29th Annual Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament in Seaside, Oregon: August 13th-15th, 2010

Seaside, Oregon is always a popular spot for Washington and Oregon residents looking to get away for a few days. But come the second full weekend of August (the 13^th-15th) the beach will be especially full and abuzz with excitement, as Seaside hosts the 29^th annual Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament. Last year the amateur tournament, which is the largest in the world of its kind, attracted over 740 teams that played on over ninety courts. The tournament attracts players of all skill levels, ranging from those that play in the novice division, to the best players that the northwest has to offer, plus some that travel from quite farther away to compete in the "Open" division.

For the second consecutive year players from the AVP Tour will be allowed to compete at the Seaside event. The AVP is the country's premier professional volleyball association, which coordinates the tournaments that the United States' best players compete in. The men and women that represent the country internationally at the Olympics and other events compete all summer long at AVP events. However, a previous rift between AVP officials and the directors of the Seaside tournament led the AVP to blacklist the Seaside tournament- regular contracted AVP players were not allowed to participate in the amateur event. However, the blacklisting ended last year when the directors of the Seaside tournament changed. That means for the second year in a row fans and players can expect an even higher level of competition, and a chance to watch some of the best players from across the US compete. While the tournament is too far removed from the beach volleyball hot spots in California and prize money slightly too low to attract the highest level players, a handful of the top 50 men and women are expected to compete at Seaside.

Every year thousands of fans flood the beach to watch the competition. Add the fans to the hundreds of teams in the event, and Seaside is a crowded place for the weekend. The Seaside Chamber of Commerce recommends that you make accommodation arrangements early, as hotels, motels and houses are often fully booked well before the weekend. Men's, women's and coed competition takes place on Friday and Saturday, and all divisions of quads compete on Sunday. Visit the Seaside Chamber of Commerce website at www.seasidebeachvolleyball.com for more information and details about registration or sponsoring the event. The event is free for spectators, so those not interested in playing, slip on your sandals, grab a blanket or chair, and head to the beach!