Photo: Photos Stephen Clarke
Cayman’s beaches and crystal clear waters are the greatest attraction for tourists and locals alike, but when you add top athletes to the mix, it becomes a potent combination.
From 25 to 27 March, Cayman will play host to the first round of the NORCECA beach volleyball tour again, with nations from across the region taking to the pristine sands of Seven Mile Beach in search of sporting glory.
The tournament, presented by the Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation, has built up a loyal following in Cayman over the last couple of years; not surprising, as beach volleyball forms a regular part of weekend activities around the Island.
For competitors, the venue is a huge attraction, as they get to play right on the ocean and not in a parking lot filled with sand as happens in some other locations.
For local volleyball fans, an added attraction is that the tournament is free to attend, making it highly accessible. However, due to the popularity of the tournament, it is advisable that anyone hoping to secure a seat gets to the venue early. It promises to be three full days of competition, starting at 9am in the morning and lasting until 6pm in the evening.
Last year, the event was contested by teams from Aruba, Canada, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Mexico, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, and of course local fan favourites Cayman.
Of course, the competition will not be the only attraction, with other events planned around the tournament as well.
Watching top athletes in the heat of competition can be thirsty work as well, and Calico Jacks right next door to the two courts will be ready with food and drink to keep the spectators in good voice all through the day.
Cayman’s team at the tournament will contain a face familiar even to those who do not follow beach volleyball.
Although beauty queens are often lampooned for spending all day fussing about the state of their fingernails, and of course, world peace, Miss Cayman Cristin Alexander is a refreshing change. Far from shying away from anything strenuous, Cristin is a national team volleyball player, and will represent Cayman in the local leg of the NORCECA tour, along with Jennifer Bily.
Cristin cut her teeth on the indoor version of the game, but living in Cayman, the lure of the great outdoors proved too much as she soon found herself heading down to the beach for her sporting fix.
“What could be better than playing a sport on a beautiful beach with the refreshing sea at your feet when you need to wind down or cool off? Needless to say, it’s the perfect setting for a good time,” she says.
Although Cristin now plays at the top level of the sport, it is at the recreational level where she believes the sport has really started to come of age.
“I think it has been phenomenal to see the recreational league on Sundays grow to what it has become and that people are starting to catch on to the fact that beach volleyball isn’t only fun, it can be played by people of varying skill levels and it’s great workout too.”
Of course, there is a world of difference between the team game played recreationally every Sunday and the highly competitive two-player teams that will take to the beach for the NORCECA tournament. The level of athleticism required of the players is extreme, and once the heat of the day is combined with the heat of competition, it can be a draining experience for even the fittest of players.
“The tournament will be a chance to see some of the highest ranked teams in the region as well as some very competitive volleyball. The NORCECA tournament weekend is always full of entertainment that can be enjoyed by all.”
And with the likes of Miss Cayman gracing the court, who wouldn’t want to spend the day on the beach?
The event is sponsored by the Department of Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports & Culture and First Caribbean International Bank. The media sponsor is caycompass.com, and other sponsors include Corona, LIME, BritCay, Z99, Vibe, Funky Monkey, Pampervous Mobile Spa Cayman, O Bar, Comfort Suites, Vision Marketing, Jet Nightclub and Attic.