News
April 28, 2010
CORONA LIGHT WIDE OPEN TO REINSTATE TRADITIONAL BEACH RULES
Side-out Scoring, Larger Court to be in Play at All Nine Events This Summer
April 28, 2010 --- In a move designed to celebrate the rich traditions of beach volleyball, Karch Kiraly, Chief Volleyball Officer of the 2010 Corona Light Wide Open, has announced the nine-city nationwide tour will reinstate traditional beach rules, including side-out scoring, when the tour of beach volleyball festivals is held across this country this summer.
The return to the origins of beach volleyball will be in effect when the Corona Light Wide Open opens May 15 and 16 at South Beach Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and will be in effect at the eight others dates including Galveston, Texas (May 22-23), Siesta Key, Fla. (June 19-20), Huntington Beach, Calif. (June 26-27), Santa Cruz, Calif. (July 10-11), Chicago, Ill. (July 31-Aug. 1), Long Island, N.Y. (Aug. 7-8), Breckenridge, Colo. (Aug. 14-15) and Pt. Pleasant, N. J. (Aug. 21-22).
Three primary changes will be implemented for the 2010 Corona Light Wide Open, including side-out scoring, a return to the original court size of 30 feet by 60 feet and the removal of boundary antennas. The rules will be applied for all professionals competing in the Open divisions and the amateurs who will be playing in the various grassroots divisions.
“We tested a modified scoring system last year at the Corona Light Wide Open and once we were able to communicate the change to the players, the overall response to the scoring was well received,” Kiraly said. “We feel strongly beach volleyball needs a return to the lifestyle vibe that is the foundation of the sport. Somewhere along the way we lost track of what the legends of the sport had in mind when they started playing on the beaches of Southern California. I was fortunate enough to share in that experience and I hope we can bring it to today’s players and fans.”
Winners in up to eight two-person divisions at each of the nine Corona Light Wide Open stops will earn an automatic berth into the US Open of Beach Volleyball, which will be held September 17 – 19 in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Players in the men’s and women’s Open divisions will compete for a total prize purse of $5,000. Winning teams who earn an automatic berth into the US Open will receive a prize package that includes airfare and hotel accommodations at the US Open this September.
“The beach idols of the early days – guys like Jim Menges, Steve Obradovich and Chris Marlowe -- were incredibly charismatic and passionate about what they did. They were doing what they loved to do, living their dreams and were the opposite of the cookie-cutter pro athlete,” Kiraly added. “The Corona Light Wide Open is out to bring that vibe back. That magnetism, which is such a rich part of our history, along with the fun of playing the game and getting better every day is what will hook people on beach volleyball. It drew me to the sport and hooked me for life.”
A big part of the Corona Light Wide Open experience is the collection of non-volleyball beach activities that will be featured at each of the nine stops. Planned events include The Oakley Bump, Set, Strike-a-Pose Fashion Show, a stand-up paddle professional surfing exhibition and demonstration from Surftech and a variety of interactive beach games and activities. Center Court Mania will reign once again at the 2010 Corona Light Wide Open, with events like the Spalding Bubble Wrap Spike Contest (you have to see it to believe it), Oakley’s Serving for Shades and the frantic Wet n’ Wild Relay Race all planned for this season.
Registration for the 2010 Corona Light Wide Open is now available at www.CoronaLightWideOpen.com.
The Corona Light Wide Open will hit some of the nation’s most legendary beaches and popular beach volleyball venues. The inaugural tour in 2009 drew more than 3,500 beach volleyball players competing in up to 16 different divisions of play.
The Corona Light Wide Open is produced, promoted and managed by Cleveland-based Elevation Group.
