Beach Shorts: The week in the sands of the world

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Clancy and Artacho will start their 2019 season competing in the Australian National Tour

Hello, beach volleyball fans! This has been quite a busy week, with the sad news of the early retirement of German Olympic and world champion Kira Walkenhorst. Beach volleyball, however, is starting t to get at full pace with National Tours starting in Australia and Chile and South American nations preparing for the first event of their Continental Tour.

Take a few minutes and get up-to-date on all that’s happening in the sands of the world!

Australians to kick off their season

The 2019 beach volleyball season starts early Down Under as the South Australian Open, the longest tournament running in the country and part of Australian National Tour, will take place this weekend at the Glenelg Beach. The top teams in the nation, including the 2018 World Tour Finals bronze medalists Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho, will compete for the medals.

So excited to get on the court this weekend! 😃 SA Open at Glenelg this Saturday and a Sunday.. See you at the beach! ☀️☀️

941 Likes, 14 Comments - Mariafe Artacho del Solar (@mariafe_beach1) on Instagram: "So excited to get on the court this weekend! 😃 SA Open at Glenelg this Saturday and a Sunday.. See..."

Brazilians selected for South American Tour opener

Reigning South American champions Brazil have nominated the teams that will represent the country in the first event of the 2019 Continental Tour, from January 18-20, in their home sands of São Francisco do Sul. The men’s teams of Thiago Barbosa/George Wanderley and Eduardo Davi/Adrielson dos Santos and the women’s tandems of Juliana Felisberta/Andressa Cavalcanti and Neide Sabino/Josi Alves were selected.

George Wanderley will represent Brazil on the South American Tour

Grimalt cousins start the year on top

Chile’s representatives in the World Tour, the Grimalt cousins Marco and Esteban confirmed the expectations and prevailed in the first event of their country’s National Tour, last weekend at the Parque Peñalolén. The women’s tournament was won by Francisca Rivas and Paula Vallejos.

Campeones de la primera etapa del Circuito Nacional @fevochi @indchile 🇨🇱🥇🏆 . Gracias a quienes nos acompañan y apoyan @gatoradechile @clinicameds @houseofmarleychile @reebokchile @uandresbello . . . #beach #beachvolley #beachvolleyball #voleyplaya #voleibolplaya #liganacional #nationalleague #chile #peñalolen #Sport #deporte #PrimosGrimalt #campeones #photography #photooftheday

972 Likes, 15 Comments - Primos Grimalt (@primos_grimalt) on Instagram: "Campeones de la primera etapa del Circuito Nacional @fevochi @indchile 🇨🇱🥇🏆 . Gracias a quienes nos..."

Social Media: Meet the 2019 Team Canada

Canadian players are reunited to make their first physical tests heading into the 2019 season and here's the official photo. Nice line-up, isn't it?

Team Canada 🇨🇦 2019! Let's make it a great one! #TeamCanada #toronto #OSaxman #Tokyo2020 #sexyteam @danifainer

302 Likes, 10 Comments - Grant O'Gorman (@instagrant1234) on Instagram: "Team Canada 🇨🇦 2019! Let's make it a great one! #TeamCanada #toronto #OSaxman #Tokyo2020 #sexyteam..."

In case you missed it

Kira Walkenhorst retires from beach volleyball

Laura Ludwig to pair with Maggie Kozuch

Julia Sude swaps Chantal Laboureur for Karla Borger

See you next week!