Beach Shorts: The week in the sands of the world

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Doppler and Horst are the favorites in the Austrian Championship

Hello, beach volleyball fans! The international season couldn’t have ended in greater style with the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Finals Hamburg 2018 presented by Vodafone last weekend, but the game never stops and a new one kicks off this week with a one-star event in Siofok, Hungary. There’s a lot more going on around the globe and, as the top players, we never stop.

So here is all you need to know in the first week of the new season:

National Tours at full pace

With the end of the international season, National Tour come back to focus with several of them taking place around Europe. Some of them, as Austrian tournament in Litzlberg, the Dutch competition in the Hague and the Russian event in Anapa, will crown the season champions. For the Swiss Tour, which will have an event in Rorschach, there will be another one to follow.

It's a weird feeling to win a game and be disappointed straight after. Won a hard fought battle against the @beachvolleyvikings but due to point ratio we're still out of the tournament. Next up the Dutch Championships to finish the 2018 season. 💪🏼 * * * #HamburgFinals #RedBull #Plantina #DELA #Rabobank #BeachVolleybal #BeachVolleyball

992 Likes, 9 Comments - Robert Meeuwsen (@romeeuwsen) on Instagram: "It's a weird feeling to win a game and be disappointed straight after. Won a hard fought battle..."

Americans battle for NORCECA spot

A sort of American beach volleyball championship happened in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday, with most of the country’s top teams battling for spots in the NORCECA event in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic on October 4-7. The teams of Kerri Walsh/Kelly Claes (yes, you read it right – see more below) and Ryan Doherty/Billy Allen came out on top.

USAV Beach on Twitter

Women's NORCECA Qualifier: 3rd Round Fendrick/Sponcil def A Ross/Klineman, 21-18, 21-18 Walsh Jennings/Claes def Larsen/Stockman, 21-19, 16-21, 15-12 Final: Walsh Jennings/Claes def Fendrick/Sponcil, 21-14, 16-21, 15-13 3rd: Larsen/Stockman def Ross/Klineman, 21-18, 21-17

USAV Beach on Twitter

Men's NORCECA Qualifier: Round 3 Ta Crabb/J Gibb def J Casebeer/R Priddy, 21-14, 18-21, 15-9 R Doherty/B Allen def A Drost/E Zaun, 21-14, 21-17 Men's Final: R Doherty/B Allen win by default over Ta Crabb/J Gibb Men's 3rd: A Drost/E Zaun def J Casebeer/R Priddy, 21-14, 21-18

Smedins sidelined for three months

Latvian star Janis Smedins had a tough start of the off-season as the lefty was involved in a biking accident and had to undergo surgery on his right shoulder. The Olympic medalists should be back in three months. Have a good recovery, Janis!

Janis fell from bike in a recent workout and injured his right shoulder. He already underwent surgery today and is expected to return to action after three months of rehab. Due to this injury team Janis Smedins - Aleksandrs Samoilovs will not play in King of the Court and p1440 tournaments and FIVB Beach World Tour events in China and Las Vegas. There is a possibility that during the absence of Janis his long time teammate Aleksandrs Samoilovs will play in King of the Court and p1440 tournaments with a different partner. For more information contact Samoilovs/Smedins manager Edgars Buls (29438589, eb23@eb23.lv). Get well soon, Janis!

1,185 Likes, 57 Comments - Samoilovs Smedins (@samoilovssmedins) on Instagram: "Janis fell from bike in a recent workout and injured his right shoulder. He already underwent..."

Social Media: Elize Maia is on fire

With such a short break, several players are already preparing for the next season and Brazilian blocker Elize Maia is one of them. And she seems to be, well, determined.

Bora começar mais uma semana com tudo!! 👊👊👊 #foco #trabalhaeconfia #preparacao #voleidepraia #vidadeatleta #fab #comissaodedesportosdaaeronautica #fabiolamolinastore #meltfit

172 Likes, 11 Comments - Elize Maia (@elizemaia) on Instagram: "Bora começar mais uma semana com tudo!! 👊👊👊 #foco #trabalhaeconfia #preparacao #voleidepraia..."

 In case you missed it

Kerri Walsh pairs with Kelly Claes for NORCECA qualifier

Kristýna Kolocová announces retirement

International stars looking forward to Hamburg World Championships

See you next week!