AVP Hermosa Beach Open

Always a high school reunion. Good times :) People getting wild and crazy.

Totally did not plan for this event, heard May/​Walsh were matched up against Rogers/​Shaq, so we made our way over.
Of course we got there and the event was SOLD OUT. Tix were available for the exhibition match, but $ 100, um, yeah, no thanks. Hung out on the pier peering through the stands and within a minute I was BORED.
Time for lunch!!!
Our meal faced Hermosa Hotel where Shaq was staying. I looked up from my food and Shaq passed by, along with a massive crowd. So we motivated to stick around again.
Bopped around some of the sponsors, you know free stuff, coupons, I got my fill of Coffee Bean samples. A line started forming and we chuckled to ourselves, b/​c people were going to wait forever and be disappointed. Within 20 minutes, the line started moving at a rapid pace and we jumped in, got in the event for FREE and got to view:
–Bruins Vs. Trojans Alumni, Bruins won.
–Shaq/​Rogers Vs. May/​Walsh, um, the gals won of course.
Found out they were filming for his reality show Shaq Vs, so everyone got their ‘five minutes’. Ha.
Anyway, been to a few stops of the tour over the years and it’s always a great time. The booths are fun and free. The athletes are super human.

It’s that time of year again!
AVP Tour ’09 has landed in Hermosa Beach, by the Pier.
The action continues for 4 days, today (Thursday) thru Sunday.
Qualifying matches were in progress this morning.
Parking will be challenging for this popular event, but worth the struggle.
Women’s finals are at 1:30pm on Saturday the 8^th, men’s finals are at 1:30pm on Sunday the 9^th, and here’s what it costs:
Buy tickets online at
Arrive early, it will be very crowded.
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Friday ⁸⁄₇:
I was there all morning, came home to charge my camera, then I’m goin’ back! What fun!
There are free food samples, like M & M ice cream bars, and there are huge barbecues set up in the sand where all kinds of good stuff is cookin’…
All the action is on Hermosa Beach this weekend!

Awshm way to spend a day at the pier, whether you live there or not. Not even including the cool atmosphere surrounding the court/​vendor area and the people that pack the beach that day, the event itself is executed tremendously well (I’m a producer — sorta — and from that end you’ll appreciate how well it’s pulled off). It’s fun for the family, easy on the eyes, and adds up to a great day on the beach if you manage to find parking in Hermosa.

AVP … having been in the south bay for a long time, watching it grow has been quite interesting.
Original events people would bring their beach chairs, sit in the sand, and watch some great games. The women would come to watch the guys play, the men would watch the women. Now more like the circus coming to town.
Can only give it 4 stars, as I like the venue in Manhattan Beach better … sorry.

This is a great event and makes for a fun weekend. What’s not to like? You spend the day lying out in the sun watching pro beach volleyball athletes compete, you get a lot of fun freebie stuff at the tents and everyone has a good time at the local hangouts in the evenings after the games. It’s best to stay at or near the beach and walk or bike to the strand.

I love coming to the AVP in Hermosa. It is not just about watching the games but it is a festival too.
This years event is 05/​18/​2007 — 05/​20/​2007.
One time I was in the bathroom just north of the pier and there were 4 of the players in there… man are they tall.
For more info or to purchase tickets click here:

1 of 2 premier tournaments in the south bay, the avp weekend is out of control.