About Town: USTA tennis, Lanakila world qualifier, Parkland records
Lanakila Classic named world canoe qualifier
The Lanakila Classic has been named by the American Canoe Association as a qualifying race for the 2024 Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in Madeira, Portugal.
The King Harbor-based event takes place Feb. 24, with open ocean courses of five and nine miles.
“We are honored to be asked to participate in their selection process and look at this as confirmation how we have run our races to date,” said Brian Mitchell, Lanakila Classic administration.
Alta Vista team takes USTA tennis sectionals
A Redondo Beach Alta Vista Tennis Center men’s tennis team won its USTA League Sectional Championships Jan. 19-21 in Rancho Mirage.
Competing in level 3.5 doubles, the team was crowned the best in Southern California.
In the final match (played in a best-of-eight games pro set format), after splitting two leadup matches, Alta Vista trailed Ventura County 5-0, before forcing a tiebreaker to win the championship.
“This win is truly unforgettable. It highlights the immense dedication and determination each player invested in achieving this incredible success,” said Jonathan Lababit, first-year captain.
The USTA fall season runs from September to January. The Alta Vista team practices Wednesday nights at the park.
Alta Vista’s 3.5 men’s roster for sectionals included: Tyler Barnhardt, Nicholas Ferrara, Joshua Greenbaum, Jonathan Lababit, Oren Levy, John Loo, Daniel Meyer, Levon Najarian, Joe Nimziki, Pete Patel and Ethan Waldman.
Record year for Parkland Conservancy
South Bay Parkland Conservancy posted record numbers in 2023 for volunteer hours, number of volunteers and number of events. More than 1,800 people volunteered 4,281 hours, including 1,727 on the Esplanade Bluffs restoration project.
Last year also included 644 hours at the new community garden at Alta Vista Park.
Total plants put in the ground for 2023 was 2,802, a dip from the year before. Because of more rain, explained Jim Light, Parkland Conservancy president, the focus in 2023 was on taking out invasive weeds to protect the native plantings from the year before.
South Bay Parkland Conservancy was formed in 2004 with a mission to preserve open space and create more parks. ER