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Santa Monica is renowned for its laid-back beach vibes. 

To celebrate that, the Santa Monica Pier Corp. is hosting the Pier 360 Beach Festival on Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29, with competition and entertainment along the shoreline.

The free, all-ages event brings together thousands of locals and visitors for ocean sports, beachside games, skateboarding, roller skating, live music, food and drinks, and a deep dive into 90 years of paddleboard racing history.

“Pier 360” action kicks off Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. on the sand and continues from 10 a.m. on the Pier deck, where festivalgoers can explore interactive activities, grab bites and brews, and soak up summer energy at one of Southern California’s most legendary destinations.

Main attractions

• Paddleboard Races (June 29): Celebrate 90 years of paddleboard racing with the 1-mile short course ($30), Mike Vaughan Memorial 5-mile distance race ($40) and high-speed spring racing ($40). Open to paddlers of all levels.

• Ocean Swims (June 29): 500m and 1-mile open water swim events with wetsuit/non-wetsuit divisions and age group awards. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m., with a Hawaiian blessing.

• CBVA Beach Volleyball Tournaments (June 28 and 29): Men’s and women’s open competition for a $4,000 prize pool plus the Santa Monica Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame Legends Exhibition.

• Santa Monica Strongman Classic (June 28 and 29): High-octane strongman contest featuring over 80 male and female athletes competing across multiple weight classes.

• AAU Invitational (June 29): Top 18:U girls teams compete in a triple-crown showdown.

• Lifeguard Competitions (June 28): Including the historic Pete Peterson Surfboat 1-Mile Dory Race and Junior Guard events.

• Skate Experience (June 28 and June 29): An energetic celebration of skateboarding and athleticism with demos, clinics, and competitions on custom ramps with LA’s top skaters.

• POP SK8 Roller Rink (June 28 and June 29): Community-themed pop-up roller rink on the Pier deck open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (free skates available on site).

• The Fox Den Beer Garden (June 28 and June 29): Chill with cold brews and vodka seltzers thanks to Michelob Ultra. Open to all ages, with alcohol available for purchase to guests 21 and over. Sponsored by The Surfing Fox. 

• All-Day Music & Polynesian Dance (June 28 and June 29): Kick off each day with vibrant Polynesian performances and live music throughout the afternoon.

• Museum of Beach Life (June 28 and June 29): A free, hands-on exhibit curated by local legends explores the history of surf, Muscle Beach, and paddleboard racing.

• Youth Zone (9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 28 and June 29): Arts, crafts, and giant games for kids. An adult must accompany children under 18.

• Old Navy and Disney Road Trip (June 28 and June 29): A free, family-friendly pop-up experience inspired by the classic American road trip, featuring scenic photo ops, roadside refreshments, exciting giveaways, and an exclusive Old Navy x Disney pop-up store with items from the collection- — including sold-out pieces like the mini tote bag.

Separately, to celebrate Disney Mickey & Friends this summer, the iconic Disneyland Band will bring some extra Disney magic to the final Old Navy x Disney Road Trip stop with a performance at the Santa Monica Pier 360 Beach Festival location at 11 a.m. June 28. Guests can enjoy a medley of songs, including the recent addition of the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration theme song, “Celebrate Happy.”

“Pier 360 is more than a festival; it’s a tribute to the unique culture that was born right here on the Santa Monica Pier,” said Jim Harris, executive director and historian of the Santa Monica Pier. “From racing traditions that started in the 1930s to the cutting-edge sports and experiences of today, it’s a weekend that captures the heart of SoCal beach life.”

Pier 360 is produced by Santa Monica Pier Corp., along with these great sponsors Old Navy, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, Celsius, Big Blue Bus, Adidas, The Surfing Fox, The Pierside, Best Day Brewing, Lightship, Simply Pop, Everyday Dose, Frontier, Gatorade Hydration Booster, Lifeway Kefir, Healing Grounds, Wetzel’s Pretzel Food Truck, Costco, Standard Procedure, Kendra Scott, Johnny Rockets, Hot Dog On A Stick, Heal The Bay, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, AB InBev and Toyota.

The festival is free to attend, with some competitions requiring advance registration and entry fees. Beach activities begin at 8 a.m. Pier deck opens at 10 a.m. For full details, athlete registration and event schedule, visit santamonicapier.org.

Arrive by Rideshare, Metro, Bus or Bike. The Santa Monica Pier is located at 200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A, Santa Monica, CA 90401. 

STORRS, Conn.- Incoming freshman Marshall Potter (Simsbury, Conn.) has been named Gatorade’s Connecticut Outdoor Boys Track and Field Player of the Year, announced in a release on Wednesday.

At the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia, Potter finished third in both the discus (194 feet, 4 inches) and hammer throw (227-9). Earlier in June, Potter won the Connecticut State Open champion in the discus with a throw of 181-06 and finished second in the shot put with a throw of 58-08.25.

