Mundial de Pickleball en Vietnam: la verdad desde adentro | Cristóbal del Castillo (Team Chile)

0:00Presidents, here we are with Cristóbal del Castillo, a Chilean player who lives in the United States and he's going to tell us about his experience in Vietnam. How are you, Christopher? [clears throat] Very good, very good. And you, friend? How are you? Here, brother. Tell me, we met last year at the Forel World Championship and then spent some time in Minini at Christmas, but I want you to tell me what you thought of the

0:30Forel World Championship and how you compare it with the Vietnam World Championship that you just attended. Tell us a little bit about that. Yes, perfect. To be honest, the first World Cup I was able to play in was last year's in Miami. It was a nice experience. The organization was quite good, the complex there in Miami, Ford's, is spectacular, really. I would say, one of the best. Well, nothing to say, a nice experience and there's

1:05probably always room for improvement in terms of organization and time management, but that's all. Well, it was a great first World Cup experience and nothing, nothing to say, I liked it too much. And so, this year you're going to the World Cup in Vietnam. Tell me about the organization before the event and what your role was in Vietnam. Yes, this World Cup was a little crazy because I'd say they announced it at almost the last minute,

1:43we'd say because it would be in Asia. So, many people were impressed with that advertisement. Apart from that, I do think it's a good organization, even though it went far. There are details that can be improved. This time I participated as a coach for Team Chile. Well, nothing, the atmosphere is very nice, uh, people behaved very well, uh, both people from Pablo and people in the country, a very very nice atmosphere.

2:21The level, needless to say, this year the level has already risen too much and when I say too much I mean it in a good way because as we know they were professional players and they played for their countries. So, nothing, extraordinary level. What was lacking, I would say, were the courts where they were played. Honestly, I don't think at all that professionals should play on that kind of court. Well, while the organization

2:58is receiving money from everyone attending this tournament, I think they could have improved in that aspect. Honestly, the courts leave much to be desired because, obviously, the final was played there, several matches were played there, and they had the opportunity to play a match in the international tournament before the World Cup. And honestly, in that respect, I'd say they failed, considering they have so many courts there; they could have done something a little better.

3:36Sure, sure. Yes, that's exactly what I already talked about with David, David Rosales, I don't know if you met him at the World Cup this year, and with Raquel Amaro, yes, the fields were terrible, but from what David told me it was because the Vietnamese government or I don't know, the Danann city hall [snorts] was involved and that's what could be done or I don't know, I mean, we don't really know what the

4:08reason was, but it seems like it got out of the organizers' hands. I did n't have that information, but it's possible because if there were many organizations involved in this world championship, it could be seen, even without knowing for sure, but it could be seen. Uh, there's a possibility that they decided or said, "You know what? We have this stadium and we want to do it here." And this is the only way it can be

4:36done, but I believe there are always things to improve in every organization, in every tournament. This was perhaps the case that can be improved, and obviously the waiting time and these things are typical in tournaments, which can also be shown, but apart from that I think it's on the right track. The truth about the World Cup is that you just have to be careful with different aspects, but anyway, it was a nice experience for me

5:16as a coach this time, encouraging the team, helping the team from outside, because you know it's always important to have someone outside watching your game, so they can be there supporting Team Chile. Awesome, brother. Look, and I don't know how much you can tell me, I don't want to get you into trouble either, but how was the organization of the Chilean Pickball Association before the tournament? Was there a qualifying round? How were the players chosen? Anything

5:48you can tell me about it would be great. Yes, it's always a topic that can be improved, that's for sure. Peak vol is a new sport in Chile. And I have truly had the support of the first association that was created in Chile, and I have always given my support to that association. Now they are a federation, and through this federation they began to support the World Cup from the very beginning, you understand? Since

6:23the first World Cup. This association at that time greatly supported the organizers, as we know, and they brought a senior team and a cinemator because there were possibilities for players for the Open Team , but nothing was organized, no agreement was reached, many players could not go. So another association decided to hold an open team event, and I decided to help all the teams. So in that aspect we have to improve a

7:13little bit, uh, to be able to bring the best we have from Chile, because we do have good players and the truth is you can always improve a little bit and I think it's a very new sport in the country, so everyone wants to take ownership of something. Speaking in a positive way, not talking about how to say it, but everyone wants to have a say, like in almost every sport, when

7:44a new sport is introduced, everyone wants to have their opinion, everyone wants to set their own rules and everything, but yes, we need to improve, we need to have a dialogue, as they say, and be able to reach an agreement and bring out the very best. Yes, brother. Um, I already have a question regarding, or rather an emphasis on, the team you might bring next year, which is a tremendous

