Former Santa Barbara High star Eve Ettinger returned home from USC and won the California Beach Volleyball Association Women’s AA Tournament with partner Betsi Metter at East Beach last weekend.Ettinger plays beach volleyball for the Trojans, while Metter plays for Loyola Marymount. They defeated Mikayla Tucker of Placerville and Nicolette Martin, a high school standout from Anaheim Hills, 21-18.The weekend also included Men’s A and B tournaments.In a battle between teams of … [Read more...]
Prelude to the SB Triathlon: ‘The Concrete Casino’
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Don’t get me wrong — I love, love, love my Goleta health club.IT’S GOT EVERYTHING.Tennis. Hoops. Two pools. Double Jacuzzis. hi-tech, state-of-the-art workout-equipment. Personal trainers. Sauna. Steam room. Private shower stalls with gratis shampoo. Towel service. Massage. Friday Happy Hour. Spin classes and other specialized training sessions, etc.You get the picture …But life changed earlier this year when my office moved downtown — as in Santa Barbara.Gone … [Read more...]
Dani Rottman sweeps Tuesday youth tournaments
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In a pair of all-local finals, the teams of Katie-Spieler-Dani Rottman and Emily Allen-Anika Wilson prevailed in the last California Beach Volleyball Association Youth Tournament of the season on Tuesday at East Beach.Allen-Wilson captured the Girls 14-Under Division by beating Emily's sister Chloe Allen and Andie DeWerd (Los Olivos) in the final.Spieler-Rottman won the Girls 18s for the fourth time, and Rottman was the Tuesday Tournament Queen as she won all five events. They … [Read more...]
Yoshimoto brothers, Spieler-Rottman qualify for Cal Cup
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The brother combination of Owen and Evan Yoshimoto dominated the 18-under bracket at the California Beach Volleyball Association’s Quiksilver Performance-Roxy Athletix Tour stop at East Beach on Tuesday.The Yoshimotos took down the Santa Barbara team of Alex Biedul and Holden Ploch, 28-16, to capture the title and earn a spot in the Quiksilver Performance-Roxy Athletix Cal Cup Championships in Manhattan Beach on Sept. 4.Winners in all divisions Tuesday qualified for the Cal Cup.The … [Read more...]
Spieler-Rottman continue winning ways on the sand
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Local high school standouts Katie Spieler and Dani Rottman, fresh off winning a USA Junior National indoor title with the Santa Barbara Volleyball Club, continued their winning ways on the beach.Spieler of Dos Pueblos and Rottman of Santa Barbara won the Girls 18-under division title at the first California Beach Volleyball Association Youth Tournament of the summer at East Beach on Tuesday. They defeated Danielle Carlson of Santa Ynez and Michaela Christaansen, a freshman at Pepperdine from … [Read more...]
O’Siadhail, Roy win in Semana Nautica biathlon debuts
Saturday, July 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Not even a wrong lef turn could keep Irishman Donncha O’Siadhail from winning the Semana Nautica 5-mile biathlon on Saturday.O’Siadhail was so dominant in the 1-mile swim of the race that he had plenty of time to recover from a premature turn toward shore (about 150 yards before the finishing area) to win handily, beating perennial champion Jon Clark in the process.O’Siadhail, 33, a high school teacher in Ireland and a triathlete, won in 45 minutes, 26 seconds. Clark, 50, … [Read more...]
Reef & Run underway on Tuesday
Monday, June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Reef & Run's third season gets going this Tuesday, with season-opening festivities slated to start around 6:15 p.m. at East Beach.Reef & Run - which features a 5k run, 1k ocean swim and 1-mile ocean swim - will happen every Tuesday until September 13. Athletes can compete in any of the individual legs or tackle the 1k/5k biathlon.The first race begins at 6:25 p.m.Live music accompanies the event every week, starting with DP Fresh on Tuesday. Kat Devlin performs next Tuesday. … [Read more...]
Q&A with Todd Rogers: He and Dalhausser open world tour in Brazil
Monday, April 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
So, what do you do for an encore?Local beach volleyball professionals and Olympic gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser enter the 2011 FIVB-Swatch World Tour after experiencing the greatest international season ever in the sport. The No. 1-ranked duo in the world won a record nine tournaments and had podium finishes in three others (2nd, 3rd and a 4th).Before heading off to this week’s season opener in Brasilia, Brazil (where they are defending champions), Rogers and … [Read more...]
Polar Bear Tournament is a go on Saturday
Thursday, February 3, 2011 By 1 Comment
On Santa Barbara’s East Beach, the day before the Super Bowl means it's time for the Polar Bear beach volleyball tournament.The 30th annual co-ed doubles event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 5 at the East Beach courts. Signups will be taken on the morning of the event (8 a.m.). The first 100 players will receive a commemorative T-shirt. Entry fee is $35 per player.Part of uniqueness of the Polar Bear is it gives players of all skill levels the chance to combine as a team in the … [Read more...]
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Karch Kiraly
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Former Santa Barbara High star, three-time Olympic gold medalist and volleyball legend Karch Kiraly spoke at the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge on Monday night at a benefit for the United Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County.Over 200 people attended the event, which served as a "roast with respect" of Kiraly. Other speakers with Karch's father, Dr. Laz Kiraly, his former Santa Barbara High coach Ric Olmstead and UCLA coach Al Scates. The Bruins won three NCAA titles when Kiraly was a … [Read more...]
Lubinski, Smith have too much kick at end
Saturday, August 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment
There was a time in Jim Lubinski’s life when slamming guys into the boards and scoring goals was what he loved to do.Then the former pro ice hockey player moved west and discovered triathlon.“Lubi” dropped 40 pounds and transformed himself into an elite triathlete. He lost weight but not his drive to win.That was evident Saturday at the Santa Barbara Triathlon long-course event at East Beach. Lubinski ran down leader Daniel Brienza with two miles to go on the 10-mile run and … [Read more...]
