Archive for the ‘Sports’ Category

by Randy Angel

Certain labels given to elite athletes last a lifetime and beyond. Hall of Famer, Most Valuable Player and Olympic medalist are among the descriptions that will forever accompany the names of those deserving such honors.

Just don’t use the latter for Los Angeles Kings players Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson and Jonathan Quick – at least for the time being.

The three Manhattan Beach residents were members of the silver-medal winning USA men’s Olympic hockey team that fell to Canada 3-2 in overtime of the gold-medal game after dramatically tying the score with 24.4 seconds left in regulation. The disappointment of not watching Old Glory rise to the top during the medal ceremony continues to leave a bad taste in the mouths of the Americans.

“Being regarding as an Olympic medalist is not one of those things many people can say,” Brown said. “Right now, the silver medal is a consolation prize. But a few years from now, or even maybe this summer, reflecting on it I’m sure I’ll appreciate it more.”

Young and inexperienced, the United States team was not expected to be medal contenders at the Vancouver Olympic Games, but got off to a great start that included a 5-3 upset of the Canadians in pool play. The win by the Americans created added pressure for the Canadian squad that not only was expected to excel on its home ice, but show the world its supremacy in what is arguably Canada’s best known export – hockey.

Seven days later, just hours before the commencement of the closing ceremony, the United States earned a rematch with its neighbor to the north in what was the most-watched television broadcast in Canadian history with 80 percent (25.5 million) of the country’s population viewing some part of the game.

The epic battle drew 27.6 million viewers in the United States, making it the most watched hockey game in the country since 32.8 million fans watched the American team defeat Finland to win the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics, one game after the team upset the U.S.S.R. in the “Miracle on Ice” game at Lake Placid.

A native of Canada, Jim Fox is a 24-year Redondo Beach resident who spent his entire 10-year career in the NHL playing for the Kings and remains eight on the club’s all-time scoring list. Making a successful transition from the ice to the booth, Fox is celebrating his 20^th season as the Kings color commentator and feels it’s up to the leaders of the sport at every level to benefit from the television exposure provided at Vancouver.

“It is up to all hockey organizations to make sure we can capitalize on the Olympic success…the NHL as well as local youth hockey groups,” Fox said. “It certainly caught the attention of most Americans, but in many areas, hockey is not part of the culture so we all have to be proactive in trying to grow our sport.”

Fox also believes the America can remain among the world’s elite teams for many years to come.

“With USA’s success this year with a very young team, they should be considered one of the teams in the running for a gold medal in the next Olympics. This year they were an underdog… next time they should have a higher expectations and ranking going in.”

Ironically, this year’s gold-medal game came 50 years to the day when the U.S. team shocked the hockey world by winning gold at Squaw Valley. Although Brown, Johnson and Quick are disappointed they could not repeat history, they still feel they had the best team on the ice in Vancouver and were thankful to have parents, family members and friends in attendance.

But those thoughts were quickly pushed aside when two days after the Olympic flame was extinguished, the Kings resumed National Hockey League play and their run toward the playoffs. The Kings were well represented in Vancouver, with five players on the team’s 25-man roster competing in the Olympic Games. Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi, who also lives n Manhattan Beach with his wife Wandamae, served on the Advisory Board for the selection of Team USA.

King center Michal Handzus played for Slovakia and, at the age of 20, King defenseman Drew Doughty was the youngest player on the gold-medal winning Canadian team. Doughty rooms with Brown when the Kings are on the road and had the opportunity to rub the gold-medal victory in his Los Angeles teammate’s face, but was fairly congenial about the situation.

“He’s pretty low key,” Brown said. “We talked a lot about it before we went (to Vancouver). Once you’re on the ice, friendships are put aside. We beat them once but they beat us in the more important game.”

A Team Leader

On October 8, 2008 at the age of 23, Brown was named the 15^th captain of the Kings, becoming the youngest and only American-born captain in franchise history. The 6-foot, 208-pound forward was selected to play on the US Olympic team, but was asked to switch from the right side of the ice to the left.

“The offensive side of the game pretty much the same,” Brown said after a Sunday morning practice at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. “The biggest change was tracking back into the zone. I found myself drifting over to the right side out of habit. Coming out of the zone, it’s different getting the puck and having to rotate your body. It’s more difficult to make plays on your off side.”

Brown handled the transition well and credits team chemistry for much of the team’s success.

“A lot of the players had played together before,” Brown said. “I think I had played with everyone expect maybe four players on the team. Being able to walk into a room and say ‘Hey, how ya’ doin’?’ and not have to introduce yourself made it a lot easier.”

Competing in a short, pressure-filled tournament like the Olympics is something Brown feels will help him as the Kings make go into the NHL playoffs.

“I’ve never been in a playoff game in the NHL but I would think it’s pretty similar,” Brown said. “It comes down to the little things, ultimately. Like the gold medal game – it was an even game and one breakdown was the difference. So it’s a matter of keying in on all those little things and I think we’re learning that here (in LA). It’s going to be magnified come playoff time.

“Consistency with our game will be a key. There are nights when we come out and feel we can beat anyone in the league, and then there are nights when we don’t play as well. We have to find that even keel.”

Brown admits that he hasn’t had time to reflect on the whole Olympic experience. He was glad he was able to attend the women’s hockey gold medal game, where the American team also faced Canada for the top prize. He hopes the excitement generated from his team will help increase the growth of hockey throughout the country.

