WOODS CROSS — Utah's very first padel club is opening in Woods Cross. While you may not have heard of this sport before, once you see how it's played, you're going to want to try it.
Combining tennis and squash, padel is serving up a worldwide craze. The racquet game started in Mexico in 1969, then took off in Argentina and Spain. However, it wasn't until 50 years later, in 2019, that it gained global popularity as a sport.
Now you can try it too.
SLC Padel Club is the first of its kind in Utah, giving you a chance to discover the fastest-growing sport in the world. The great thing about padel, according to founder Pedro Bautista, is how inclusive it is. Anyone can pick it up quickly, and it's as much about fun and community as it is about competition.
For Bautista, padel started as something he shared with his father. Bringing it to Utah isn't just opening a business — it's bringing a dream to life.
The game is played two-on-two with a fiberglass racquet that has holes instead of strings. While the ball may look similar to a tennis ball, it's slightly smaller, as is the enclosed court. The fast-paced rallies are easier to pick up than tennis, but Bautista said it's just as exciting to watch.
With lessons, leagues and open play, SLC Padel Club — located at 2269 S. 1200 West in Woods Cross — is ready to introduce guests to a whole new kind of game, one that's already taking the world by storm.
SLC Padel Club's grand opening event is set for September 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It includes live music, artisan coffee, food truck and acai bowl stand, cold plunge and sauna stations.
