A look back at this unique Southern California event through the words and photos of someone who was there.
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By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Hermosa Beach Blogger
When I first moved to Hermosa Beach oh, let’s say several years ago, I took up beach volleyball. It was a great way to meet people – still is, in fact – and eventually people I played with told me we should get a team together for something called Smackfest.
I did not know what it was at the time but man, I learned first hand and I have been a fan of it ever since. I only played in it a couple of time but was there every year and even though I moved to San Diego, I still go back for it because it’s so much fun. Through the years I have seen it evolve from a fairly basic tournament to one now with DJs and major corporate sponsors. There is even a division for pro players and a couple of years the organizers put a runway on the beach and had a fashion show.
Because I have so many fond memories of Smackfest as well as photos, I have put them all together here in this series of articles I call PubClub Classics, which looks back at the tournament’s many years. It has moved from the north side of the Hermosa Beach Pier to its current location on the south side of the pier. Yet though all of its now 31 years – yeah, amazing – it has remained what it has always been: a unique event loved by locals and enjoyed by anyone who is lucky enough to know about it.
If You Like This Post You May Also Like:
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• Smackfest Surpasses 6-Man As Best South Bay Beach Volleyball Party
• Hermosa Beach Nightlife Now And Then
• A Look Back At The Heyday Of Manhatttan Beach 6-Man
Kevin Wilkerson is the founder of PubClub.com, an award-winning journalist and former South Bay resident who spent years living in Hermosa Beach and covering its nightlife scene. He has covered destinations, events and entertainment for more than two decades and received an Associated Press award for investigative journalism while working as a newspaper reporter. He has covered Smackfest for several years and played in it a couple of times.
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