Here’s something that might surprise you…
Given that Miami-based padel addicts and entrepreneurs Scott London and Jon Rifkind are about to launch one of the most ambitious padel pro-am events to take place on U.S. soil thus far (known as the GLDN PNT Pro-Am Travel Series), you might assume that when we’ve talked recently I’d be asking them questions about, well, you know… padel.
Yet most of my recent questions to them have instead largely centered around the Wu Tang Clan and the early days of U.S. hip-hop.
That’s because they were both deeply involved with the legendary music outfit — Jon as an executive and partner at Loud Records, which was one of the first-ever labels to sign hip-hop acts like the Wu Tang Clan, Big Pun, Dead Prez, and the Three Six Mafia, and Scott as the president and chief visionary behind the urban street wear brand Wu-Wear in the early 2000s.
Point being, when it comes to cultural movements, these guys don’t follow them, they lead them — and it’s no different with padel…
“Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Padel in Tennis Clothes”
That’s just one of many memorable tag lines from Scott’s most recent venture, GLDN PNT, a 100%-padel-focused, performance-driven retail and lifestyle brand (and Padel Nation preferred partner) that challenges us all to “make the next moment count” whether on court or just in day-to-day life.
And after bringing the iconic U.K. sporting brand Reebok into the padel world via a surprise collaboration earlier this year, Scott has now teamed with his longtime friend and fellow padel addict Jon to launch a series of elevated padel events around the country that will pair everyday players with touring pros over the course of a weekend built around padel, hospitality, and culture.
Given that the duo is based in Miami, perhaps it’s no surprise that the first stop of the series will be in South Beach this December 11 - 13 with The Ritz-Carlton South Beach and the Mondrian South Beach serving as the official (although completely optional) host hotels.
Three Days, Two Tournaments, One Goal
The weekend will officially kick-off with a welcome dinner at the legendary waterfront Italian eatery Casadonna, where the pro-am draws will be revealed and the amateur half of each team will discover which pro they’ve been paired with.
Speaking of which, the pro side of the draw is scheduled to include local legends of the sport like Luis Guzman… Geronimo Espin… Alon Faiman… Juani Fernandez… and Miguel Briega, with the pro-am matches taking place the morning of Saturday, December 12 at Sunset Padel in Miami Beach.
Sunday morning will then see the same 12 amateurs competing in a winner-take-all round robin at nearby Padel X in downtown Miami, with a trophy presentation, group photo, and farewell toast to close out the festivities immediately following play.
Of this first-of-its-kind event Jon and Scott tell me:
The idea behind the series is simple: to escape the winter for a weekend in Miami Beach — either solo or with friends — for a few days of good padel, great people, and warm weather.
It’s designed around what everyone loves about a great golf getaway weekend, but built for padel.
For more info on the GLDN PNT Pro-Am Travel Series and how you can claim your spot in the inaugural edition this December in Miami before they sell out, please be sure to visit their website, follow them on Instagram, and check out the video above.
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Oh, and one other thing… my brand-new 352-page padel book just recently dropped. So, if you enjoy the work I’m doing in the U.S. padel space, you can support me by ordering a copy (or two!) online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Or if you’re a club owner and you’d want to carry a handful of copies in your pro shop for “padel curious” people who are interested in trying the sport out but don’t know quite where to start, let me know and I can connect you with my publisher’s wholesale department.
Many thanks in advance!