Online editor Helen Russell hones her ball
skills on a weekend in the West Country
Being blessed with neither the stature nor
the hand-eye coordination of a natural sportswoman, I'm nervous about learning
beach volleyball. Will I be any good? Will it hurt? And how do I get the
Baywatch theme tune out of my head when I'm playing?
Beach
Volleyball In Devon
This Olympics sport started in Santa
Monica, but I'm learning it in the California of the West Country - Croyde Bay
in north Devon. Joined by three girlfriends, I've arranged a weekend at Ocean
Point, a collection of relaxed apartments overlooking Saunton Sands.
Croyde
Bay, North Devon
Our instructor is former GB player Denise
Austin who coaches everyone from beginners to budding internationals. She
starts us off with the basics: digging (passing the ball), setting (serving it)
and spiking (smashing it into your opponents' court). To move more easily in
the sand, we're advised to go barefoot and scuttle from side to side. `Like a
crab?' I ask. `Exactly,' says Denise.
Getting the ball over the net is the next
challenge. Denise tells us to hold our arms straight ahead and nudge the ball
upwards with a shrug. When she does this, it looks easy and makes no sound.
When I do it, there's a loud `thwack' and I'm in agony. After a few more
shrugs, however, I get it. Volleyball eureka!
We're soon throwing ourselves into the air
like old pros. My team loses the match at the end, but it doesn't matter.
There's a real sense of achievement at having used muscles that have lain
untroubled for years.
Beside
the seaside: Ocean Point on the north Devon coast
After a shower we're revived but famished.
Croyde offers upmarket pub grub (ostrich burgers or venison steak, anyone?) and
we down a few glasses of Pinot Grigio before bed. The next day is spent
reminiscing about our sporting glory while eating ice cream on the beach. Would
we play it again? You bet.
Top tip Get
your technique right to avoid injury (but pack arnica cream just in case).
Learn more
At volleyballengland.org, scottishvolleyball.org, volleyballwales.org.
Book now
Denise Austin (beachvolleyballinc.com) offers coaching to groups and
individuals year-round, from $53 an hour. Farm & Cottage Holidays
(holidaycottages.co.uk) has properties near Croyde. A week at Ocean Point in
June, sleeping four, costs from $1,333.