“I think the interest in the gold medal game is a huge opportunity for hockey in the States to grow,” Brown said. “I think the last time the country was that excited was in 1980. It’s definitely not the same scenario they were under but it sounds like a lot of people were excited and following this team.”

Brown was born in Ithaca, New York. Now he and his wife Nicole and their two sons Jake, 2, and Mason, 1, call Manhattan Beach home.

“You can’t beat the weather here and the great restaurants like Rock-N-Fish and Houston’s and I love Pinkberry,” said Brown. He is an avid supporter of KaBoom!, an organization whose goal is to provide a place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Brown said his one-of-a-kind Olympic silver medal will soon be put in a safe deposit box. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, which manufactured the medals for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, unique designs were used so no two medals are alike. Weighing between 500 and 576 grams each, the medals are the heaviest in Olympic history.

Silver medals were made of sterling silver (92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper). Gold medals were also sterling silver plated with six grams (1/5 oz.) of pure gold. Bronze medals were made of 99 percent copper to produce a more reddish hue to differentiate the color between the bronze and gold medals.

Taking it all in

Even though he is looking forward to competing in the 2014 Olympics, forward Jack Johnson made the most of his Olympic opportunity. He was the only member of the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team to march in the opening ceremony.

With permission from the Kings, who were still playing games before the NHL went on hiatus for the Olympic tournament, Johnson chartered a plane to Bellingham, Washington where a car service drove him to Vancouver.

He became the first NHL player from the United States to participate in any Olympic opening ceremony and took advantage of the opportunity to meet Vice-President Joe Biden, along with some of the world’s top athletes including snowboarder Shaun White. Even though the festivities ran late into the night, Johnson was back on the ice the following day for the King’s morning skate in El Segundo.

“It was so cool,” Johnson said of the experience. “It’s not every day you get to meet people like that. Meeting other Olympians you hear about before going there and being able to march alongside of them was very special.”

Johnson was also among a handful of American hockey players who remained for the closing ceremonies. He was glad his parents, brother, uncle, close friends and their families were able to see him compete on a world-wide stage.

“We went to the women’s hockey game, but I didn’t get to see as many other events as I’d have liked because we were practicing on our days off,” Johnson reflected. “But I still had a great time. The whole thing was an awesome experience. I hope it’s not my last Olympics. As an athlete, I think it (being an Olympic medalist) is the highest honor you can achieve. I think the guys I played with, well, we’ll have a special relationship forever.”

Like Brown, Johnson desires that the success USA enjoyed in Vancouver will inspire the youth of America to continue the development of hockey.

“I hope it has a positive impact,” Brown exclaimed. “Even though we didn’t win the whole thing, we gave it our best shot. I hope that all young American hockey players out there will have a little more sense of pride being American hockey players and that they continue to carry the torch like we did for the older guys we watched.”

Facing what were basically all-star teams in the Olympics, Johnson said the high level of competition will prepare him as the Kings advance to the NHL playoffs, something the team has not accomplished since the 01-02 season.

“Everyone talks about the playoffs being intense, pressure-packed games,” Johnson said. “But I don’t think I’ll never play in more of a pressure game than the gold medal game with 50 million Americans and another 27 million or so Canadians watching. I know I won’t feel anything as hostile as that environment and I feel very confident going in the Stanley Cup playoffs.”

Only 23-years-old, Johnson appears to have an excellent chance of competing in the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. The Kings signed Johnson after he completed his sophomore season at the University of Michigan and he still calls Ann Arbor home. Johnson said his Olympic silver medal will be going back to Michigan when the King’s season is over.

Johnson is close to his dad Jack, who spends a lot of time with his son on the west coast. The younger Johnson wears jersey No. 3 in honor of his father who won the 1973 NCAA title with the University of Wisconsin.

A Year to Remember

In only his second season in the NHL, Jonathan Quick is enjoying a year he will never forget. Two days after having an Olympic silver medal draped around his neck, the 6-foot-1, 223-pound goaltender returned to the professional game and set a new Kings record for most wins in a season. But when the 24-year-old looks back at 2010, he’ll initially recall the birth of his first child, daughter Madison Mychal Quick, who entered the world at 4:15 a.m. Friday.

Jonathan grabbed the earliest flight back to L.A. from Dallas Thursday when informed his wife Jaclyn had gone into labor. Fortunately for the Quick’s – well, at least the father – the labor was a long one provided time for the two new parents to be together.

The King’s goalie was back in the nets Sunday when the team hosted Nashville on Sunday.

Although Quick didn’t see any Olympic playing time in Vancouver – he served as a backup to starting goaltender Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres who was stellar between the pipes and named MVP of the Olympic tournament — Quick said he will have fond memories of the experience.

“My wife, parents, younger brother and sister attended the games,” Quick said. “The team chemistry was great. (General Manager) Brian Burke did a great job of putting everything together, from picking Ron Wilson as head coach to the selection of the players. I’ll always remember the team. I met some good guys out there and it was great to be a part of that team and play for our country.”

Understandably, the King’s goaltender quickly shifted his thoughts from the Olympics to more important things: The birth of his daughter and winning the Stanley Cup

“My wife was cleaning up the other day and I don’t know where she put the medal,” Quick said. “Winning an Olympic medal is something great and you’re playing for your country, but it’s only a two week thing. The Stanley Cup is a nine-month process and a long grind. A lot more goes into that and building strong relationships with your teammates.”

Quick admits that after not seeing game action for two weeks, it took awhile to shake off the rust when the Kings and the NHL resumed play after the Olympic break.

