Beach Cities Sports: Aquatics, cycling, football, running, volleyball and more
USA women’s water polo head coach Adam Krikorian. Photo courtesy of Michael Larsen
Aquatics: Manhattan Beach resident and 2012 Olympic Women’s Water Polo Gold Medal Coach Adam Krikorian will be the featured speaker at a casual gathering of water polo enthusiasts on Friday, April 12 from 6-9 p.m. Also slated to speak on how to play water polo in college or for Team USA will be Natalie Benson, two-time Olympic medalist and three-time National Champion along with current and former members of the U.S. Olympic water polo teams. Pre-sold tickets are $60 (adults 21 and over) and $30 (young adults 13-20). Add $15 at the door. Mexican food, beer, wine and soft drinks are included in the ticket price. For more information, contact Ron Giery, beachcitieswp@gmail.com, 310-345-1068 or Kris Raney, krisraney2000@aol.com, 310-725-2243.
As a fundraiser, Redondo High School Aquatics is offering its annual Junior Lifeguard test prep classes beginning April 22. Sessions will run April 22 – May 2, and May 6 – May 16. There are six one-hour classes in each session. For information, e-mail coach Mark Rubke at mrubke@rbusd.org.
Registration is now open for the 2013 Dwight Crum Pier to Pier Swim. The swim will be held on Sunday, Aug. 4. Registration for the swim may be done online at surffestival.org or through the Active.com link. Additional race information is available on the website or by following on twitter @pier2pier_swim.
Running: Registration is ongoing for the Hermosa Beach 5,000 which will take place Saturday, April 20. Events begin at 7:30 a.m. with what Race Director Jeff Atkinson dubs the world’s only Skateboard 5K. Riders will receive skate T-shirts, commemorative bracelets and finisher’s medals. The Baby Jogger 5K ensues immediately after the Skateboard 5K, followed by the Men’s 5K, the Women’s 5K, the City Walk and concluding with the Kid’s Races (ages 2-12). Entry fees are $35 for the 5K run/walk; $25 for the Skateboard 5K and Kid’s Races (add $5 after April 1). Unique awards will be given to the top five in all 50 age divisions. All participants receive the collector’s 7th edition T-shirt and bracelet. All kids receive participant medals. For more information or to register, visit HB5000.com.
Volleyball: The Amateur Athletic Union’s (AAU) Southern Pacific Beach Volleyball Circuit opens its season with the Spring Classic tournament to be held Sunday at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Competition begins at 9 a.m. and features boys 18U/16U/14U/12U and girls 18U/16U/14U/10U divisions. Open to AAU members, the cost of the tournament in $63.99 per player. The tournament is also a qualifying event for the West Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games held in Hermosa Beach July 27-30. For more information, visit aaubeach.org or contact Gino Grajeda, spvcvolleyball@hotmail.com.
The California Beach Volleyball Association will be holding Campsurf.com Men’s and Women’s A tournaments Saturday, April 13 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Hermosa Beach Pier. Cost is $42.50 per team. For more information, contact Chris Brown, 310-766-7234 or visit cbva.com.
Flag Football: Co-ed Flag Football on the Beach returns to 10th Street and The Strand in Hermosa Beach when its Thursday league kicks off April 25. Alternating guy and girls quarterbacks, teams play two 20-minute halves beginning at 6:30 p.m. each week. The 7-week season is followed by two weeks of playoffs. Cost is $265 per team for City Registration and must be made at the Community Center, 710 Pier Ave. in Hermosa Beach prior to the first day of the league. Individuals may be placed on a team for registration. Online registration is available at hermosabch.org. For more information, contact Chris, cyj@prankmonkey.org, 310-877-3148 or Anna, anna@prankmonkey.org.
Cycling: The South Bay Wheelmen hosts a group ride on the first Saturday of every month. Cyclists meet in the parking lot of the Catalina Coffee Company, 126 N. Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach. The moderately-paced ride is 30-40 miles with some climbing and regroups at several points so no one gets left behind. The Wheelmen also hosts the Baxter Time Trial Series of bicycle races that began this week and will continue each Sunday through Sept. 29 on a course in Carson. Men and women divisions compete in several age groups where racers are awarded points for placing and winners are announced at the end of the series. For more information, visit southbaywheelmen.org.
Surfing: The South Bay Boardriders Club has two meets remaining in its South Bay Surf Series. Open to non-club members, contests are slated for Saturday, April 13 at El Porto and Saturday, May 11 at the Manhattan Beach Pier. For more information, visit southbayboardriders.com.