About me

Hey! I’m Nikolaj Herling - 27 years old, half Thai, half Danish, and based in Chiang Mai, Thailand 🇹🇭

I’ve always been an active person. Sports have played a huge role in my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I played golf at a competitive level, and football was a big part of my younger years too. I’ve never been able to sit still for long – moving my body, being outdoors, and learning new things through sport is just part of who I am.

A man standing confidently outdoors on a padel court, smiling, wearing a navy blue sports shirt with 'SEA PADEL ACADEMY' and 'padel mba' logos, with a sunny sky and padel court fencing in the background.

About six years ago, while living in Spain, I came across a sport I had never tried before: padel. I gave it a go… and instantly fell in love. It was fast, social, and just incredibly fun. What started as a hobby quickly grew into a real passion.

Fast forward to today: I’ve been living in Thailand since 2022, and in July 2025 I became a certified PadelMBA coach – the first certified padel coach in Chiang Mai. Even though I’m new as a certified coach, I bring 6 years of experience as a dedicated player, and I know exactly how exciting (and challenging!) this game can be.

When I’m not on the padel court, you’ll still find me moving – whether it’s CrossFit, running, hiking, or playing football. But padel is where my passion truly lies. Coaching gives me the chance to help others experience that same buzz I get after 4 hours on court, when my body is sore, I’m drenched in sweat… and I still want to keep playing.

If I can help someone else feel even a fraction of that joy, then I know I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do.

My mission is simple: To help players of all levels learn padel in Thailand, improve their technique and tactics, and most importantly – enjoy the game. Whether you’re picking up a racket for the first time or aiming to sharpen your skills for competition, I offer personalised padel training in Chiang Mai to fit your goals.

Padel coaching certifications

  • Online training diploma of recognition awarded to Nikolaj Herling for completing a certified padel coach course, dated July 21, 2025, endorsed by ICD and USA Padel.

    CPC Online Training

    Completed 10 modules of the CPC online training with PadelMBA.
    Passed all 24 test’s with maximum score: 10/10.

  • PadelMBA Certificed Padel Coach

    Physical Exams:

    PadelMBA Methodology ✅
    Technique ✅
    Feeding/Launching ✅