LTP STORY
In January of 2020, I was at a cross road in my life. I worked in the technology sector for over two decades and had taken 8 years off to help my daughters through high school and graduate from university. During this time, I attained my black belt in Shotokan Karate, ballroom danced competitively to silver ranked level and started my journey into what would end up being my passion - tennis.
I started teaching tennis to kids and beginner adults and realized I loved it! In 2016 through 2019, I traveled around the world and found padel. I was instantly in love with the sport. I played squash when I was younger and tennis had become my passion later in life… so it was like squash and tennis had a baby and they called it padel.
In February of 2020, I decided to build one padel court on our 15 acreage ranch.
Then the COVID pandemic hit in March of 2020. Going into lock down for us was unique as we live on 15 acres backing unto Reimers Ranch with a very rural look and feel. In February, when we decided to build the padel court we did not foresee that a massive global shut down was about to occur.
We built one padel court thinking it would be a great way to foster health and fitness for our friends and family. When a governor prominently stated during one of his famous press conferences that outdoor tennis was one of the best sports to play during the lockdown suddenly we were getting calls from so many wanting to learn padel. It was amazing.
So we ordered our second padel court which arrived in November 2020. Many of our neighbors and friends came and people from all across Austin wanted to play. To see the transformation of players losing weight, and having fun during the worst time of our lives was incredibly gratifying.
The community that has been built here at Lake Travis Padel is magical. It is truly amazing to see players coming from different cultural backgrounds and educational levels and more interestingly all political affiliations. You would never know that when you play padel at Lake Travis Padel that there is any tension in the world.
I am honored that we have been able to give back to the community at large a sport that I have become passionate about.
It is and has not always been easy. We have had to endure many challenges since inception but I would do it all again. To see this community come together through the fitness of padel is the most gratifying experience.
My mission in the second part of my life is to help grow padel in Austin and in the rest of the USA. I hope that I can be a small part of the fitness and health revolution that is so important to all Americans.
Lake Travis Padel = Family, Fitness, Friendship and Fun!