Beach Volleyball In Costumes In A Big California Bash
Here is PubClub.com’s review of the 2009 6-man, when there were hundreds of teams, thousands of spectators and it was still a party.
The best beach party in L.A. – rivaled only in Southern California by the Over-the-Line in San Diego, is the annual Manhattan Beach Charlie Saikley 6-man beach volleyball tournament during the International Surf Festival, or Surfest.
Also known as the 6-man because the focal point is a 6-person volleyball tournament featuring men’s and women’s teams in costumes (think Halloween on the sand) it’s an all-day party the first weekend of August.
It’s an amazing event, and not because of the tens of thousands of people that jam the beach. It’s not even the team tents, which host the teams and their friends (and unwelcome guests, who try and raid the coolers. That’s bad Surfest style).
It’s the level of play among the top teams that is fascinating. It’s hard to notice on Saturday but not on Sunday. Added to this is the entertainment those teams bring to the sand. Team Magnum plays that familiar TV theme song from a boom box and massive speakers and the non-stop antics of the Man on the Microphone, J.T.
In 2009, Team Magnum of Smack Sportswear successfully defended its title. It defeated Danny Kinda (which won the recent 6-man demon at the Manhattan Open AVP). Magnum is organized by Bill Sigler of Smack Sportswear and supported by local lounge Blue 32. Needless to say the victory party at Blue 32 was quite the affair.
Thousands lined the pier and Court 5 to watch the final game and they were treated to outstanding beach volleyball, the Sweet Caroline team tradition, the Magnum PI theme song and, of course, JT.
And while Sunday is definitely fun, the event’s main attraction is Saturday.
That is when the beach is packed with teams and spectators – estimates vary from 10,000-50,000 – all having a good time. The sand was so crowded on Saturday it was nearly impossible to move along the tents on the shore side.
So many people wisely decided to enjoy the spin wheel and dancing. On the other side, girls entertained guys – and other girls – with a stripper pole.
The organizers and Manhattan Beach Police let everyone do their thing and as a result, people respected their right to party.
In fact this could well have been the best Surfest/6-man of all time. There was so much to see, it was nearly impossible to be everywhere.
And wherever people were at any given time, they were having a great time.
After all, it’s just a few thousand responsible adults having a little fun under the California sun.
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