Best of the Beach 2022: Surfboard Shaper (underground), Youth Club Sports
Surfboard shaper (Underground)
Andy Prunauer
Andy Prunauer was given his first blank to shape when he was 15, by underground shaper Mario Ciari. Prunauer surfed with Ciari’s son on the South High surf team, coached by former pro Greg Browning. Prunauer credits Browning with insisting he spend as much time surfing as he did shaping, in the tradition of the early surfers who made their own boards.
Prunauer also credits shapers Jack Cerritos, Jeff Biggs, and Andy Hori for offering him advice and encouragement. By the time he was a senior at South he was making boards for his fellow team riders.
But Prunauer said his most important board building lessons came during his 10 years doing ding repairs for Scott Whitmer’s Whitstick Surfboard Repairs.
“If you can do ding repairs, you can build a board,” Prunauer said.
Prunauer shapes and glasses his Proper Surfboards in his factory in Torrance. Personally, he favors short, high performance fish for Redondo sand bars, and guns for his trips to Pasquales, Mexico. But he’s added longboards to his shaping and surfing skills.
@propersurfboards
Beach Cities Volleyball offers instruction and club play for kids 8 to 18 at the GalaxySoccer Center Volleyball Courts in Torrance. For details, call (310) 566-9150, or visit BeachCitiesVBC.com
Youth Club Sports
Beach Cities Volleyball Club
Few things personify beach life more than beach volleyball on the sand; thus the winner of this year’s Youth Club Sports honor goes to Beach Cities Volleyball Club. For youngsters 8 to 18, the BCVC hones skills through team practices, competitions, and clinics. Now in its 22 year, BCVC includes hundreds of players and several dozen teams. Five of those teams are listed in the Southern California Volleyball Association’s top 32.
The non-profit club’s focus is not on “commitment to winning” or calling their players “elite.” Instead, the club’s goal is to create very competitive teams and players who compete among the best in the nation.
“We work very hard to create an atmosphere wherein players at all levels of experience can become the best that they can be,” says Chip Schulte, club director.
The club is offering summer camps and clinics starting June 20 and continuing through August 19.
For tryouts and team openings, contact Cammayo at 310-382-0899. For entry level, contact Coach Phil, philspazek@gmail.com or (310) 889-6496. More information, visit beachcitiesvbc.com or call (310) 546-9150.
Beach Cities Volleyball Club
1021 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Suite M
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
beachcitiesvbc.com
Runner-up
Fram Soccer Club
1407 Crenshaw Blvd.
Torrance
(310) 418-3708
Framsoccer.com