Beach Cities Sports: Aquatics, cycling, running, volleyball and more

Valor Christian Academy won their third consecutive South Bay Athletic League championship defeating crosstown Redondo Beach rival Riviera Hall Lutheran School. Ethan Thompson (pictured) led the Valor Eagles with 20 points, and Connor Chase added 10 points. Nationally respected basketball scout and writer Frank Burlison recently wrote that Ethan Thompson will be among the best freshman in 2013-2014. Thompson will be attending Bishop Montgomery in the fall. Photo by Kelley Siebenaler

Valor Christian Academy won their third consecutive South Bay Athletic League championship defeating crosstown Redondo Beach rival Riviera Hall Lutheran School. Ethan Thompson (pictured) led the Valor Eagles with 20 points, and Connor Chase added 10 points. Nationally respected basketball scout and writer Frank Burlison recently wrote that Ethan Thompson will be among the best freshman in 2013-2014. Thompson will be attending Bishop Montgomery in the fall. Photo by Kelley Siebenaler

The Lanakila Classic will take place Saturday in Redondo Beach beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Aquatics: Hosted by the Lanakila Outrigger Canoe Club, the Lanakila Classic will be held Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m. The staging area will be at Seaside Lagoon, 200 Portofino Way in Redondo Beach King Harbor. A Mini Course for kids (in the harbor) kicks off the day’s events and costs $5/paddler. The Short Course (approximately 5 miles with paddleboards, SUP, OC1, OC2 and ski) begins at 10 a.m. and costs $25. The Long Course (approximately 10 miles with OC1, OC2, and ski) begins at 12 p.m. at a cost of $25. Lunch is included. For online registration, visit paddleguru.com.

Running: The annual GI Joe Spring Pier-2-Pier Run/Walk will be held Saturday, March 2 at 7 a.m. Runners compete in the sand from the Hermosa Beach Pier to the Manhattan Beach Pier and back. The top two male and female runners receive a dog tag and gift certificate toward new running shoes. T-shirts, goodie bags and raffle prices are included. Break the fastest male/female time and win $100. A Post Event Party will be held at Cantina Real with raffle prizes including a $500 Scholarship donation from Sports Authority. The run/walk benefits Helpline Youth Counseling, Inc., Grandparents As Parents and others. Cost is $35 per runner. Registration is available online through Thursday, Feb. 28 at mbbootcamp.com. Walk-in sign ups available at Village Runner stores: 1840 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach and 1811 S. Catalina Ave., Redondo Beach. For more information, call 310-980-9339.

Village Runner hosts its annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Community Walk and Little Leprechaun Dash for the Gold beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday, March 3 in Redondo Beach. More than 2,500 runners are expected to participate in the race that begins and ends in Riviera Village. The Kid’s Dash follows at 9:30 a.m. The 5K has been selected by the ASICS LA Marathon as an official warm-up race and, for the first time, a costume contest will be held with gift certificates awarded to individual and team (5 or more runners) winners. Entry fees are $30 for the 5K and $25 for the Kid’s Dash (add $5 after Friday). Portions of the proceeds benefit the Redondo Beach Firefighter’s Community Relief Fund and to running programs at Redondo Beach schools. For more information and to register online visit villagerunner.com.

Swimming: Registration is now open for the 2013 Dwight Crum Pier to Pier Swim. The swim will be held on Sunday, Aug. 4. Registration for the swim may be done on-line at surffestival.org or through the Active.com link. Additional race information is available on the website or by following on twitter @pier2pier_swim.

Cycling: The South Bay Wheelmen hosts a group ride on the first Saturday of every month. Cyclists meet in the parking lot of the Catalina Coffee Company at 126 N. Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach. The moderately-paced ride is 30-40 miles with some climbing and regroups at several points so no one gets left behind. For more information visit southbaywheelmen.org.

Fundraisers: Donations are being sought to help install a new turf field at Marine Ave. Park in Manhattan Beach. The soccer field is used heavily by AYSO Region 18 (Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach). The project is only $200,000 short of its $1 million goal. For more information, contact Johnnie C. Morgan, dcajohnnie@aol.com.

Volleyball: Registration is open for the United States Youth Volleyball League in Hermosa Beach. Open to boys and girls ages 7-15, the 8-week season runs from April to June at South Park in Hermosa Beach. For more information on registration and volunteer positions, visit USYVL.org or call 1-888-988-7985.

A Tuesday Co-ed Beach Volleyball League in Hermosa Beach is slated to begin March 19 on the north side of the Hermosa Beach Pier. Best 2-out-of-3 matches are played from 6-8 p.m. for six weeks followed by two weeks of playoffs. Registration must be made at the Community Center at 710 Pier Ave. in Hermosa Beach prior to league start date. Cost is $240 per team plus $5 for each non-Hermosa Beach resident. Online registration is available at HermosaBCH.Org Adult Leagues. For questions, contact Bill Sigler, bill@smacksportswear.com and/or Chris, cyj@prankmonkey.org.

Registration is open for the Torrance Youth Volleyball Program. A Youth Volleyball Clinic is open for kids in grades 2-4 and the Youth Volleyball League for grades 4-8 is tentatively scheduled to begin Saturday, April 6. Both programs are structured to teach basic fundamentals and rules of the game. Registration ends Friday, March 22. Applications and additional information are available online at torranceca.gov/Parks/9754.htm. For more information, call the Community Services Department at 310-618-2930.

Surfing: The South Bay Boardriders Club has announced the schedule for its 2012-13 South Bay Surf Series. Open to non-club members, contests are slated for Saturday at El Porto; Saturday, March 9 at 26th Street, Manhattan Beach; Saturday, April 13 at El Porto and Saturday, May 11 at the Manhattan Beach Pier. For more information, visit southbayboardriders.com.

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