Good afternoon, beach volleyball fans,
And greetings from my new home: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA!
Yep, I'm finally in town, showing face in my new home for a week before heading back, packing up the U-Haul and driving West, nearly nine years to the day after making that very drive in reverse.
It's been a good nine years. Beyond anything I could have expected. Reflections aplenty will be coming on this chapter of my life, and I reflected a touch as my professional playing career came to an end at this past week's Hermosa Open. I took a fifth with Andy Benesh, one of my best buds, and I still cannot lift my arm above my head or walk properly -- all pains well worth it. Couldn't have had a better finish, here at home.
Meanwhile, Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes won a DOUBLE-FINAL, which was awesome, over Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft, and Miles Evans finally got his long-elusive, pesky win on American soil with Chase Budinger, beating the Italian-USA combo of Miles Partain and Alex Ranghieri. It was a wonderful event, even if the crowds left much to be desired. A major thanks goes to Mark Paaluhi, who put it all together without taking a single dime.
A true gentleman, that Pa'a. Putting in full-time work hours for nothing but the love of the game.
Meanwhile, Brooke Niles and Nick Lucena continue coaching Florida State's beach volleyball for their endless love of the 'Noles, in spite of the football team's current depressive state. We hope to right the ship in the Spring.
The week in SANDCAST Studios
This week's podcast featured the full (and new) Florida State coaching Staff: Brooke Niles, Nick Lucena, and Yours Truly. It is the longest episode to date, but don't let the length intimidate you; there is much mirth with Lucena's humor, insight from Brooke, and the answer to everyone's question: How did I end up rocking Florida State gear and moving my family South?
FUN NEWS! SANDCAST and Volleyball TV are partnering up. By the end of the year, the Road to Paris will feature highlights and clips from Volleyball TV to complement the coverage. Better yet: You can get 20 percent off your VBTV subscription if you use the code SANDCAST20.
News Around the Beach
- The much-anticipated AVP League is here. This is the schedule, which begins this weekend at the UCLA Tennis Center. The teams have been announced on the AVP's Instagram account and I continue to be impressed with the McKibbin Brothers' graphic-making abilities. I think they've absolutely crushed it from a content perspective this season. I'm going to record a League preview from Tallahassee, so let me know what questions you have or want answered and I'll do my best.
- SANDCAST memberships are live. We've opened up memberships for anyone who wants to watch full podcast episodes on YouTube a day or two early. You can already watch this week's with Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner, the Manhattan Open champs who deliver an incredibly candid interview with Tri Bourne.
- Coming up on Wednesday we've got Trevor and Theo, the funniest duo there ever was. I want them to remain old and senile and married forever.
If you enjoy the podcast or this newsletter -- or both! -- we'd love it if you could share it out! Word of mouth is the best way we grow, so share the love, and as always, let us know any content you'd like to see more of (or less of) and we'll make it happen!
Much Love to the sponsors
We're officially partnered with Better at Beach! Don't know how this took so long, seeing the massive overlap between our audiences. So if you want to get Better at Beach, use our code SANDCAST for 10 percent off all of their products, from online classes to in-person camps and more.
We've been with Wilson Volleyball since day one, and we love the products they make -- the best ball on the market, hands down, no questions asked. With season coming up, if you're looking to get some new equipment, use our discount code: SANDCAST63 for 20 PERCENT OFF.
Introducing Balltime, the AI platform making breaking down film and statistics EASY (FINALLY!). Use our link for a discount and give it a try!
Need to get hydrated? Waiakea has all kinds of fantastic deals online, and good news for you (and us), you can get 20 PERCENT OFF using our discount code, Sandcast, at checkout. Aloha, y'all.
SANDCAST is fueled by a lovely mix of three main ingredients: We LOVE to do it, people enjoy listening to it, and sponsors fund our ability to do so. We only partner with sponsors we love, and we are so fired up to have Athletic Greens join the show! And they're hooking up our listeners with a full year of Vitamin D for FREE, as well as five totally FREE travel packs!
Appreciate y'all for listening, reading, and loving the beach like we do.
Have a great week!
SHOOTS!
Tri and Travis (and Savvy)