“It took a little while to readjust,” Quick said. “The first two games back I made some mistakes I wish I hadn’t, but that’s no excuse. I have to hold myself accountable and be better next time around.”

While the modest Quick is first to point out any errors in his game, his return to NHL action only two days after the Olympics was monumental. He recorded 31 saves to beat the Dallas Stars 5-1, setting a King’s record 36th win of the season. The victory broke Mario Lessard’s single-season win record set in 1980-81.

“That record you can’t look on as a personal record, that’s a team record,” Quick acknowledged. “Not one of those games would I have won without those guys battling in front of me. I’m sure Mario would say the same thing, that they’re all team efforts.”

Last season, Quick recorded 21 wins, the third most ever by a Kings rookie goaltender (Mario Lessard had 23 in 1978-79 and Bob Janecyk had 22 in 1984-85). He continues to look forward while preparing for post-season play and the goal of winning the Stanley Cup.

“We’re definitely capable,” Quick said. “We just need to get everyone in the locker room believe in themselves.”

With 40 wins, 85 points and 14 games — including eight homes games — remaining in the regular season, the Kings have the opportunity to surpass the record of the Smythe Division-winning team of 1990-91 that achieved 46 wins and 102 points.

The Kings host the Central Division-leading Chicago Blackhawks tonight at 7:30 p.m. The team’s final home game is Saturday, April 10 versus the Edmonton Oilers. Visit lakings.com for schedule and ticket information. ER

by Randy Angel

It’s been two years since Mikah Maly-Karros and Megan Richardson led the Mira Costa girls basketball team to the CIF State Championship finals, but at the conclusion of this year’s collegiate regular season, the sophomores ended up on the same team.

Continuing to show the dominance exhibited during their prep careers, Maly-Karros and Richardson led their respective college teams in scoring during the 2009-10 campaign with both being elected to the first team All-Big West Conference list.

After her freshman year, Maly-Karros transferred from Loyola to UC Irvine where the 6-foot-1 forward became only the sixth player from Irvine to make the first team. She led the conference with 13 double-double games while averaging 19.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.
Competing for CSU Fullerton, Richardson scored a team-high 15.4 points per game and 40 3-pointers. The 5-foot-10 guard was selected to the All-Big West Freshman team last year.

After splitting their contests during the regular season, 6th-seeded Fullerton and 7th-seeded Irvine faced each other in the opening round of the Big West Conference tournament. Maly-Karros tied a school record scoring 41 points — 18 in the first half and 23 in the second — while grabbing nine rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for the Anteaters of Irvine who lost to Fullerton 89-76. Richardson scored 17 points for the victorious Titans.

In the quarterfinals, Richardson scored 10 points against UC Riverside in a 73-54 loss to the Highlanders. ER

by Randy Angel

They spent two days battling elite teams from California and Hawaii but the boys volleyball teams from Mira Costa and Redondo can’t seem to get enough. Both schools will take on top-ten ranked teams this week as they prepare for the opening of Bay League action in two weeks. 

In a battle of the top teams in CIF Division 1, No. 2 Mira Costa takes on rival and top-ranked Loyola tomorrow before traveling to No. 7 Orange Lutheran for a 6 p.m. match Tuesday.

Redondo hosts Bishop Montgomery (No. 2 in Division 4) tomorrow at 6:15 p.m. and Thousand Oaks (No. 4 in Division 2) Monday in a 5:45 p.m. match.

Mira Costa and Redondo competed in the Best of the West tournament in Poway last weekend and emerged with a better idea of where each team stands in the hunt for a CIF title.

The Mustangs entered the tournament as defending champions but fell to Punahou, a perennial power from Hawaii, 24-26, 26-24, 17-15. Mira Costa finished tied for 3^rd with Santa Margarita (No. 5, Div. 1) while Punahou defeated Loyola 19-25, 26-24, 15-12 for the Gold Division crown. Palos Verdes placed 15^th in the Gold Division

Eric Mochalski and Jace Olson represented Mira Costa on the all-tournament team. The Mustangs swept through pool play with wins over Mission Viejo, Cathedral Catholic and Bellarmine. They advanced to beat St. John Bosco 25-18, 25-20 and host Poway 25-20, 26-24 before facing Punahou.

Redondo finished 2^nd in the Bronze Division, rebounding from two losses in pool play. After losing to Poway in the tournament opener, the Sea Hawks beat St. Francis, and then fell to Chico.

Once in the Bronze Division, Redondo defeated Deer Valley, 25-22, 25-19 and Valencia 25-22, 25-22 before losing to Harvard-Westlake 12-25, 25-22, 15-13 in the championship match. ER

by Randy Angel

Mira Costa and Redondo concluded the El Segundo baseball tournament Saturday with victories in consolation games in the Gold and Blue Division, respectively. Torrance, ranked No. 7 and last year’s runner in CIF Division 4, pounded Narbonne 15-0 in five innings in the Gold Division championship game. Josh Mingura tossed a no-hitter for the Tartars, who had previously defeated Mira Costa by one run in pool play.

Loyola beat Palos Verdes 9-4 to capture the Blue Division title. Despite the victory, Loyola is ranked No. 6 and Palos Verdes No. 4. in CIF Division 2. El Segundo holds the No. 4 spot in the Division 4 poll.

Mira Costa (2-3) scored a 6-4 victory over South East in a Gold Division consolation game behind a strong pitching performance by Robert Parucha who had six strikeouts in six innings. Kyle Demarco went 2-for-3 with a homerun and two RBIs and Chris Kayson added a double and triple for the offense.