The future Husky broke the shot put record at the Class L meet with a throw of 61-05.75 and took home the discus crown with a throw of 175-06.

Potter was named to the Gametime CT All-State First Team for boys outdoor track and field.

Year formed: 1973. 

NVL Coach: Patrick Samsom. 

Social media handles: Telford Volleyball Club (Facebook), @telfordvolleyballclub (Instagram), @telfordvolleyballclub (TikTok)  

Telford gave notice of their ability to compete at national level last season when they enjoyed a successful campaign in the National Shield. 

In September, they claimed an impressive 3-0 success (25-15, 25-20, 25-22) over fellow West Midlanders Tamworth Spartans 2 at the Last 64 stage. 

Next, in November, they continued their run against another NVL Division 3 Central side in the shape of Darkstar Derbyshire 2, this time coming through in four sets in the Last 32 clash (25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19).   

That took their campaign into the New Year where they next faced Nottingham Rockets at the David Ross Sports Centre in January, bidding for a hat-trick of victories against teams from the same league. 

Things started well as the visitors took the first set, but the Rockets came back strongly to take the next three (13-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-11). It soon became clear that there was no disgrace in that Last 16 exit as their opponents went on to win the league title without losing a game. 

Those performances will certainly have given Telford confidence they can hold their own when they begin their 2025-26 season in the NVL – and the club has already made preparations ready for it when playing their 2024-25 campaign in the West Midlands Volleyball League. 

“We had a good, strong start to the season in WMVL Division 1 and, with a secure place in the table, we took the the decision was made to transition and give more court time to the juniors in preparation for their transition into the NVL squad,” said Anna Mottershaw, the club’s Fixtures and Training Rota Secretary and Junior Development Officer. 

“That obviously impacted the teams predicted overall position in the league, but proved very useful for both the young players and the coach to plan their progression. 

“We are particular looking forward to returning to the NVL after a previous spell in it as it will enable us to compete consistently at a higher level. 

“For this first season back, competing at this level whilst putting some wins under our belts will be the aim. 

“Alongside that, we want to give our club members the opportunity to play at a higher level – as well as give players from across the club a goal for their own personal volleyball journey.” 

Telford last played in the national set-up in the 2019-20 season, while their men last took part in the 2002-03 campaign, winning Division 3. 

However, player retirement, a drop in numbers and a lack of a junior club eventually led to the withdrawal of both teams, not helped in the case of the women’s side by the onset of Covid-19. 

But now Telford have worked hard to make their player pool wider by focusing in on their junior system and ensuring there is a strong conveyor belt of talent coming through. 

They have recognised that developing their own is likely to be key to success, with Anna (née Perkins), along with husband and Club Chair Kevin, leading the way. 

They were both pupils at Phoenix Secondary School in Telford where the club was founded by teachers Trevor Knowles and William (Bill) and have remained active members of the club since first getting involved. 

Anna said: “To progress our club, we want to be able to offer a wide range of volleyball from juniors upwards, as well as having a fully homegrown NVL team in the future. 

“As with all clubs post-Covid 19, we saw an influx of players with the introduction of the cartoon series Haikyu… with it our junior section grew and grew. 

“In 2015, our junior club consisted of four people and now we regularly have 35. With the increase in numbers also comes more teams, coaches, sports hall availability and equipment. 

“But all of these have enabled us to offer a full range of volleyball, re-enter the NVL and make sure that our teams are made up of homegrown talent. 

“With a thriving junior section, we are now able to have two ladies teams and currently three men’s teams, all of which represent the club in the same league but in different divisions.” 

Another challenge in the not-too-distant past saw the club forced to move from its roots in 2013 when the old school closed. 

It was then that the club changed its name to Telford Volleyball Club, planting its roots at Telford College of Arts and Technology (TCAT). 

The move has proven successful, with coaches giving their time to coach the college team whilst at the same time recruiting new players, ensuring a strong club – college partnership. 

For the 2025-26 NVL season, Coach Patrick Samsom will be looking to two key players to lead from the front. 

Telford will go up against the likes of Coventry and Warwick Riga 2, Black Country 2, Sheffield 2, Wombourne, Nuneaton Inferno, the two sides they defeated last season – Darkstar Derbyshire 2 and Tamworth Spartans 2 – and fellow newcomers Birmingham City. 

“Based on last year’s performances Daniel Searle and Patryk Piecuch are going to be important for us as we settle in,” he said. 

“They out together so many beautiful combinations and I could see straight away when one wasn’t there. 

“Patryk is probably the best Libero in the West Midlands competition so it’s great to have him in our team. 

“The combinations Daniel lets the attackers run is amazing and he reads the game quite well too.”

Find out more about the NVL by clicking here.