While the action on the sand was unscripted, the action around it was incredibly choreographed. AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) knows how to market their events.
Yesterday the men's finals of the Manhattan Beach Open was held in the South Bay on the sands next to the Manhattan Beach Pier.
AVP built a stadium in the sand, complete with corporate luxury boxes and flashy attention-grabbers everywhere you turned.
The PA announcer joked with the players, and even got the crowd to do The Wave at different speed.
When LAist first noticed, it was going in slow motion and we had no idea what was going on. It was downright surreal.
Surprisingly, girls in bikinis captured a lot of our attention, so we captured plenty of them for this photo essay after the jump.
Oh, and the result? Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers won for the second year in a row, for those of you scoring at home.
And if you're scoring at home, use protection...

AVP does an impressive job building temporary stadiums.

With the stands at capacity, people lined the pier hoping for a glimpse of the action

Once inside, the view was pretty sweet.

Who wants Cuervo?

Congresswoman Jane Harman came with her son.

Great beach volleyball action.

The perfect setting for any event.

Guess which one is nicknamed The Beast?

These girls didn't like how hot the sand was on their bare feet.

Dancing in sand is hard work.

People knocked around beach balls in the stands. Some got stuck.

With so much to look at, some people had to get creative. Others were creative with what they wore.
photos by Adam Rose for LAist




I love watching female beach volleyball. Nice photo essay. I've linked to your article on my blog LA KOMPANY. Best, Brian Aldrich
spike this?
mama mia!
I was right next to you when you took the picture of the three Corona girls standing on the case. I heard someone say "La-ist" and kindof chuckled because I have never heard someone actually say it out loud before. Thanks for giving one of my favorite South Bay events some love on the site.