And we mean new not because you’re new to it but because the sport itself is new.

Enter Tennis Beach USA, the new rage taking over the southland beaches since its introduction last year.

If Northern California has the upper hand on us on the entire mountain bike history and revolution, we Angelinos wouldn’t be outdone. All things beach related seem custom-made for us and Tennis Beach appears to be no exception.

Now, for the second year, Beach Tennis USA, the organization that launched the sport in North America last year, will kick off its 2006 National Tour during two different weekends in April: 8th and 9th in Santa Monica and 22nd and 23rd in Long Beach.

Besides the top ranked players dishing it out, you’ll also have available to the public what are labeled “Fun Divisions”. Meaning? You and I have a general category to enter and finally use that Windsor racket your uncle gave you eons ago. If you have none or your Windsor went the way of the Garage Sale, fret not: rackets, balls and instructors will be available to make your intro lesson a bit less awkward and painful.

How does Beach tennis work?

Beach tennis is played on a regulation beach volleyball court.  Using regulation tennis rackets, two players on each team try to hit a tennis ball back and forth, directly over the net, without letting it hit the sand. Only one hit per team is allowed on each volley and scoring is the same as in tennis: 15 – 30 – 40, with no-ad at deuce.  If a player’s serve hits the net and goes over, it counts—just as in beach volleyball.

OK, but now to the juicier details: how are you getting there and where to? Or perhaps you’re a total fan and want to plan to attend both weekends, in which case, the entire program follows.

Don’t forget, bring your shades, lots of water, a photo of Navratilova just to keep you aggressive and well, just dive into it… being sand, you may actually be literal about it…

Program, ticket information and website links follow below:


Move Over Beach Volleyball, Beach Tennis is Taking Over!
 
America’s Newest Sport Kicks Off 2006 with National Tour On California Sand: Santa Monica April 8 & 9; Long Beach April 22 & 23
 

WHAT: Beach Tennis USA, the organization that launched the sport of beach tennis in North America last year, will kick off its much-anticipated 2006 National Tour in April with two weekend events in Southern California.

There also will be a “Fun Division” for those who are more interested in learning a new sport while enjoying a fun day at the beach.  Tennis rackets and tennis balls will be provided and there is no fee to play.  Instruction will be provided all day. Beach tennis is played on a regulation beach volleyball court.  Using regulation tennis rackets, two players on each team try to hit a tennis ball back and forth, directly over the net, without letting it hit the sand. Only one hit per team is allowed on each volley and scoring is the same as in tennis: 15 – 30 – 40, with no-ad at deuce.  If a player’s serve hits the net and goes over, it counts—just as in beach volleyball.

WHEN: Santa Monica will host the tour’s first tournament, April 8-9, while Long Beach has been chosen as the site for Beach Tennis USA’s April 22-23 tournament.  Both California events will feature high-caliber play by local tennis pros as well as top-ranked players from last season’s tour.

HOURS: Sat April 7 Registration begins at 11 am. Open Play (public) begins at 12 pm. End time is 6pm. Sun April 8 Open Play begins at 11 am. Tournament Play begins at 1pm.  End time is 6pm.

WHO: The founders of Beach Tennis USA are Marc Altheim, a New York City real estate developer, and his uncle, Fredric Finkelstein, a New York marketing and advertising executive, and Sjoerd de Vries, of Aruba. They started the company with the ultimate goal of making beach tennis a mainstream American sport.

WHERE: Santa Monica Beach: South of Santa Monica Pier between Lifeguard stations 17 and 18. Directly across from Shutters on the Beach Hotel Resort (One Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405).

Long Beach: Belmont Shore, 1/2 block south of the Belmont Plaza Pool. On the beach, adjacent to the beach maintenance yard (4320 Olympic Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90803)

BACKGROUND:

Last year, Beach Tennis USA held tournaments and “learn and play” events in cities along the East Coast.  Through an aggressive grass-roots campaign, the company introduced beach tennis to people of all ages and skill levels as over 25,000 Americans played the sport between last May and September.  And the U.S. Beach Tennis Open Championship held last Labor Day weekend in Long Beach, NY, featured players from Virginia, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Aruba and Holland as well as New York City.

After the California events, Beach Tennis USA will head cross-country to Florida and then work its way up the East Coast.  In addition to pro level competition, events in each city along the tour will include teaching clinics for adults and children who want to learn how to play beach tennis.  For the tournaments, Beach Tennis USA will draw its talent pool from 2005’s top-ranked players as well as newly recruited pros in the cities that will host the tour events.

Players wishing to compete in either of Beach Tennis USA’s California weekend tournaments should contact James Russo at (212) 318-1828 or jrusso@beachtennisusa.net. 

For a full listing of events on the Beach Tennis USA 2006 National Tour, visit www.beachtennisusa.net.

About Beach Tennis USA

Based in New York City, Beach Tennis USA is committed to introducing Americans of all ages to the competitive excitement and recreational benefits of beach tennis. Company founders Marc Altheim and Fredric Finkelstein also established a governing body, the National Beach Tennis Association, in anticipation of the sport being played competitively throughout the U.S.  To learn more, visit www.beachtennisusa.net