Beach Cities Sports: Paddleboarding, running, volleyball and more
Paddleboarding: The inaugural South Bay Paddleboard Race will be held Saturday June 9 at, starting at 7 a.m. At the Hermosa Beach pier (pending city approval). The course goes south to Torrance Beach, then out to the R10 Buoy and back to the Hermosa Pier, for a distance of 15 miles. This is a “hands only” qualifier for the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race. Stock (12-foot and under) and unlimited prone boards only. Divisions: Groms (under 18), Open Men, Open Women, Legends (50-plus). PaddleGuru.com/races/TheSouthBayPaddle.
Also June 9 at the Hermosa Pier, Open Prone Paddle and the South Bay Boardriders Club have organized a “short” course race to start after the South Bay Paddle. Open Prone Paddle is a new organization formed to encourage young paddlers. SouthBayBoardrider.com.
Registration is open for the Catalina Classic and Rock 2 Rock paddleboard races, which departs from Catalina Island. Entry deadline for both is May 31 and available at RaceHubHq.com. The Rock 2 Rock race (solo and relay, prone and stand-up paddlers) will be held Sunday, June 24 finishing at Cabrillo State Beach. Rock 2 Rock is a qualifying race for the Catalina Classic, which takes place Sunday, Aug. 23, ending at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Only solo, prone paddlers are allowed in the Classic. For more visit CatalinaClassicPaddleBoardRace.org.
Volleyball: Pro beach volleyball stars April Ross and Alix Klineman will host a workshop at VIBE Volleyball Lab, 110 Eucalyptus Dr. in El Segundo, on Saturday, June 2 (14 & Under 11:30 a.m-1 p.m.; 18 & Under 1-2:30 p.m.). Clinic includes 90 minute workshop, Q&A with photo opportunity, swag bag and silent auction/raffle. Cost is $125 but space is limited. For more information, visit vibevolleyballlab.com.
Triathlon: The 14th Annual Redondo Beach Triathlon will take place Sunday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Veterans Park. Benefitting Cheer For Children, the 1/2-mile ocean swim, 6-mile bike and 2-mile is a USAT sanctioned event and includes a non-competitive (half the distance) mini sprint for adults and kids 10 and older. Commemorative awards to the top three individuals and top two relay teams in each division. Entry fees are $80 (sprint race 13-19 and 65 and older), $95 (ages 20-64), 130 (sprint relay), $75 (mini sprint) and $100 (mini sprint relay). Add $5 after May 31. For more information visit rbtri.com.
Beach Volleyball: The AAU California Regional Championships will be held Sunday, June 10 at the Hermosa Beach Pier. Competition includes Boys 14U and Girls 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U divisions. For more information, visit aaubeach.org.
Bringing the top college and high school female beach volleyball players together for stiff competition, the 3rd annual E Invitational takes places Friday and Saturday, June 15-16 in Hermosa Beach. One college and one high school player from a field of 32 and 48 players, respectively, will win gold in the event hosted by Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Eric Fonoimoana. For more information, visit einvitational.com.
Running: Registration is ongoing for the 25th Annual Village Runner 4th of July 5K and Firecracker Dash for kids. The 5K race begins at 8 a.m. and features T-shirts, chip timing, age division awards and cash prizes to the top three overall male and female runners. Fees are $35 for the 5K and $25 for the Firecracker Dash (add $5 after June 5). Registration available online (villagerunner.com) or at Village Runner stores: 1811 S. Catalina Ave., Redondo Beach; 1840 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach.
Basketball: Dave Miller, Emmy Award winning NBA analyst, will be hosting his 21st annual MVPCamp.com summer basketball camps at Aviation Sports Complex in Redondo Beach. Session I will be held July 9-13 (coed), Session II July 16-20 (girls only) and Session III July 30-Aug. 3 (coed). Camps will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and open to boys and girls ages 5 to 14. Brochures available by calling 424-200-0697 or print an application form from the website mvpcamp.com.
Baseball: The Prospects Travel Baseball team will holding tryouts for its 9-14 Under teams at 4 p.m. at the Beach City Baseball Academy, 430 E. Grand, El Segundo (July 8) and at 5417 Halison St., Torrance (June 10). Visit beachcitybaseballacademy.com to register.
Beach City Baseball & Softball Academy will offer four weeks of camps during July and August. Open to boys and girls ages 5-12, the baseball and softball camps will focus on drills that will improve fundamentals of: hitting, outfield, infield, base running, sliding, and more. The West Torrance Camp (5417 Halison St., Torrance) runs from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. July 9 – 13 and July 30 – Aug. 3. The El Segundo Camp (430 E. Grand Ave., El Segundo) will be held July 16 – 20 and Aug. 13 – 17. To register, visit tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations.
Swimming: The inaugural Redondo Beach Open Water Swim will take place at 8 a.m. on Sunday, July 15 at Miramar Park, 201 Paseo De La Playa. 1-mile ($40) and 1/2-mile ($30) swims (add $10 after June 30). The event is an official qualifying swim for the International Surf Festival Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier swim. Finishers receive a T-shirt. Awards will be given to the top 5 overall and top 3 in each age group. To register, visit active.com/redondo-beach-ca/water-sports.
Physical Fitness: GI Joe Charles will be holding his Beach Boot Camp through June 22. Camps begin at 6 and 8 a.m. and 5 and 6 p.m. Contact mbbootcamp.com for more information. A YouCaring.com page has been set up for Charles, who suffered a stroke two years ago that paralyzed him on his left side. He can now walk unassisted. But he still needs financial assistance for speech therapy and other needs. Make a donation at YouCaring.com/helpjoecharles. Checks can be made out to Joe Charles II Special Needs Trust may be sent to Box 3842, Manhattan Beach, Ca. 90266. For more information about how to help, email HelpJoeCharles@gmail.com.