Beach Cities Sports
Aquatics
Redondo Union High School alumnus Danny Ching paddled his way into the record books winning the Steinlager Kaiwi Channel Solo OC1 World Championship. Ching became the first non-Hawaiian paddler to win the 32-mile race from Molokai to Oahu, completing the course in 3 hours, 38 minutes, 51 seconds, the second-fastest time in the 18-year history of the race, just 48 seconds off the course record. The race is considered the world championship of long-distance paddling for one-person canoes (also known as OC-1).
The Riviera Mexican Grill R-10 Paddle begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 22 at Torrance Beach. The 7-mile course goes out to the R-10 buoy off Rocky Point and back. For more information, contact Kyle Daniels, paddleboarder@msn.com.
Volleyball
The 12th Annual BarryBob Invitational beach volleyball tournament is slated for Saturday at 9th Street in Manhattan Beach. Honoring Barry Walmer and Bob Cleary, the tournament includes AVP players, legends from yesterday and local talent in a 4-man competition. It’s also beach volleyball’s unofficial Old Timers Day. Family and friends are encouraged to attend. The range of participants has included 74-year-old Mike O’Hara, winner of the first five Manhattan Opens, five-time Manhattan Open winners Jim Menges and Tim Hovland, Olympians Eric Fonoimoana and Mike Dodd, current AVP star Aaron Wachtfogel and former NHL enforcer Marty McSorley. “Everyone looks forward to this event,” said 2002 winner Tim Hovland. “It’s great to get out on the sand and mingle with the various generations.” In all, there have been 41 Pro Beach Open Winners and/or Olympians who have played in the BarryBob Invitational. For more Information contact Kevin Cleary at kpcleary@yahoo.com (310) 546-3619 or go to www.BarryBob.com.
The Amateur Athletic Union is hosting the AAU Los Angeles Open beach volleyball tournament Sunday, May 23 at Dockweiler Beach in El Segundo. The event begins at 9 a.m. and is open to boys and girls in 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U divisions. Fee is $60. Contact Gino Grajeda, ggrajeda181@msn.com or visit www.aaubeach.org for more information.
Volleyball Ventures hosts men’s and women’s doubles tournaments Saturday, May 22 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Manhattan Beach Pier. The event includes four levels of play (beginner to advanced) and is played in a round-robin format. Players can sign up individually, rotating players from their pool for each match. Entry fee is $25 per player (must be 17 or older). To register, visit www.vbventures.com or contact Patrick Mejia, 310-929-7169, Patrick@VBVentures.com for more information.
The Tuesday Hermosa Beach 4-Person Coed Volleyball League is set to begin May 25. Games will be played north of the Hermosa Beach pier from 6-8 p.m. Format is best 2-out-of-3 each evening, then playoffs at the end of the season. Limit of 40 teams. Individuals must contact the league to be placed on a team for registration. Cost: $250 per team. Registration is available at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Ave., ONLY. No late registrations at the beach. For questions, contact Bill Sigler (bill@smacksportswear.com) or Chris (cyj@prankmonkey.org).
California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) is hosting tournaments Saturday and Sunday at Rosecrans in Manhattan Beach. Saturday’s action features Men’s B competition. Sunday features the Sharkeez Men’s Masters and Women’s A tournament along with the Icaza Construction Men’s Fours Open. Play begins at 9 a.m. each day. For more information or to register, visit www.cbva.com or contact tournament director Kurt Peters at 310-922-6297.
Running
The Redondo Union High School Athletic Association and the Redondo Union High School Alumni Association will hold the “Striff/Seifert Memorial Track Meet” on Saturday, June 5 at 12 p.m. Admission is free. Participation fee is $25 per person. A pancake breakfast will be served the morning of the event in the RUHS cafeteria at 9 a.m. ($10 per person). There will be an after-party at the King Harbor Yacht Club with a no-host bar ($5 per person). For more information or to register, visit www.ruhsalumni.org.
Online registration is ongoing for the annual Summer Pier-to-Pier four-mile run/walk along the water’s edge from the pier in Hermosa Beach to the Manhattan Beach Pier and back beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, June 12. The entry fee is $25 ($30 May 23-31) and all participants receive a certificate, T-shirt, goodie bag and an opportunity to win prizes. A portion of proceeds benefits schools, KCJ Memorial, Growing Great and a few others in memory of Charlie Saikley. For more information or to register, visit www.mbbootcamp.com or call 310-836-9339 or 310-318-0280.
Fitness
AdventurePlex, 1701 Marine Street in Manhattan Beach, is hosting Open Ropes on Saturdays from noon-3 p.m. for kids and adults ages 8 and up. Participants will bond while solving problems and overcoming obstacles. Groups of seven start every hour and will take approximately 45 minutes to complete the course. Advance registration is recommended. Cost is $20.
Basketball
Early-bird deadline is Saturday to save $25 per child/per session for the HAX Summer Basketball Camps. Open to boys and girls ages 6-14, camps run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. beginning June 28. Four week-long sessions are available. Campers will be taught basic techniques & skills essential to basketball, including offensive and defensive skills, games and team play. Price is $249 per session (lunch available for $5/day). Half-day price is $149 (no lunch). 3203 Jack Northrop Ave., Hawthorne. Visit www.haxla.com or call 310-219-0600 for more information.
Redondo Union High School boys basketball coach Tom Maier will hold the 38th Annual Peninsula Basketball Camp at Palos Verdes High School. Open to boys and girls ages 6-14 camps run from July 26-30, Aug. 2-6 (boys only) and Aug. 9-13. Sessions are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and cost $225/camper. For more information, contact Maier, 310-377-0690 or visit peninsulasportscamps.com.
Dave Miller, former NBA/NCAA basketball coach hosts his MVP Summer Basketball Camps July 12-16 and Aug. 2-6. Open to boys and girls ages 5-14, each camp runs from 9 a.m. -3 p.m. daily in the state of art NBA training facility at the Spectrum Athletic Club South Bay. The camp focuses on fundamentals including offensive and defensive drills, sportsmanship and positive values that produce life skills on and off the court. Extended care will be available until 7 p.m. Past guest speakers include Derek Fisher (Lakers), Elton Brand (76ers), Paul Pierce (Celtics), Tyson Chandler (Hornets), Baron Davis (Clippers), Jannero Pargo (Lakers), Chris Kaman (Clippers) and Brian Scalabrini (Celtics). Registration is available online at www.mvpcamp.com or by calling 310-643-7978.
Sign-up deadline for the HAX Youth Basketball League is Friday, June 4. The six-week league is open to boys and girls in grades 2-8. Games are held from 5-8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning June 18. Team entries are accepted. Price is $99 per player. Visit www.haxla.com or call 310-219-0600 for more information, including details on the HAX Fall League beginning in September. ER