Mira Costa opened the tournament with a 7-3 loss at San Pedro before losing at home to Long Beach Poly 9-3. Eventual champion Torrance pitchers limited the potent Mira Costa offense to two hits and made a wind-aided, first inning three-run home run hold up for a 3-2 victory in the third and final game of pool play.

The Mustangs took out their early-season frustrations on Mary Star, giving Cassidy Olson his first win as Mira Costa’s head coach with a 24-4 five-inning road victory in the first Gold Division consolation game. Dalton Barge and Lucas Whitehill each had three RBIs while going 4-for-4 and Jackson Morrow slugged a three-run homer for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs travel to Long Beach Poly tomorrow for a 3:15 p.m. game before beginning the Redondo Tournament Saturday against Loyola.

Redondo (3-2) jumped over the .500 mark with a 6-3 victory over Bishop Montgomery in the final consolation game in the Blue Division. Daniel Marquez went 2-for-3 and knocked in two runs to lead the Sea Hawk offense.
Redondo evened its record after quashing a Hawthorne comeback attempt, beating the Cougars 6-5 in the first consolation game. Chris Jump went 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI for the Sea Hawks.

First-year head coach Bradey Thurman picked up his first win the previous day with a 9-2 victory over Oak Park. Pitcher Alex Mistuloff went five innings, giving up two hits while striking out 11 and Jake Jimenez led the offense with two hits and an RBI and Drew Kozain hit a triple for the Sea Hawks.

Redondo lost to Narbonne 12-1 in its second game after falling to South 5-4 in eight innings in the season opener for both teams.

The Sea Hawks play a double header today at El Segundo starting at 4:30 p.m. Redondo hosts its own tournament beginning Saturday with a game against San Pedro. The Sea Hawks host North in a non-league game Tuesday at 7 p.m. ER

Running

The Redondo Union High School Athletic Association and the Redondo Union High School Alumni Association will be holding the “Striff/Seifert Memorial Track Meet” on Saturday, June 5 at 12 p.m. Admission is free. Participation fee is $25 per person. A pancake breakfast will be served the morning of the event in the RUHS cafeteria at 9 a.m. ($10 per person). There will be an after party at the King Harbor Yacht Club with a no-host bar ($5 per person). For more information or to register, visit www.ruhsalumni.org.

Swimming

Online priority registration for returning members of the Junior Lifeguard Program is available until 5 p.m., Friday, March 26. Registration for newcomers begins at 9 a.m. April 26 for the Mira Costa Swim test on Saturday, May 8. Open to boys and girls ages 9-17, the five-week program teaches beach and ocean skills and runs from Monday, June 28 through Friday, July 30. Cost is $420. For more information or to register, visit watchthewater.org/jg.

Volleyball

A 4-person coed beach volleyball league will begin Tuesday north of the Hermosa Beach Pier from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $250 per team (40 teams max.). Registration must be made prior to league start date at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Ave. or online at hermosabch.org. For more information, contact Bill Sigler, bill@smacksportswear.com and/or Chris, cyj@prankmonkey.org.

Martial Arts

Tickets are on sale for Total Fighting Alliance’s 17th event, “Fight for Your Right.” Consisting of nine hardcore cage fighting bouts, the event is scheduled for Saturday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. at HAX, 3203 Jack Northrop Ave., Hawthorne. Tickets are available at tfafights.com.

Basketball

Registration is open for the HAX Youth Basketball League for boys and girls grades 2-5. League play begins Friday, April 17 at Hangar Athletic Exchange, 3203 Jack Northrop Ave. in Hawthorne. Games are played on Fridays from 5-8 p.m. Sign-up deadline is Monday, April 5. Cost is $99/player. For more information call 310-219-0600 or visit HAXLA.com.

Camps

Velocity Sports Performance will be hold a Spring Break Speed & Agility Camp Monday, March 29 – Thursday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to noon each day. The camp is open to athletes in 3rd-12th grade and focuses on first-step quickness, lateral speed and top speed while reducing the risk of injury. Cost is $39 (1 day), $75 (2 days), $99 (3 days) and $119 (4 days). Velocity is located at 2607 Manhattan Beach Blvd. in Redondo Beach. Visit velocitysp.com/southbay for more information.

AdventurePlex, 1701 Marine Ave. in Manhattan Beach, will be holding a Spring Break Camp for boys and girls ages 6-12 beginning Monday, March 29 and running through Friday, April 2 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Activities include rock climbing, ropes course (ages 8 and up), crafts, Adventure Room play, fitness gaming and cooperative games on the Sports Court. All camp staff is CPR-, First Aid- and AED-certified. Cost is $185/week or $50/day. To register, visit adventureplex.org or call 310-546-7708.

Kurt Baker of Star Sports Performance is hosting free speed, power and agility camps on Saturdays from 8:30-10 a.m. at Aviation Field to teach the lifts and movements used to build powerful, explosive and fast athletes. Baker holds a degree in exercise with over 25 years experience and is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a USA Weightlifting Coach and a NIKE SPARQ Testing Coach. Space is limited. Call 310-748-3667 to register. ER 

Shaper Dennis Jarvis pushes the envelope when it comes to design.

 

Best Shop Shaper: Dennis Jarvis, Spyder Surfboards

Best underground shaper: Dennis McGivern

Surfers who wonder why a consensus has never been reached on what makes the perfect surfboard, should talk to our readers’ picks for best shop and best underground shaper.