8:09team, but you were the coach, tell me about your experience as a coach, uh, did the people, did your players receive good feedback or how was it, I mean, how is it, because sometimes coaching or talking to high- level players can be difficult because not many accept feedback. What was that experience like? Look, the truth is, since I'm here in the United States and the people were trained in Chile, it's a little more

8:35difficult to be able to, let's say, change things in the moment. The first thing I tell both or all three teams is that it's not the time to change things because you're not going to change a type of game in an hour or two hours; it's not about adapting. Then he tells them, "We're going to adapt to what we see in the game. I don't want you to change anything about your game, just enjoy yourselves,

9:03relax, and just play your game, because again, I was there to support you and to see details that Wales can take into account at that moment and be able to help the players. I think most of the players took it very well, because honestly, I'd say I got even more tired being a coach than playing. It's really mentally and physically tiring because you're analyzing everything they're doing, how they're playing, supporting, shouting, trying to take

9:46everything into account. So it's a really stressful, tiring job, but at the same time, motivating. I like it. If you like what you do, well, it's one thing , but like I said, I'd say I got even more tired even though I wasn't playing, but I loved being there, supporting everyone, and helping them understand what I wanted to explain about the games they were playing or how they were doing." The games were going well.

10:17Awesome. And for those who don't know, Cristóbal is also a tremendous coach. Are you still working there with the city of Machini or have you moved ? Right. Everything here with the city of Machini. As far as they're concerned, Machini is north of Dallas. As far as they're concerned. Cristóbal is a tremendous coach. Okay. Well, I'm glad you had a good experience. It's difficult to give that kind of feedback

10:41if you don't know the game that well. But look, now let's get to a juicy question. How were the payments for the cost of your trip? Did you pay for them or did the association pay for them ? And that's where we got. [laughs] That's where we got serious. Look, uh, this might be a slightly long answer, uh, but I'm going to elaborate. The Picobo has completely changed my life, and this makes

11:17sense with the answer I'm about to give you. The support I've had during these years that I've taught and played Picobo has been tremendous. Honestly, sometimes it surprises me. And I say, I enjoy this, I enjoy teaching, I enjoy sharing what I've learned, and honestly, I've connected with people who have given me double or triple the support I expected. So, this time, I told the federation, look, if you don't have a way to support me

11:49financially, I'll find a way and see if any sponsors want to support me so I can make this trip or do a golf outing, and that's it. I want to be there, whether as a coach or however I can, to support, and it worked out, I did a golf outing, and in less than two or three days I was able to cover the costs, and we left, we left there. So, again, I'm always grateful to the

12:18people who are supporting me, and again, the pickable community here is tremendous, and when you connect with people like that who support what you do or who value what you do, you're always going to receive support. It's great. Cristóbal is super involved there in the Dallas community. In a future conversation, we'll talk about... Your Guinness World Record, and also Cristóbal, I don't know if he wants me to say it, but he's going to say it too.

12:50He trains with several professional players in Dallas. Do you still work with them, or only sometimes? Yes, yes. In fact, two days ago I was training with Noé, Noé Cliff, who's currently in the top 10. Right. I say, well, if they want me to, I mean, if I can train with them, great. So I tell my wife, if I'm on the list they want to train with, even if I'm at the

13:25bottom of the list, I'm on the list. So, [laughs] that's what's important, and you learn a lot. You can train with them for two or three hours, and that's a learning experience. Great. Yes, brother. And here you were just talking about how a very good team can be formed for Chile. We have tremendous players. You have Bruno Faleto, or Faleto, I don't know how to spell the last name. Faleto, yes. Mario, Mario Barrientos, Nico Acevedo.

14:02That's right. And you, brother, I mean, I don't know, I do n't know many women. I know there were a couple of girls who are padel players, who play really well in Chile, but I don't know any women like that, but I mean, they have a very good men's team. Right. That's right. Uh, the truth is we're in talks very soon about that, to see what's planned for next year, because if we have players at a

14:31very high level, speaking of men, uh, we're going to find some girls somehow to be able to have a solid team. And yes, we have Nico Acevedo here who's killing it, really. We and everyone in the Picop community are impressed with what he 's done in such a short time. He started playing MLP and then PPA this year and the truth is Nico is doing, wow, he's amazing . We also have Bruno Faleto who

15:04's competing a lot. Now the PP Tour is about to launch, there are the PP Challengers and also He's always killing it, always getting on the podium. Last week he also got, I think, second or third place. We have Juan Carlos Sáz, who lives in Miami, who's also a good player, and Mario, who's always competing there, and I'm right behind him, always trying to improve so I can be at their level too.

