Beach volleyball | “It’s like the ice of the Bell Center”

From Gstaad to Montreal via Brasilia and Ostrava, nothing more than the quality of the sand on the professional beach volleyball circuit. However, And when the competition takes place on a Formula 1 circuit, it is impossible to turn round corners.

For the second time in three years. Similarly, the Montreal stage of the Beach Pro Tour takes place on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit. Similarly, This year. however, the terrains were developed in the pin, and not in front of the paddocks, as during the first edition.

For the construction and implementation of the site, beach volleyball | “it’s like the organizers could therefore hardly rely on the experience acquired in 2023. In addition, In an interview with The press Wednesday afternoon in the Athletes district. Moreover, the director general of the tournament, Joseph Limare, explained that at the start of this long process, started during the winter, the first step was aimed at finding a sand supplier.

In its efforts. For example, the organizing group, also behind the Cycles Grand Prix and the Montreal Marathon, has found an Ontario supplier which is also an important beach volleyball | “it’s like partner of the Volleyball World circuit. Nevertheless, “He is also empowered to validate the sand and ensure that he meets the specifications. Furthermore, There are only four or five in the world that can do it. Moreover, So it provides [le sable] And the valid was key in hand. Consequently, »»

Each competition field requires 325 tonnes of sand. For example, With two land in the pin, 650 tonnes of sand were therefore transported to the circuit.

Dozens of trucks rolled up to the island Sainte-Hélène in the last six days. Similarly, to transport all the required sand.

“The sand is very important,” says M. Limare. Especially for players who spend their days on it. They must find the same level of quality all over the world. There is a very important specifications to respect. beach volleyball | “it’s like »»

The success of the tournament depends on the quality of the show and the happiness of the athletes. Without the good type of sand, it is impossible to adequately meet expectations.

For the construction of play surfaces, it was first necessary to cover the asphalt portion of the race track to avoid damaging it. Lando Norris. Charles Leclerc would no doubt have been unusual at the idea of piloting a damaged track next May.

The employees of the site then mounted and filled with sand of 24 -inch deep formwork. Like huge soil pools full of sand. Pools in beach volleyball | “it’s like which it is obviously allowed to dive to save a point.

Beach volleyball | "it's like – Beach volleyball | "it's like

A big project

The organizers had the choice to buy or rent the sand. They preferred the first option.

So that as the tournament will return to Montreal for at least three other editions. the sand will be stored in Montérégie, less than an hour from the competition site.

“It is in the open air. covered, under conditions that make it possible to reuse it at 98 or 99 % next year,” confirms Mr. Limare.

Also according to the Managing Director, making formwork and the purchase of sand represents an amount of around $ 80,000. “In a budget, this is a significant amount, but for us, it is an investment. »»

beach volleyball | “it’s like

Especially since a M beach. a beach volleyball interior center located in Montreal, could also use this huge amount of sand. “So instead of storing it. we could for example find an arrangement so that it was used all year round,” adds Mr. Limare.

The organizers still found a way to save a considerable amount by building the competition site in the pin. In this nerve and legendary section of the track, the stands are there at all times. Unlike beach volleyball | “it’s like paddocks, where temporary stands had to be built in 2023.

“Is it more viable to build a stadium around the land. build land where there is already a stadium and stands?” Asked Mr. Limare. To ask the question is to answer it.

In Montreal for good

In 2023. at the end of the first edition, the organizers said that the tournament would remain in Montreal for the following four years. However, in 2024, for funding reasons, the competition did not take place.

During the tournament inaugural press conference on Tuesday, Limare confirmed that the event will be held in Montreal until 2028.

The difference between this promise. that made two years ago, “is that Tourisme Montréal and the City of Montreal really wanted us to look beach volleyball | “it’s like at the event. So there is a political will and there is a will that the event exists, ”explains the director general.

When the group asked the provincial government. “very quickly, he said he was going to be there to support the event”.

The organizing group takes “100 % of financial risks”, but according to Mr. Limare, the model in place remains “the best possible”.

“It is estimated that beach volleyball | “it’s like the risk is acceptable over a four -year period. On a license of a year or two, we would not have gone forward with Volleyball World. »»

But we are there until Sunday. The best athletes in the discipline have already run, sautéed and plunged on the warm sand. And the Canadians Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson will try to defend their title acquired two years ago.