A huge amount of credit has to go to Jake Harwood and everyone at PIK for having the vision to bring something like this to the UK and, more importantly, delivering it to such a high standard. We came away tired, having learned a huge amount, and already wanting to do it all again.”
Garreth, Clare and Olivia also praised the relaxed, friendly and inclusive atmosphere throughout the weekend, along with the balance between learning, playing and putting their new skills into practice.
Their verdict summed up the mood among many of those leaving PIK after the three-day event:
“A genuinely memorable weekend and hopefully the first of many similar events to be hosted by PIK in the future. We wouldn’t hesitate to come back.”
A growing padel community in Hampshire. Located at Grateley Business Park near Andover, PIK Padel is an independent club created around the idea that padel should be as much about community and enjoyment as competition.
The venue features three premium indoor courts, including World Padel Tour Supercourt X3 turf, alongside a café and social space designed to encourage players to stay, meet and connect before and after matches.
Harwood discovered padel while playing with family in Spain and became hooked on the sport’s combination of competition, accessibility and social interaction. After struggling to find indoor courts on his return to the UK, he decided to create his own club.
The successful Pro Camp is the latest step in that journey and demonstrates PIK Padel’s ambition to bring high-quality coaching, events and experiences normally associated with established international padel destinations to Hampshire.
The weekend also reflected the wider momentum behind padel in Britain, with increasing numbers of people discovering a sport already hugely popular across Spain and other parts of Europe.
Harwood added:
“What was particularly special was seeing people of different levels all sharing the same experience. You had players receiving world-class coaching, people watching the showcase match and others simply enjoying the atmosphere around the club.
“Events like this show what padel can be. It’s competitive, but it’s also incredibly social and brings people together. That’s exactly what we want PIK Padel to be about.”
Following the success of the Legends Edition, PIK Padel plans to continue developing its programme of coaching, competitions and special events as its community grows.