6-Man Volleyball Tournament 2009 in the South Bay

Manhattan Beach 6 Man Volleyball Tournament

The craziest weekend of the year is coming to the South Bay- the 6-Man Volleyball Tournament! Officialy part of the huge 3-day event called the 2009 International Surf Festival, Manhattan Beach hosts the biggest party of the year from Friday, July 31- Sunday, August 2! The Festival has events throughout the weekend revolving around the beach and ocean, including a Bodysurfing Championship, Surf Contest, Lifeguard Competition, Sand Soccer, Paddleboard Race and much more. However, the king of the contests is properly known as the Charlie Saikley Volleyball Tournament- or to anybody else, just 6-Man.

Hopeful teams camp out in front of Manhattan Beach City Hall each year for up to 20 hours, with most still being turned away due to the extreme level of competition. The volleyball tournament, which has been booked solid for several months, attracts pros, wannabe pros and every tier below them each year. Teams of 6 (Mens' and Womens' divisions) play in a Round-Robin format on Saturday, August 1 until the brackets are cut down to the best competitors. The matches culminate in the Finals on Sunday- many previous matchups have legendary status here in the South Bay.

VIDEO FROM 2008 6-MAN VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

It is the wildest weekend of the year, so it has to be about more than high-level volleyball right? Indeed it is. To up the ante everyone is in COSTUME. Past teams have included the Magnum PI’s, the Lakers, team Lushness, Miss USA, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and the list goes on. Imagine an AVP pro disguised as Spiderman rising up and slamming the ball with brute force into the chest of Super Mario. It happens and you will love it.

Let’s address the elephant on the court. If thousands upon thousands of people show up to this party can I safely assume punch (of the spiked variety) will be on hand? The answer is No. 6-man is an alcohol-free event. Gone are the days of buried kegs and red plastic cups. There will, however, be tons of coffee mugs, water bottles filled with “Kool-Aid”, Jello in suspiciously shot-sized containers, fermented Gatorade, and far more clever drink receptacles. But there will be no alchohol. That is illegal. Especially on the edges and anywhere near the pier.

Check out the video above and of course our 2008 6-man gallery to get in the mood. Put a glass of water and some Aspirin by your bed before you leave. Bring sunscreen. Don’t forget your sunglasses. Stay limber. And get ready for the best single beach day of the year.

We want your pictures! Send us your best after the event to bizops@southbayevents.com. See you out there!