Clivers

So I moved to Vancouver this summer to play as much beach vball as possible. So far it has been going really well. We play anywhere from 3-10 times during the week depending on the weather and our motivation levels and there are tournaments every weekend. Here in Van there are two organizations that put on tournaments on a regular basis. One is BCVA(British Columbia Volleyball Assoc.) and the other is KBVA (Kits Beach Vball Assoc.). The BCVA tourneys are generally average overall. They don't pay out very well and they are usually run a little strangely. They aren't too bad though because they do still attract 5-8 good teams on a regular basis. Their big Molson open tourney in July is the biggest tourney of the summer at Kits Beach and it pays out over 10'gs and attracts top players from around the country.

The KBVA tourneys are super sweet. They are run by living legend Jim Clive and are appropriately name 'Clivers'. Jim is a pretty sweet guy, he does a ton of work setting up these tourneys strictly because he loves the game. KBVA is a completely non-profit organization, its tournaments are put on by the players and for the players. Every penny that comes in from registration fees gets sent right back to the players in prize money. This makes for a decent size prize pool. The payout structure is well set up also, consolation side winners get paid as well as first to third on the winning side.
What really makes Clivers sweet is the atmosphere. Kits beach is a pretty sweet place to start with but it gets even sweeter on a beautiful summer day with a Cliver tourney going on. Even though the competition usually gets a little heated, the general atmosphere is a very chill and relaxed one. Everyone shows up between 8-9am for regsitration and right from the get go everyone is joking around and having a good time. The tournament goes on all day with the finals starting at around 6pm. Everyone from who plays in the tourney usually sticks around to watch the final and heckal the players and also to give props for good plays. Molson sponsors the tourneys, thanks to Rene Holt, so there are free beers for everyone during the finals. After the finals everyone usually hangs out at the beach for a bit, slams the last few beers, and heads to the Sunset Grill just up a block from the beach. At the Grill there is always a huge table reserved for us and the drinking continues.

Anyways, if you ever get a chance to play in a Cliver I would definitely recommend doing so.

So far out best result in the clivers are a 2^nd and a couple thirds. My goal is to win one by the end of the summer.