Celebrating its 20th year, Smackfest now rivals the Charlie Saikley 6-Man as the most popular local beach volleyball tournament of the summer.
With restrictions placed on the Saikley event in Manhattan Beach, which has been moved to mid-week and held in conjunction with the International Surf Festival, the smaller Smackfest tournament in Hermosa Beach features the same party atmosphere and costume-themed teams but in 4-person competition. It is billed as the largest co-ed 4’s tournament in the country.
This year’s Smackfest will be held on Saturday, July 27 and has a cap of 600 participants playing on 33 courts, down from 37 in 2012.
“Smackfest has grown in popularity due to one primary reason – it’s fun,” said organizer Bill Sigler, a former AAA player and owner of Smack Sportswear. “Sand, sun, friends, sports, music, fashion – how can that not be fun” Part of the success is attributed to keeping it a local event … the only promoting we do is via email and word of mouth. We cap the number of participants and offer a wonderful social experience that brings everyone together.”
Sigler credited much of the “experience” to the support of the City of Hermosa, and partners like Bud Light, Red Bull, Sharkeez, and obviously Smack Sportswear.
“Adding the Pro 4’s division last year was a huge success, allowing fans to watch legends like Mike Lambert, Holly McPeak and Jose Loiola play,” Sigler said.
The event benefits So Cal Foundation for Children (SCFC) which raises funds for scholarships, education, guidance and athletic opportunity to underprivileged youth.
Registration for Smackfest begins June 1. Check the Smackfest Facebook page for details.
Sigler will also be hosting the Smackfest Beach Olympics on Saturday, Sept. 14. When teams are done playing a volleyball game in their pool, they will then compete against another team in their pool in activities such as Frisbee football, Bocce ball, bat races, Cornhole, etc. The team from each pool with the highest combined score advances to the playoffs.
Beach Cities Indoor Volleyball Camps
Begins July 8 – Various locations
Weeklong camps for ages 7 to 18 offered throughout the Greater Los Angeles. Established in 2000, the mission statement of Beach Cities Volleyball is to “teach life skills and volleyball skills to young people.” BCVC teaches beginning, intermediate, and advanced players. Grouped by age and experience, players progress from station to station working on a specific skill and participate in spirited competition to practice newly acquired skills. Locations in Playa Vista, El Segundo, Manhattan, Torrance and Palos Verdes.
310-546-9150; BeachCitiesVBC.com
Beach Sports Volleyball Clinic
Monday, July 1 through Thursday, July 25 – 14th Street, Manhattan Beach
Founded 20 years ago by volleyball player and El Camino College Football coach John Featherstone. A four week instructional program for advanced (club), intermediate, and beginners, boys and girls, grades 3 to 9. Four weeks $350 or $90 per week. (310) 372-8555. BeachSports.com, FeatherVolleyball.com.
Team Elite Indoor VB training
Wednesdays, July 10 — August 28
With coaches Jose Loiola, King of the Beach, two time MB Open winner, Player of the Decade; Marcio Sicoli, coach to Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor, assistant coach at Pepperdine; Sydney Donahue, Mira Costa, Arizona State All-Time Leader in digs; Lars Hazen, Mira Costa, 24 years coaching
Sign up with Darron Forbes, daron@teamwave.net (310) 547-7486.
Neighborhood Four-man tournaments
16th-17th Street Hermosa Labor Day Weekend Tournament
The home courts to Hermosa’s top pro and almost pro volleyball players have hosted what may be the most competitive and lucrative (Calcutta) four-man tournament in the world for over five decades. Saturday, Sunday, Memorial Day Weekend.
Barry Bob Volleyball Tournament – July 13, 9th Street, Hermosa Beach
Former pro volleyball players Mike Walmer and Kevin Cleary host this annual 4-man tournament in honor of their dads Barry and Bob, who raised their boys to be beach volleyball players. By invitation only, but a fun opportunity to watch pro and former volleyball players mix it up with assorted volleyball wannabe’s from the ranks of pro basketball, football, baseball and hockey. BarryBob.com
45th Annual Seawright Volleyball Tournament – 28th Street, Hermosa Beach
Founded in 1968 by pioneer Hermosans Bonnie and Roy Seawright as a way of getting their kids and friends to come home after college. Four-man format, held in late July in front of the Old Seawright Strand home.
Volleyball tours
NVL West Coast Championships
Fri. – Sun., Aug. 16-18. Hermosa Beach. TheNVL.com
Manhattan Beach Open
Manhattan Beach pier. Aug. 23-25
California Beach Volleyball Association
Saturday, May 11, Men’s B at Rosecrans
Sunday, May 12 Fishbar Women’s A, ICaza Men’s Open Men at Rosecrans
Sunday, May 19, Women’s A, Men’s A at Manhattan Pier
Saturday, May 25, Women’s open, Men’s open, Men’s unrated at Hermosa Pier.
Sunday, May 26, Women’s A, Men’s B at Hermosa Pier.
June 15, Women’s A and Open, Men’s B, AA at Manhattan Pier
June 22 Women’s A, AA, Men’s B, AA Manhattan Pier
(CBVA.com)
Amateur Athletic Union
Local tournaments through the summer.
(AAUBeach.org).
