by David Miller
SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO – Grand Sands All Season Beach Volleyball is Ohio’s only indoor sand volleyball complex, and will open on Sunday, November 1.
It was awfully hard for guests at the open house on Sunday to keep their shoes on. They just couldn't resist getting some sand between their toes, and impromptu games broke out on many of the courts. The sand makes landing those digs easier, but the surface is hard to maneuver on, making sand volleyball athletes some of the fittest of any competitive sport.
Co-owner, John Wozniak showed off the almost completed first phase of the complex. He said there will be seating on the inside deck next to the courts, enclosed showers so players can clean off when exiting the sand courts, changing rooms, and a restaurant and bar. The Sand Reef "full service bar" will have 3,500 square feet of boardwalk that will make up the inside patio and dining area.
It is a complete transformation of the former 84-Lumber building on Loveland Madiera Road, where they used to sell sand in fifty-pound sacks. Not a trace of the former indoor lumber and hardware store remains. New lighting and heating has been installed, and insulation added to the ceiling and walls of the 20,000 square foot interior. There are five indoor courts with "professional silica sand."
Work to the exterior, that will be readied for warm weather play according to Wozniak, will include outdoor sand courts taking up parts of the parking lot on the front side of the building and more courts on the south side. The chain link fence will be replaced with soft landscaping, and outdoor seating will placed under the existing front porch.
Grand Sands is located at 10750 Loveland-Madiera Road just one mile east of I-275 and exit #52.Beach volleyball has been a popular outdoor sport for many years and has increased play with such added events as the AVP tour, Summer Olympics and the recent announcement of beach volleyball as an NCAA Division I women’s scholarship sport. Kevin Westerkamm, Grand Sands General Manager said, “There are many outdoor courts in the Cincinnati area and over 5,000 active beach volleyball players.” Westerkamm also noted that “there are many more people who enjoy volleyball and would play sand volleyball all year, but do not have the opportunity to play when the weather is too cold or rainy.”
Grand Sands will offer adult leagues from 6 to 11 PM Sunday through Friday and will hold tournaments on Saturdays. Grand Sands will also offer boys and girls Junior High and High School Programs on weekdays from 3 until 5:30 PM and will include instructional programs for beginners and advanced players.
Leagues are being organized for "The Best" players, those with advanced league experience, and "Beginner Level" which is strictly recreational play - and every skill level between.
League standing, schedules, results, and tournament action will be posted on the Grand Sand web site.
More information and registering for play can be found on the website at www.GrandSandsVolleyball.com or by contacting Kevin Westerkamm at (513) 884-4388.
