The 2024 Hermosa Seaside Open sent a Particular style of magic, blending environment-course athleticism While using the down-to-earth spirit that defines the beach volleyball Local community. Held September four–seven near the Hermosa Seaside Pier, this 12 months’s Event wasn’t just a cease to the aggressive circuit—it was a celebration in the sport’s origins, that includes Olympians competing shoulder to shoulder with soaring stars and native heroes inside a admirer-helpful, no-frills ecosystem.
The event had no stadium seating or flashy enthusiast zones. Alternatively, spectators collected round the courts, standing during the sand and sitting down on Beach front towels since they cheered on elite athletes from just toes absent. Structured with grassroots guidance and backed by sponsors like Wedbush Securities, the Event returned to your purer Model of the sport, wherever Local community, Level of competition, and relationship had been the main focus.
About the Girls’s aspect, Olympians Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes reminded Everybody why they’re regarded as among the best in the world. In a extraordinary all-USC closing, Cheng and Hughes dropped the primary set to Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft before roaring again to acquire the next two. The selecting set came all the way down to the wire, with Cheng and Hughes edging out a 20–eighteen acquire within a thrilling complete. The victory marked a triumphant minute in their write-up-Olympic campaign and underscored their dominance heading into the next AVP and Global activities.
The men’s closing featured A further Olympic-caliber clash. Former NBA ahead turned beach volleyball standout Chase Budinger teamed up with Olympic veteran Miles Evans to facial area off in opposition to Miles Partain and Alex Ranghieri. Budinger and Evans proved too highly effective, winning in straight sets, 21–fourteen and 21–seventeen. Budinger’s physicality at The web and Evans’ sharp instincts produced them the unstoppable duo with the weekend.
Across four times of Engage in, 130 groups competed in a double-elimination format that retained followers on their own toes and athletes grinding through extended, Solar-soaked times. The tournament also involved a juniors division, which introduced in a huge selection of younger gamers desperate to find out, compete, and share the sand While using the pros. It was a exceptional option for youth athletes to become Section of An important volleyball party along with a useful recruiting minute for faculty courses in attendance.
An entire photo gallery captured the essence from the tournament—from large-flying spikes and gritty digs to peaceful moments of target and laughter amid teammates. These illustrations or photos, commonly shared on line, served showcase the natural beauty and intimacy of the Activity in its most reliable placing.
With its results, the Hermosa Seashore Open has sparked conversation about its long term. City leaders are Checking out a product just like Manhattan Seaside, in which the municipality could consider a larger job in web hosting the Match per year. There’s also An even bigger intention in sight: Hermosa is actively positioning by itself to become a Sodo66 selected teaching internet site to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 2024 Hermosa Beach front Open was much more than simply a Match. It was a press release—proof that even within an era of massive contracts and world wide broadcasts, Seaside volleyball’s coronary heart even now beats strongest inside the sand, surrounded by community.