About Us
Pickleball Tour Spain was launched in 2014 to provide pickleball enthusiasts with a unique pickleball trip offering a behind-the-scenes look at Spain’s rich history and culture, along with a chance to enjoy pickleball throughout the journey. Pickleball players from throughout the US, Canada and Europe have enjoyed our custom-designed pickleball vacations to Spain in Madrid, Barcelona, and Málaga. Now that Europe and Spain are completely open to travel, we started offering pickleball trips again in 2022 and have a full schedule of pickleball tours planned for 2023! We invite you to join us for an unforgettable pickleball vacation where you’ll get to meet and play with the Spaniards and enjoy all the best of the wonderful country of Spain. Space is limited on each trip so we encourage you to register early to secure your spot.
Where the Idea for Pickleball Tours in Spain Came From
Pickleball Tour Spain was created in response to the many requests that I’ve received over the years from pickleball players asking me to organize a pickleball vacation in Spain that combines pickleball playing with cultural activities and sightseeing. The pickleball trips described in this webpage are the final result – a personally escorted tour to incredible cities along with plenty of pickleball. I’ve been planning and leading the pickleball tours since 2014 and am excited about expanding to new destinations throughout Spain in the years to come. Together with my team of locals, we look forward to providing you with an unforgettable experience both on and off the court.
Mike Hess – Director of Pickleball Tour Spain
About Mike
Mike is a pickleball aficionado who fell in love with the sport the first time he stepped onto the court in 2009. Originally from Southern California, he has been living in Spain for the past 25 years, in both Barcelona and Madrid. He is fluent in Spanish and well-versed in the local customs.
As founder and President of the Spanish Pickleball Association from 2012 to 2018, Mike has spent years introducing, teaching and promoting the sport throughout Spain and Europe. He is a PPR Certified Pickleball Instructor as well as a USAPA Level 1 Credentialed Referee.
When not on the pickleball court, Mike can be found teaching business courses in his role as a professor on the campus of CUNEF University in Madrid. He was also active in promoting sport participation in his capacity as a Board Member of the National Senior Games Association (NSGA), where he also served as the NSGA National Director for Basketball.
Mike has had a lifelong passion for sports. He earned a scholarship to play basketball at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where he stayed on for two seasons as an assistant coach. He subsequently played professional basketball in Germany. He earned his undergraduate and MBA degrees from UC Irvine, and his PhD in Business Administration from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