This year’s Best Shop Shaper Dennis Jarvis and Best Underground Shaper Dennis McGivern both started in the surfboard business in the late 1970s sweeping foam dust out of shaping bays – Dennis under the tutelage of Eddie Talbot, McGivern under Wayne Miyata. Several decades and many thousands of boards later the two have arrived at very different opinions on what makes a good board.

“Deep dish concaves are making a comeback,” Jarvis said last week as he shaped a board featuring a step bottom, deep concaves in the tail and a lot of tail rocker. The board is for South Bay surf standout Dane Zaun.

“I’ve always found the best boards have flat bottoms and smooth easy rocker. I like the old tried and true,” McGivern said when we spoke to him last week.

Both are eloquent in defense of their beliefs.

The bottom experimentation, Jarvis said, is driven by the desire for a board that is fast and loose, but also thicker for easier paddling. Both Jarvis and McGivern agree that potato chip-thin boards are out of favor, even with the pros.

“When I was a kid I wanted to ride a board that the pro I wanted to emulate was riding. Now Kelly Slater is riding a pig at Pipeline,” Jarvis said by way of explaining the acceptance of thicker, easier to paddle boards.

Jarvis calls the board he is designing for Zaun a Fireball Fish. The flat nose area provides speed, the concave tail makes the board loose.

The concave bottom and crown deck put the rails under water. So Jarvis said he’s making softer rails that won’t catch on hard turns.

McGivern was a glasser before he was a shaper and estimates he’s glassed over 200,000, starting back when Pat Reardon owned Shoreline Glassing.

McGivern has a more subjective view of what makes a good board.

“A lot is in the eye of the beholder. Some of my favorite boards have been god-awful ugly,” he said. But it’s doubtful those were boards he made.

“I’m adamant about superior quality. I surfed well as a kid and I’m able to transfer that into a board that is what competitive surfers want,” he said.

McGivern is back making boards where he began, in the old Shoreline factory on Cypress in Hermosa Beach, which is now run by Aquatech.

“I do it the old way. I shape the boards, glass them, and sand them. I take it through every step instead of sending the work to people who may not have the enthusiasm I have.”

Their different approaches not withstanding, both agree that every surfer, regardless of ability, should talk to his or her shaper.

“I don’t shape stock surfboards. Every board is made for somebody to match their ability, even if they don’t know what they want,” McGivern said.

Jarvis is taking custom board making into the digital age with a CAD program on a computer in his Pacific Coast Highway shop where he’ll work with surfers on the designs of their boards. After the current remodel is completed, he plans to install large monitors to show off the design as it develops.

Dennis Jarvis, Spyder Surf, 2461 Pacific Coast Hwy. HB. (310) 374-8276. 65 Pier Ave., HB. 310-374-2494.

Dennis McGivern, call for appointment. (310) 936-7138.

Best Surf Shop, Skateboard, Snowboard: Spyder Surf

Some businesses branch out. Some sink deep roots. Dickie O’Reilly and Dennis Jarvis have chosen to sink deep roots in the South surf/skate/snow community. Their two stores earned Best Of titles in the surf shop, skate shop, snowboarding and men’s clothing categories.

Jarvis has been shaping surfboards since he opened the first Spyder shop on Pacific Coast Highway in 1983. Top local surfers and pros including Tom Curren rely on him to push the envelope in design. But he hasn’t forgotten that, as he put it, “The average surfer just wants a board that floats and he can have a good time on.”

In addition to surfboards, the PCH store has large skateboard and snowboard departments. The most popular skateboards, Dickie said, feature bamboo and koa decks with clear grip tape that shows off the wood grain. In snowboards, boards with rocker that made their appearance last year are now the most popular boards he said. They’re more forgiving, Dickie explained.

Spyder II on Pier Plaza in downtown Hermosa earned O’Reilly and Jarvis their Best of Men’s Clothing honors. The good news for surfers, O’Reilly said is that the comfortable and stretchy board shorts that were in the $80 to $200 range last year are now competitively priced with traditional cotton/polyester shorts, in the $40 to $60 range. In clothing, he said denim jeans and Sanuk’s “These are not shoes, they’re sandals” shoes are among Spyder’s most popular items.

In keeping with its commitment to community, Spyder II will once again host the Surfers Walk of Fame festival on April 17, headlining by pro surfer turned rock star Donavan Frankenreiter.

Spyder Surf, 2461 Pacific Coast Hwy., HB. (310) 374-8276. Spyder II, 65 Pier Ave., HB. (310) 374-2494.

Surf, Skate and Snow Runner up: ET Surf, 904 Aviation Blvd., HB. (310) 379-7660.

 Best Neighborhood Gym: The Yard

Delivering state-of-the-art training methods based on scientifically sound principles, The Yard maintains a comfortable atmosphere for world-class athletes and weekend warriors alike. Run by Troll Subin, The Yard offers top-flight trainers who provide the same service to their local clientele as they do the many Olympians and professional athletes they train such as Maria Sharapova, Kobe Bryant, Mike Dodd, Nancy Mason, Carson Palmer, Mike Piazza and Eric Karros.

“Our service is among the finest and people feel at home here,” said long-time trainer Luiz DeFreitas. “It truly is a neighborhood gym. You can park out front on the street, enjoy the surroundings of the beach and feel like family. Each week, I train people who have been with me since I started at The Yard in 1996. Many of our professional athletes call us when they are away during the season just to see how things are.”

