Beach Shorts: The week in the sands of the world

• Facebook
• Twitter

Czech veteran Martina Bonnerova returns to Langwaki, where she won the silver medal last year (Photocredit: FIVB)

Another Friday is here and we’re glad you’re back to join us for another edition of Beach Shorts, our weekly column that brings to you everything that is going on in the beach volleyball world. For this week, we share with you information about tournaments happening in Malaysia and Cuba and an exciting duel that took place in California this past week.

Enjoy!

World Tour lands in Malaysia

For just the second time, the beach volleyball World Tour is in Malaysia. Composed of 104 islands, the archipelago of Langkawi, in the northwestern portion of the country, is hosting a one-star tournament until Sunday. South African veteran Freedom Chiya, an Olympian from London 2012, leads the field in the men’s tournament with Czech Republic’s Martina Bonnerova, who won the silver medal on last year’s edition, being one of the most experienced players among the women.

The archipelago of Langwaki hosts a World Tour stop for the second straight year (Photocredit: FIVB)

NORCECA Tour heads to Cuba

After back-to-back tournaments in Mexico in the last couple of weeks, the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Tour heads this weekend to Cuba. The city of Varaderos will host the third of seven stops and the local duo of Nivaldo Díaz and Sergio Gonzalez, which won nine of the 14 continental events they played at, is the favorite to prevail in the men’s tournament.

Cubans Nivaldo Díaz and Sergio Gonzalez have been a force on NORCECA tournaments (Photocredit: FIVB)

Beach Volleyball-Basketball challenge in California

Hermosa Beach, in California, is home for some of the most relevant beach volleyball teams in the world, but last Sunday a match there drew a lot of attention from the fans. American players Casey Patterson, Stafford Slick, Maddison and Riley McKibbin, Sean Rosenthal and his partner Chase Budinger were joined by former NBA players Luke Walton, who currently coaches the Los Angeles Lakers, and Richard Jefferson for a four-man exhibition match. Patterson, Slick, Budinger and Jefferson won the challenge.

@lakers Luke Walton showing some finesse stroking a cuttie to win an epic rally AND save the match in our 4-Man 🏖🏐Battle Royale yesterday. Thank you again everyone who helped us put this together and even bigger shoutout to everyone who came down to watch us knuckleheads sideout! #themckibbinbrothers #beachvolley #beachvolleyball @staffordslick @caseypatt @seanrosenthal @mmckibbi @riley_mack4 @budinger10 @alexanderbaik @geeter3

1,118 Likes, 35 Comments - The McKibbin Brothers (@mckibbin_brothers) on Instagram: "@lakers Luke Walton showing some finesse stroking a cuttie to win an epic rally AND save the match..."

Social Media: A blocking class with Ricardo Santos

If you are a young beach volleyball player who aspires to be a great blocker in the future, please pay close attention to this. At the age of 43, Brazilian legend Ricardo Santos is still active and his skills at the net seem to defy time. Look at what he did in a regional tournament in Florida, where he lives, a few days ago.

Essa eu já estava até com saudade de fazer ....👀😬🏐 #beach #beachvolleyball #voleidepraia #volleyball #volley #siestakey #florida @piotrmarciniak_probeachvolley @volleyamerica @sofruitty @usavbeach @chaimer @cbvolei @volei_praia @fivbvolleyball @avpbeach @dtb_series @rsantasofia8 @alexandre_karina @evpvolleyball @melhordovolei @beachmajorseries @beachvolleyballworld

1,010 Likes, 91 Comments - Ricardo Santos (@ricardobeach1) on Instagram: "Essa eu já estava até com saudade de fazer ....👀😬🏐 #beach #beachvolleyball #voleidepraia..."

In case you missed it

Here are the most important beach volleyball news of the week:

Kira Walkenhorst may return to the beach sooner than you thought

Maria Clara Salgado is back on the World Tour

World champs play for local glory in Brazil

See you, same time, same place, next week!