Our Story
Built by Players, for Players
Nomad Pickleball was born from a simple belief: the best pickleball experiences happen when great coaching meets extraordinary places. We created the company we wished existed.
How It Started
Why We Started Nomad
Like a lot of pickleball stories, ours started on a court we had no business being on. Nico and Gino Valencia had played sports their entire lives — tennis, racquetball, paddleball — but the first time they picked up a pickleball paddle together, something clicked differently.
They were already passionate travelers. And as their game grew, so did a question: why wasn't anyone combining these two worlds properly? The travel pickleball experiences that existed felt like afterthoughts — bolt-on courts at a resort, generic group tours, no real coaching. Nothing felt intentional.
So they built it themselves. Nomad Pickleball launched with one trip, a small group of players, and a philosophy: treat every single detail like it matters — because to the people who show up, it does.
Today, Nomad runs curated trips across multiple continents, with a roster of elite coaches and a community of players who keep coming back. The mission hasn't changed.
Train Anywhere. Play Everywhere.
6+
Countries & counting
100%
Repeat traveler rate
What We Believe
The Nomad Philosophy
Play is the Point
We built Nomad because we believe pickleball is better when it's lived, not just practiced. Every trip is designed to maximize court time, court quality, and the joy of playing somewhere extraordinary.
Details Win
The resort matters. The coaches matter. The food, the courts, the group dynamic — all of it matters. We obsess over every detail so you can show up and just play.
Community First
The best part of every trip isn't the location — it's the people you meet. We curate groups intentionally and build experiences that turn strangers into lifelong pickleball partners.
World is the Court
From the Amalfi Coast to the jungles of Vietnam, we believe the world is full of places that deserve a pickleball court. We're here to find them — and take you there.
The Founders
Meet Nico & Gino
Two brothers. A shared obsession with pickleball and travel. One company built to bring both to the world.
Nico Valencia
Co-Founder & Head Coach
Nico has been competing in racket sports his entire life, and when he picked up a pickleball paddle, the game clicked fast. Known online as @nicothelefty, he's built a following around his left-handed game, sharp court IQ, and genuine love for teaching the sport to anyone willing to put in the work.
Off the court, Nico is the co-host of the PicklePod alongside pro player Zane Navratil — one of the game's most entertaining and insightful pickleball podcasts. He brings that same energy to every Nomad trip: technically sharp, endlessly enthusiastic, and genuinely invested in every player's growth.
Socials
@nicothelefty
Dominant Hand
Lefty
Specialty
Speedups & Offensive Play
Gino Valencia
Co-Founder & Coach
Gino brings a deep strategic mind and an upbeat, high-energy coaching presence that makes every session on the court feel alive. A natural teacher, he breaks down complex mechanics into concepts that stick — and his enthusiasm is genuinely contagious. Players leave his sessions not just better, but fired up to keep improving.
On top of coaching, Gino oversees Nomad's operations and traveler experience — making sure that from the moment you land to the moment you leave, every detail is handled and every moment on the court counts.
Socials
@ginotherighty
Dominant Hand
Righty
Specialty
Dinking & Counter Attacker
Ready to Play
Come Travel With Us
Six trips. Six incredible destinations. One community of players who take the game — and the adventure — seriously. Join us.