The Yard: 1106 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach. 310-376-4011

Health Club: BCHD’s Center for Health & Fitness

The most comprehensive fitness center in the South Bay offers more than 15 classes with childcare services available for the low cost of $10/month. In addition to yoga, pilates and a registered dietician, the 17,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility features more than 50 pieces of equipment, freestyle weights ranging from 2-200 pounds and personal TVs on treadmills and elliptical machines.

“Nobody gives you more for just $27/month,” CHF General Manager Mat Wessels said. “We have a welcoming, community gym feel with all the benefits of a big facility and none of the crowds, which are features that attract our outstanding members.”

Center for Health & Fitness: 514 N. Prospect Ave., 2nd Floor, RB, 310-374-3426 ext. 147

Runner-up: Spectrum, 819 Harbor Drive, RB, 310-376-9443. 2250 Park Place, El Segundo. 310-643-6878.

Celebrating its 33rd year, the Manhattan Beach 10K draws thousands of runners and spectators to the city, many who enjoy the festivities of the Hometown Fair held the same weekend. Photo by Ray Vidal

 

Best Race: Manhattan Beach 10K

Founded in 1978 by a group of local runners, the Manhattan Beach 10K Run has held true to its original concept of being a true community event without the aid of corporate sponsorship. The Race Committee is comprised solely of volunteers and the City of Manhattan Beach provides law enforcement, paramedics and public works support.

“Profits” acquired from entry fees at fed back into the community in the way of scholarships to high school seniors living in Manhattan Beach along with upgrades to recreation facilities at local schools and parks. Throughout the years, the event has donated more than $250,000 to the community.

Nathalie Higley, 40, of Redondo Beach, is the women’s two-time defending champion. An elite distance runner who is a perennial top finisher in local races, Higley said the Manhattan Beach 10K is one of her favorite events. “It’s a great local race with lots of people. The race goes for a good cause, helping the kids’ high school and various causes. It’s nice when people race not just for the money.”

The course, which begins at 3rd Street at Valley and Ardmore, winds through the city, ending at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Last year the event attracted more than 4,000 runners of all ages including some of Southern California’s elite athletes.

The 2010 Manhattan Beach 10K tradition continues on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 a.m. where – in the community spirit — medals will be awarded to the top 10 finishers in each group. For more information, visit MB10K.com.

Runner-up: Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K/5K.

by Randy Angel

With only a week of action under their belts, the boys volleyball teams from Mira Costa and Redondo will get a litmus test this weekend when the squads compete in the prestigious Best of the West tournament in Poway.

Mira Costa is ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division I pre-season poll behind Loyola. There is a strong possibility the Mustangs will face at least one of their division opponents. Among the 32 teams competing in the tournament, which includes top teams from the San Diego area and Hawaii powerhouses Iolani and Punahou, six teams join Mira Costa as top-ten teams in the Southern Section’s Division 1 rankings.

Coach Mike Ninnis’ Mustangs opened their season with a 25-13, 25-19, 25-19 victory over Long Beach Wilson. Kevin Donohue recorded 11 kills and Eric Mochalski added 10 for Mira Costa, who will play Bellarmine (San Jose), Mission Viejo and Cathedral Catholic Friday in pool play.

Mira Costa tuned up for the upcoming tournament with a non-league game against Bishop Montgomery Tuesday. The Mustangs swept the Knights 25-10, 25-13, 25-13 behind Chris Orenic’s six kills. Bryce Miller had 18 assists and Kyle Burgoyne added four kills and nine digs. Bishop Montgomery is ranked No. 2 in Division 4.

Redondo began its season by defeating Los Alamitos for the first time in four years. Ryan Olson had 13 kills and seven aces, Riley Theunissen added nine kills and Michael Vellutato contributed 28 assists and four aces. Redondo recorded 16 aces in the 25-19, 25-13, 25-13 victory.

Last weekend, the Sea Hawks earned a fifth-place tie in their own Varsity Pre-Season Classic. Olson was selected to the all-tournament team, recording 45 kills and 10 aces in three matches.

The Sea Hawks defeated South (No. 1, Div. 4) before losing to St. John Bosco (No. 4, Div. 1) in three games. Redondo rebounded to beat Santa Monica (No. 6, Div. 3) 2-0. Palos Verdes (No. 9, div. 1) tied for third in the tournament and will also represent the South Bay in Poway this weekend.

In a non-league match Tuesday, Redondo defeated North 25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 26-24.

Redondo’s pool play matches in the Best of the West tournament will be against Poway, St. Francis and Chico tomorrow. The Sea Hawks play a non-league match at Mater Dei Tuesday at 6 p.m. ER

 

by Randy Angel

Club volleyball is in full swing and things look promising for Beach Cities Volleyball with four teams in its club winning gold in recent tournaments.

The Beach Cities 13 Gold girls team traveled to American Sports Center in Anaheim where it defeated Seal Beach, Mission Viejo and T-Street VBC en route to a gold medal.

Shea Deck-Jacoby and Charise Montgomery filled in for injured setter Maddy Simones while Evie Gollas and Karly Eastley had strong serving games. Other key contributors were Tamar Davis, Leah Bledsoe, Ronginae Davis, Javana Zahedi, Michaela Lang and Lydia Champagne.