15:34You know, I'm a little jealous? I'm still like the second-best Venezuelan player in the DER (Royal Spanish Padel Federation), and I don't understand, I mean, I don't even play in tournaments, I mean, I train 100%. My last duper tournament was around April at the US Open, and I don't know what's going on with the Venezuelan padel community. I think they all play padel, that's the problem, padel is very strong in Venezuela, and most

16:04Venezuelan university players end up playing for it afterward. But it's a subtle jealousy because I'm really happy that they have such good players. Well, Mario has won several PP (Performance Padel) medals, Bruno Faleto wins Challengers. Nicoedo almost won the Arizona Points PPA last week, and you are, I mean, you're a tremendous player, you're the one who, if you're number five, I mean, you know, Chile has it, and hopefully they can continue doing so.

16:35I'm very happy for them, and it speaks volumes about you that you're trying to collaborate there with the Chilean Association, because it's important, it's very important that there really is that helping hand from us, from the people who live in the United States, so that the sport continues to grow, and maybe we'll start beating Padel, but here it's [laughs] difficult, right? Padel is strong everywhere. In Chile it's also very strong.

17:04The Pan American Games are being played, if I'm not mistaken, in Santa Fe, Argentina, and Padel is one of the sports there. Uh, I was saying, "Wow, I'd love for Pico to be there, you know what I mean?" And that's one of my goals, to be able to help my country and this sport so that one day we can be in all the Games, both Olympic and Pan American, and that Pico can

17:29be a part of that and be there again supporting my country, always contributing a little bit and in the future saying, "Okay, I contributed something and feel happy about that." So whenever I go to Chile, I go with clinics, I go with classes, always trying to help the community. Awesome, brother. And to finish up, if you had to give some advice to any association, how do you think the qualifiers for the players representing the

18:10open team at the World Championships should be handled? Oh, you made it difficult for me, [laughs] look. Uh, no, no, it's fine. I have my opinion, brother. My opinion is important to me, I respect others, but all opinions are valid. Uh, respecting. Uh, I think the qualifiers should be taken as duper. Uh, it's also difficult to understand, I mean, we have to respect that. For example, if the PBO is growing

18:47a lot in our country, I think that qualifiers should also be held there , I mean, obviously in the country. The thing is, for example, if all of us Chileans who live here and are in the top five, including myself, wanted to qualify, we would have to travel to Chile three or four times. In other words , that means we're going to get the money to go to Chile, and we're

19:16also going to discuss how we would compete, but knowing that there's a good chance we'll win, and that's where the debate happens. Well, the truth is, it's like saying, "Hey, I'm going, but I don't know how to tell them. I'm not seeing why I should go if they know my level, I mean, if I'm competing here, if they know this, then it's something that's really, really difficult to decide or to organize. But like

19:53in other sports, when you're representing a country, you take the best of the best, right? So, if you see that these players are killing it, you have to take the best of the best and reach an agreement with the federations and decide, more than anything, what we want, whether to take the absolute best or the ones who qualify right here in the country. Like I said, it's a big debate, but I would say it should

20:29be by level, let's say, by duper. For this event, they took five men and five women, right? Well, in the open team, in the open team, no, they only took two women and two men because it wasn't possible, there wasn't anyone who could travel that much." It's quite far from Chile . So it's been difficult. I'd say maybe the two top players, like Mario or Bruno and Nicoevedo, qualify directly, and

21:11the other two best players have to qualify in Chile. But if there are only two players, it does become difficult. It's a job that will have to be done, and I think the easiest thing, but necessary for this organization, is for the World Cup to dictate how it has to be done. If they can't do it that way, fine, but that would eliminate the drama of how things have to be done by country. It's a

21:51complicated issue, and little by little we'll try to solve it country by country. Yes. No, no, no. Honestly, as I say, that's my opinion. It doesn't mean it's correct, but that's my opinion based on how they qualify in other sports, you know? But since it's a new sport, you also have to consider other opinions, and if you want to help... to help the country grow, uh, we also have to take that into account.

22:23Awesome, brother. Well, uh, tell me where we can follow you and soon, in a few months, we'll have a more personal conversation about you. [laughs] Yes, of course. Look, I'm always very active on social media, especially on Instagram. My Instagram is cristóbal.b so you can follow me and interact if you have any questions or anything else. I'm always very active there and of course we're ready for another interview and to talk more, uh,

22:53maybe about me, the champion, the record breaker, the Ginner Breaker. Spanish. [laughs] Okay, brother. Greetings. Well, we'll be there. Hopefully I can go to Maquini soon and well, we're here we can train and play for a while, so you know, thanks again and much success with everything you set out to do .