James Ignatowich in Manila - Official Press Conference

 

RPM Pickleball Launch Press Conference Introducing Innovation to Philippine Pickleball Introduction This press conference marks the official launch of RPM Pickleball in the Philippines, hosted by Pickleard and Grabka Sports. It features opening remarks, introductions of the brand's founders—James Ignatowich (CEO) and Marwan Abaza (President and Head of R&D)—a promotional video, and an interactive Q&A session. The event highlights RPM's paddles, the brand's origins, and upcoming activities, while fostering excitement for pickleball's growth in Asia.

1. 49:08 - Opening Welcome and Introduction to the Event The host greets the audience and announces the launch of RPM Pickleball in the Philippines, emphasizing innovation, performance, and collaboration with local partners Pickleard and Grabka Sports.
   
2. 50:18 - Opening Remarks from Philip Pagon (Pickleard Representative) Philip welcomes the RPM founders, expresses excitement about the collaboration with Grabka Sports, and teases upcoming pickleball battles between Philippine and US players.
   
3. 51:18 - Welcome Address from Grace Grabka (Grabka Sports) Grace thanks the founders for the opportunity to host, highlights player excitement for playing with them, and expresses anticipation for experiencing RPM paddles.
   
4. 51:47 - Promotional Video Presentation A short video from Grabka Sports plays, featuring motivational pickleball imagery and slogans like "Step in. Eyes up." and "Always chasing better," ending with applause.
   
5. 52:49 - Introduction of Marwan Abaza The host introduces Marwan as a Division One athlete with backgrounds in tennis, investment banking, and data science, positioning him as the technical force behind RPM's paddle development.
6. 53:35 - Introduction of James Ignatowich The host introduces James as a top professional pickleball player and CEO, emphasizing his passion for materials science, player-driven design, and RPM's global growth.
7. 54:48 - Start of Q&A Session and General Welcome The host welcomes the founders to Manila and opens the floor for questions about the brand and their work.
8. James discusses his surprise at being terminated from UPA, plans to focus on Asia (including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, and Hong Kong), expanding RPM's presence, and participating in local tournaments.
9. 57:52 - Favorite RPM Paddle Variants and Reasons James and Marwan share their preferences: James favors the elongated 16mm for power and reach, while Marwan prefers the 16mm widebody for its large sweet spot and soft game suitability; they discuss weight considerations and upcoming models.
10. 1:00:02 - Plans for Hybrid Paddle Development The founders reveal a upcoming hybrid shape paddle with the same core but a rectangular design (shorter and wider), critiquing curved-top hybrids like the JOOLA Hyperion for smaller sweet spots.
11. 1:00:48 - Comparison to Selkirk Paddles They compare RPM paddles favorably to JOOLA (best for advanced players) over Selkirk, which they see as better for intermediates or beginners.
12. 1:01:13 - Number of Pros Using RPM Paddles Around 10 pros on the APP Tour and 4-5 on the PPA Tour use RPM, mostly unpaid except for Ryan Fu, as it's their favorite among advanced players.
13. 1:01:51 - Ava's Paddle Usage and Sponsorship Ava is not using RPM due to her expensive ProXR contract; the founders joke about potential future sponsorship.
14. 1:02:08 - Coffee Consumption and Playing Habits Joke Light-hearted banter about James's high coffee intake (4-5 cups) and his habit of yawning during play.
15. 1:02:36 - Inspirations for Engineering RPM Paddles James cites JOOLA as a baseline, focusing on maximizing power with a large sweet spot for control; Marwan emphasizes pro input, attention to detail, and over a year of prototyping for optimal feel.
16. 1:05:09 - Origin Story of RPM Pickleball The founders recount starting due to dissatisfaction with Selkirk paddles, initial reluctance, conversations with Chinese factories, 40 prototypes, and Marwan balancing it with full-time work and studies.
17. 1:08:53 - How the Name "RPM" Was Chosen Marwan spotted "RPM" on a subway ad after a week of brainstorming; it stands for "revolutions per minute," symbolizing dwell time and grit for spin.
18. 1:09:51 - Explanation of Grit and Spin in Paddles They explain surface roughness (grit) for better spin, contrasting RPM's rough texture with smoother paddles that lack spin.
19. They explain surface roughness (grit) for better spin, contrasting RPM's rough texture with smoother paddles that lack spin.
20. 1:10:36 - Predictions for Upcoming Matches Against Filipinos James predicts Filipinos might score up to 8 points in exhibition games, discussing rally scoring, toughest opponents, and committing to play at top level for fun.
21. 1:12:25 - Personal Questions: Filipina Girls and Relationship Status Both confirm they are single; James notes his preference for Asian girls, with humorous disclaimers.
22. 1:13:01 - Ava's Relationship Status Ava is in a long-term relationship, not single.
23. 1:13:12 - Bet on Eating Balut James agrees that if Filipinos score 5 points, Marwan will eat balut (a Filipino delicacy).
24. 1:13:37 - Seeking Ambassadors in the Philippines James invites applications via DM on Instagram (@rpm_marwan), referencing a story seen the previous night.
25. 1:14:09 - Impressions of Philippine Pickleball James admits limited prior knowledge but sees potential due to orders from partners; he discusses a new Asian league and personal experiences like food, weather (similar to Florida), and feeling tall.
26. 1:16:23 - What Separates Top 10 Pros Marwan highlights hand speed, power, aggression (e.g., speed-ups), natural gifts, and building weapons beyond consistency, which gets players to top 50.
27. 1:17:24 - Invitation to Viewers and Demo Days James invites viewers to demo RPM paddles, challenge him, and buy through hosts; emphasizes the brand's US popularity (nearly 10,000 sold) and Asian expansion.
28. 1:18:47 - Closing Thanks and Applause The host thanks the founders and calls for applause.
29. 1:19:07 - Announcement of Upcoming Schedules Details of clinics, open play, and exhibitions at various Pickleard locations over the next two days.
30. 1:20:26 - Photo Opportunities Organized photo sessions with Pickleard team, Grabka Sports, pro athletes, partners from Elijah Hotel, and a free-for-all group photo. Overall Summary The press conference successfully launched RPM Pickleball in the Philippines, blending formal introductions, a promotional video, and an engaging Q&A that covered paddle innovations, brand origins, pro insights, and light-hearted banter. Founders James Ignatowich and Marwan Abaza shared their vision for data-driven, player-focused equipment, while promoting local events to grow the sport. The event fostered excitement, partnerships, and community involvement, positioning RPM as a key player in Asian pickleball.