With almost a month off between tournaments, the 14 Gold girls team played its third qualifier at CSU Dominguez Hills. After beating Surf City behind the defensive play of Lyndsay Allen, Gabby deGuzman and Bella Di Domenico, the team defeated TCA OC 14-Black behind the contributions of Ashley Murray, Tyler Spriggs, Kara Hoover, Maddy Peach, Natasha Dutko and Daria Clark. A victory over second-seed Laguna Beach in the third match moved the squad into Division 1.

The girls on the 14 Platinum team maintained the club’s winning ways, earning gold at Cypress College in its third qualifier of the season. The team defeated third-seed Surf City 25-13, 25-10, the 900 Sq. Ft. VBC 13-Steve team 25-20, 25-10 and the Epic 14-2 squad by a score of 25-14, 25-16.

BCVC 16 Gold took top honors at Cypress College, beginning with a 23-25, 25-19, 15-13 win over third-seed Coast VBC 16. After downing North County Edge 16-Gabi 25-19, 25-18, the girls emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle with DSVC 16-SMACK, beating their opponents 20-25, 25-22, 15-11. ER

Basketball

The HAX Basketball Academy is offering its High School Training clinic. Sessions are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hangar Athletic Exchange, 3203 Jack Northrop Ave. in Hawthorne. Year-round sessions are also available Tuesdays and Thursdays for boys and girls in kindergarten through 8th grade. Cost is $199/month. For more information call 310-219-0600 or visit HAXLA.com.

Tennis

West Coast Beach Tennis is holding a St. Patrick’s Day Tournament Saturday and Sunday at the two new beach tennis courts at 14th Street and The Strand. For additional information, contact Salokas at 310-614-4869.

Running

Nathalie Higley, 40, of Redondo Beach continues to be one of the area’s elite runners winning the women’s division of the 19^th annual Brea 8K Classic which fielded a record 2,000 registrants. Higley completed the 4.96-mile course in 28 minutes, 41 seconds.

Soccer

American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Region 17 of North Redondo has been awarded a Platinum Regional Assessment Award for the 2008-09 AYSO season. The award honors Region 17 for overall excellence and its commitment to serving its communities and other AYSO Regions.

Swimming

Online priority registration for returning members of the Junior Lifeguard Program is available until 5 p.m., Friday, Mar. 26. Registration for newcomers begins at 9 a.m. April 26 for the Mira Costa Swim test on Saturday, May 8. Open to boys and girls ages 9-17, the five-week program teaches beach and ocean skills and runs from Monday, June 28 through Friday, July 30. Cost is $420. For more information or to register, visit watchthewater.org/jg.

Volleyball

A 4-person coed beach volleyball league will begin on March 23. The Tuesday league will be played north of the Hermosa Beach Pier from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $250 per team (40 teams max.). Registration must be made prior to league start date at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Ave. or online at hermosabch.org. For more information, contact Bill Sigler, bill@smacksportswear.com and/or Chris, cyj@prankmonkey.org.

Registration is ongoing for the United States Youth Volleyball League’s (USYVL) spring season. Open to boys and girls ages 7-15, the Hermosa Beach league is held at South Park and runs from April 12 through June 9. The coed format provides instruction in a safe, low pressure environment that focuses on sportsmanship and teamwork. Fees are $145 through Monday. Late registration will be available for $180 Tuesday to April 1. To register, visit usyvl.org.

Golf

The South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation will hold its 16th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Golf Tournament Monday at the Los Verdes Country Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. First tee off is at 7 a.m. with a second shotgun start beginning at 12:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event help provide financial support for families of fallen or disabled safety personnel. Honorary Chair will be Manhattan Beach resident and comedian Bill Engvall. Also participating will be NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, owner of Manhattan Beach Toyota/Scion. For more information, contact Sherry Kramer, 310-640-1520 ext. 236, skramer@continentaldevelopment.com or visit sbpoliceandfire.com.

Camps

AdventurePlex, 1701 Marine Ave in Manhattan Beach, will be holding a Spring Break Camp for boys and girls ages 6-12 beginning Monday, March 29 and running through Friday, April 2 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Activities include rock climbing, ropes course (ages 8 and up), crafts, Adventure Room play, fitness gaming and cooperative games on the Sports Court. All camp staff is CPR-, First Aid- and AED-certified. Cost is $185/week or $50/day. To register, visit adventureplex.org or call 310-546-7708.

Kurt Baker of Star Sports Performance is hosting free speed, power and agility camps on Saturdays from 8:30-10 a.m. at Aviation Field to teach the lifts and movements used to build powerful, explosive and fast athletes. Baker holds a degree in exercise with over 25 years experience and is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a USA Weightlifting Coach and a NIKE SPARQ Testing Coach. Space is limited. Call 310-748-3667 to register. ER 

by Randy Angel
Umbrellas remain at the ready, fireplaces still glow in the evenings and local youth recently enjoyed a few days off from school for “Ski Week.” But the season has changed for high school athletes who begin their spring season this week. 

On the diamond, Mira Costa and Redondo begin their baseball seasons with new head coaches. On the court, both schools continue their rivalry in boys volleyball with Mira Costa ranked No. 2 in the CIF Division I pre-season poll, and on the track, a pair of accomplished distance runners will lead the Mustangs and Sea Hawks in girls track. 

 

Baseball
Both schools open their seasons competing in the El Segundo Tournament. Mira Costa plays at San Pedro tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. before hosting Long Beach Poly at 11 a.m. Saturday and Torrance at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday. 

