2008 News

Long Beach to Host USRowing Masters National Championships

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 August 2008 11:37

The prestigious 2008 USRowing Masters National Championships will be held August 14-17 in Marine Stadium in Long Beach. Close to 1,600 entrants ranging in age from 21 up to 75 will compete in the event hosted by the City of Long Beach, the Long Beach Rowing Association and USRowing.

Part of the annual Charter Communications Long Beach Sea Festival, more than 200 races in a variety of age categories are scheduled during the four-day event, with heats held in the morning and finals in the afternoon. The boats will compete on six 1,000-meter buoyed racing lanes in historic Marine Stadium. Racing begins at 8 a.m. each morning and, depending on the number of required heats, the event will run from approximately 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. each day.

Marine Stadium serves as an appropriate venue for the US Masters National Championship. Rowing competition first began in Alamitos Bay in 1907 and Marine Stadium was the rowing venue for the 1932 Olympic Games. As one of only two sites that remain standing from the ‘32 games (the LA Coliseum and Marine Stadium), it was named a California State Landmark in 1995.

For more information on the USRowing Masters National Championships, visit www.longbeachrowing.org or call (310) 466-5814. Historic Marine Stadium is located at 5255 Paoli Way, Long Beach 90803.

1000 Kids to celebrate Beach Day by Building Immense Octopus Sand Sculpture in association with top Professional Sand Sculptors

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 August 2008 13:09

More than ,1000 Kids brought to the beach by the Long Beach Parks, Recreation Marine Department Summer Camp program will celebrate a day at the beach by helping to build an immense sand Octopus with several professional sand sculptors on Friday, August 8 from 10 am – 2 pm. at Long Beach’s Granada Beach.

Part of the annual Charter Communications Long Beach Sea Festival, the Kids Day event has been underwritten by SSA Terminals in Long Beach. Their funding has provided the kids an opportunity to work with world-class sand sculptors to learn how to build sand sculptures. The event also provides an opportunity for the Kids Octopus to be on display at The Great Sand Sculpture Contest being held the next day on Saturday, August 9.

World Class sculptors Kali Bradford, and Bill Rose will interact with the kids to help guide them in the project Both are past winners of the US Open Sand Sculpture Contest held in San Diego. Also in attendance will be Sand Sculptor Brent Terry, who was a medal winner in the 2003 World Championship, a world solo height record in 2006, and won the coveted Sculptors Choice award at the 2007 World Championships.

The Kids Day Event is operated by Alfredo’s Beach Club in association with the Long Beach Junior Chamber. For further information about the Saturday Great Sand Sculpture Contest, including entry fees, advance registration and complete rules, call (562) 434-1542 or visit www.alfredosbeachclub.com.

Great Sand Sculpture Contest ready for you to dig in!

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 August 2008 13:12

The 75th Annual Great Sand Sculpture Contest, presented by SSA Terminals – one of the area’s oldest and most popular events – will be held Saturday, August 9 at the Granada Launch Ramp in Long Beach. The event will feature everything from top professional sand sculptors, corporate teams to local youth building their very first sandcastle.

Part of the annual Charter Communications Long Beach Sea Festival, the Great Sand Sculpture Contest is held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Individuals or teams will be provided a marked 15’ by 15’ area. Sculptures will be judged on uniqueness of sculpture, difficulty of construction and display and concept. An awards ceremony with trophies and gift certificates will be held at 2 p.m., followed by public viewing until 4 p.m. The day will also include a kids zone, arts and crafts vendors, live music and food.

As part of the event, The Port of Long Beach is sponsoring a professional sand castle display and co-hosting sand-castle building clinics with St. Mary Medical Center. "The Port of Long Beach is proud to sponsor the Great Sand Sculpture Contest and the Sea Festival event series," said Heather Morris, the Port's Director of Communications and Community Relations. "The contest has become one of the premiere summer attractions in Long Beach, and the Port is pleased to help support this amazing and unique community event." Charter Communications will also have large professional sand sculpture displays for the public to enjoy.

Several world-class sand sculptors will be on hand making elaborate decorations. They include Larry Safady, Kali Bradford and Bill Rose, each of whom are past winners of the US Open Sand Sculpture Contest. Also in attendance will be Sand Sculptor Brent Terry, who was a medal winner in the 2003 World Championship, a world solo height record in 2006, and won the coveted Sculptors Choice award at the 2007 World Championships.

The Great Sand Sculpture Contest is operated by Alfredo’s Beach Club in association with the Long Beach Junior Chamber. For further information, including entry fees, advance registration and complete rules, call (562) 434-1542 or visit www.alfredosbeachclub.com.

Alamitos Bay Beach Water Polo Tournament to Debut August 9 & 10

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 August 2008 13:07

Beach water polo – a sport that has become incredibly popular in Europe in the last five years – will make its Southern California debut this Saturday and Sunday, August 9-10, with the Alamitos Bay Beach Water Polo Tournament.

Part of the Charter Communications Long Beach Sea Festival, the Beach Water Polo competition will begin at noon Saturday. At 6 p.m., the Long Beach Fire Dept. and. Long Beach Police Dept. will meet in an exhibition game, the first time the two groups have met since the 2004 Long Beach Aquatics Festival. Sunday play runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission for spectators on both days is free. Spectators are encouraged to bring beach chairs and Alfredo’s Beach Club will be open to provide food and beverages.

Beach water polo has a variety of unique rules, some of which include no timekeeping (games are divided into sets of six goals each, with best-of-three winning the game), smaller goals and field of play, and only four player in the water, rather than seven in regular water polo. Many rules are the same as those for FINA/USWP.

The tournament is organized by Long Beach Shore Aquatics and divisions include boys/girls 12/14/16/18 & under, Masters Men’s and Women’s Open Divisions. Entry fee is $20 per player on a team or club roster.

Deadline for registration is Thurs., Aug. 7. Tournament information and registration is available at www.shoreaquatics.com. Information is also available by calling Rob Webb at (562) 786-1872.