Why there is not padel?

I am writing to you as the Managing Director of PadelCity, a leading padel facility operator, to formally request the addition of Padel as a dedicated sport discipline within the Strava platform.

The Global Padel Phenomenon
Padel is currently the world's fastest-growing sport, and the statistics are remarkable:

30 million players worldwide as of 2024, representing a 2.5x increase in just one decade
Played in 130+ countries globally, up from significantly fewer just years ago
92% player retention rate after first game - a statistic few sports can rival
In Spain, padel has become the second most popular sport after football with 6 million active players
70,000 padel courts projected globally by 2026, demonstrating unprecedented infrastructure growth
Market Growth & Regional Impact
The growth trajectory is exceptional across all regions:

UK: 400,000+ players with 43% adult awareness (23 million people) in Q1 2025, up from 23% (12 million) in 2024
116% increase in UK court facilities between 2022-2023 alone
Europe leading in both padel clubs and court construction
North America holding 40%+ market share with USD 140.48 million market size in 2024
4.5% CAGR projected for the global padel sports market through 2031
Olympic Aspirations & Official Recognition
Padel's path to Olympic inclusion is gaining momentum:

ARISF status granted (Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations) - a critical step toward Olympic inclusion
Strong candidacy for 2032 Brisbane Olympics with IOC selection process beginning in 2025
International Padel Federation (FIP) actively pursuing Olympic recognition with dedicated project initiatives
Already considered for exhibition status at 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Why Strava Needs Padel NOW
1. Demographic Alignment
Padel attracts affluent, tech-savvy demographics aged 25-45 - precisely Strava's core user base. Players are typically professionals who value fitness tracking and social connectivity.

2. Social Media Momentum
Padel enjoys massive social media presence with celebrity endorsements from:

Sir David Beckham
Elle Macpherson
Hugh Grant
Numerous professional tennis players transitioning to padel
3. Differentiated Sport Classification
While related to tennis and squash (both already on Strava), padel has distinct characteristics requiring dedicated tracking:

Doubles-only format creating unique team dynamics
Glass wall interactions adding strategic elements
Shorter court dimensions affecting movement patterns
Different scoring system and match duration
Specific equipment requirements (depressurized balls, solid paddles)
4. Community Building Opportunity
Padel's social nature (always played in doubles) creates strong community bonds. Strava's segment and social features would perfectly complement padel's collaborative gameplay style.

Technical Requirements & Implementation
The addition would require minimal technical effort:

Activity type: Court-based sport with time, distance, and calorie tracking
Key metrics: Match duration, court location, heart rate zones
Social features: Partner tagging, match results sharing
Integration: Compatibility with existing fitness trackers and smart watches
Business Case for Strava
Adding padel represents a strategic opportunity:

First-mover advantage among major fitness platforms
Premium user acquisition from high-income demographic
International expansion support, particularly in Europe and Latin America
Brand association with the world's fastest-growing sport
Future-proofing for expected Olympic inclusion
Call to Action
The padel community is eager for dedicated tracking solutions. Currently, players are forced to use generic "Tennis" or "Racquet Sports" categories, which fail to capture padel's unique characteristics and community aspects.

We formally request:

Addition of "Padel" as a distinct sport category
Implementation timeline for this feature
Opportunity for beta testing with PadelCity's 5,000+ active members
Potential partnership discussions for market expansion
Partnership Opportunity
PadelCity can provide:

Beta testing platform with 5,000+ active members
Data insights from established player base
Feedback loops for feature optimization
The timing is perfect. Padel's momentum is unstoppable, and Strava has the opportunity to capture this rapidly expanding global community.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further. Our players are asking for this feature daily, and Strava's early adoption would create significant competitive advantage.

Thank you for considering this request. I look forward to your positive response.

Best regards,

Piotr Lagowski
Managing Director
PadelCity
www.padelcity.de