Cassidy Olson begins his first year as skipper for the Mustangs after a one-year – and controversial – stint at rival Redondo. Mira Costa comes off a 20-12 season and a second-place finish to Palos Verdes where it went 7-1. 

Olson will benefit from returning first team All-Bay League selections Kyle Demarco and Jake Jelmini along with second team honorees James Glawe and Lucas Whitehill. 

Demarco was the team’s leading hitter in 2009, boasting a .429 average. He will anchor the infield at the shortstop position. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Jelmini led the team with a .611 slugging percentage while Whitehill led the Mustangs in home runs (5) and RBIs (36). Glawe will play a key role on the pitching staff. 

After serving many years as an assistant coach, Bradey Thurman returns as head coach at Redondo. He’ll have the task of turning around a program that finished 10-19 last season, including a disappointing 1-9 league record. 

Key returners are third baseman/pitcher Chris Jump, shortstop/pitcher Alex Mistuloff, outfielders Joey Hoy, Nick Ridio and Shawn Sokolsky and second baseman Daniel Marquez. 

The Sea Hawks open the El Segundo Tournament at South in a 3:15 p.m. contest tomorrow. They host Narbonne at 11 a.m. Saturday and travel to Oak Park for a 3:15 p.m. game Tuesday. 

Boys Volleyball
Mira Costa ran the table in the Bay League in 2009, finishing with an impressive 33-2 season record. Unfortunately, its second loss came in an upset to Mater Dei in the semifinals of the CIF Division 1 playoffs. 

Head Coach Mike Ninnis continues to run the perennial powerhouse volleyball program that is Mira Costa. This season’s edition will be led by 6-foot-5 Eric Mochalski, a third team All-CIF selection last year.
Joining the basketball star will be first team All-Bay League players D.J. White and Davis Waddell. Second team honoree Kevin Donohue will help form a strong nucleus for the Mustangs. 

Mira Costa hosts Long Beach Wilson tomorrow at 7 p.m. and Bishop Montgomery Tuesday at 6 p.m. 

 

Redondo comes off a second-place finish in the Bay League and a 14-1-1 record. The young Sea Hawks lost to San Clemente in the opening round of the 2009 playoffs. 

Coach Duncan Avery will rely heavily on first team All-Bay League outside hitter Ryan Olson (6-6) along with second team selections Michael Vellutato, a 6-foot setter, and 6-foot-5 middle blocker Austin Moore. 

The Sea Hawks host the Redondo Varsity Pre-season Tournament tomorrow and Saturday before playing at North Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. 

Softball
Coach Dick Amberik has four All-Bay League players returning to his Mustang squad, which finished with a 12-17-1 record and was runner-up to Palos Verdes in league play. 

Catcher/outfielder Katie Saunders (.412, 19 RBIs, 6 triples) and middle infielder Amanda Gard (.286, 17 runs) will join second-team all-league centerfielder Jonele Conceico (.449) and outfielder/pitcher Amanda Padilla (.445) as team leaders. 

Mira Costa opens its season competing in the Cypress Tournament this weekend. 

Redondo kicks off its season playing in the Downey Classic Saturday. Coach Jennifer Dessert also has four returning all-league players. The Sea Hawks, who had only two seniors on their 2009 roster, finished fourth in the Bay League and the season with a 9-18 record. 

Pitcher/first baseman Brett Aspel (.326) and catcher/outfielder Sonia Colavita (.329, 14 RBIs) are returning first team All-Bay League players. Second team members returning are catcher/outfielder Cindy Zamudio (.388) and centerfielder/third baseman Linda Park (3 HR). 

Boys Lacrosse
Mira Costa Coach Dave Vinci’s boys team competes in the Foothill Tournament Saturday at 5 p.m. The defending Bay League champions host Peninsula Monday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Chadwick for a 4 p.m. match Tuesday. 

The Mustangs went 13-5 in 2009, falling to undefeated Loyola 8-7 in the finals of the LA Regional Tournament. 

Coach Phil Comito’s Redondo squad begins its season at Crespi next Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. The Sea Hawks finished the 2009 campaign with a 6-8 record. 

Girls Lacrosse
Redondo begins its fourth season Monday, March 15 hosting Peninsula at 6 p.m. Coach Tom Borgia’s Sea Hawks are the defending league champions and are coming off a surprising 17-2 season that saw the team reach the title match of the LA County Championships. 

Mira Costa comes off a 16-5 season and was the only team to beat Redondo during the regular season. Coach Patty Perkinson’s Mustangs play at Peninsula Wednesday. 

Boys Tennis
Last season, Mira Costa was ranked No. 8 in CIF Division 1 entering the playoffs. The Mustangs play at Marina today at 3 p.m. before taking on Loyola Tuesday at 3 p.m. in the Bay Area Classic Tournament. 

Redondo hosts Santa Monica today and El Segundo Monday before traveling to South Tuesday. Each match is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. 

 

Track and Field
Redondo’s boys are defending Bay League champions. The Sea Hawks travel to Beverly Hills today for a 2:45 p.m. meet. The squad will compete in the Paramount Relays Saturday at 8 a.m. 

Mira Costa hosts Warren today at 2:15 p.m. The Mustangs host a three-way meet with El Segundo and South Saturday. 

Swimming
Mira Costa begins its season in the J. Marrow Invitational in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, March 23. The Mustang boys and girls teams placed second in the Bay League last season. The boys finished 14th in CIF Division 2. 

Redondo swims at El Segundo today at 3 p.m. Both teams finished fourth in the Bay League in 2009. ER