We’re planning on meeting the Monday after The 6 Man but after reading Geena’s experiences she’d most likely need a day or 2 to recover.
Just Kidding girlfriend!
We’re so lucky to have Geena on board and share her unforgettable moments with us and some helpful tips. On the other hand, we can’t wait to read what she’s going to share after the tourney.
The 6 Man is an event beach volleyballers can’t miss!
Party and Play!
Entry #2: How To Prepare For The 6-Man Tournament
For some of you, this will be your first time attending the Manhattan Beach Surf Festival 6-Man Tournament. With all the stories that you may have heard, you most likely have a ton of questions about how you can prepare for this weekend’s festivities.
I created a list of tips for you to follow and consider so that you can hopefully survive the party you’re about to experience.
Read and enjoy!
1. Drink lots and lots of water! From the sun to the alcohol, chances are you are going to get dehydrated. Make sure you take precaution and drink a lot of water before during and after 6-Man.
2. Sun screen. the tournament starts bright and early and you probably won’t end up leaving until later in the afternoon. So make sure you apply multiple times throughout each day and find shade whenever possible.
3. Bring only what is extremely necessary. A couple years ago I brought a very nice beach bag with my wallet, phone and other prized possessions. With how many people show up to this event, there is no surprise there will be some thieves in attendance. My bag was stolen, and ever since then I have learned my lesson. I suggest bringing cash only (maybe $20 dollars or more if you plan on buying drinks), and you’re phone…only if you can’t live without it.
4. Assign a meeting spot. For those of you who decide not to bring your phone, it is always good for you and your friends to all decide on a place where you guys can meet in case you get separated. With how many people show up to this event it would be no surprise for you to get lost.
5. Bring snacks (or money for food). Bars are always good, or whatever other snack you like. Don’t want anyone passing out now! There are also lots of places to eat up on Manhattan Beach Pier St.
6. Don’t bring alcohol down to the sand. With how strict the city and police have gotten the past couple years, it is smart to just avoid bringing your drink down to the beach. I wouldn’t even try hiding it, because I have known multiple people who have gotten some pretty large sum tickets for this.
7. Get there early. Beach parking can be quite a pain, so the earlier you get there the better chance you’ll have at finding a parking spot. Most of the spots in Manhattan are meter so have some extra coins. Some of the meters are the high tech ones now so you can use your credit card as well. There is free parking farther away from the beach, so unless you don’t plan on walking there will be lots of cabs around for you to take as well.
8. Buy a disposable camera. I bring one of these to 6-Man every year because there’s no way I’d take a chance of losing my camera. These are cheap and fun to use. Wouldn’t want to miss out on any moment to take photos!
9. Expect lines. Patience is a virtue. Remember with crowds, lines are inevitable. Whether it be a line down onto the beach, a line to buy food, or a line to get into a bar, you will likely get stuck in a line, so just be ready!
10. Go out in Manhattan AND Hermosa. I’ve had fun at the bars in not only Manhattan, but Hermosa Beach also has a ton of really fun bars with dance floors. A lot of people make their way to Pier St. and that surrounding area, but again, if you want to avoid lines I would get there early.
11. Bring a couple Gatorade Electrolyte packs. These are perfect for curing a hangover. They’re the perfect amount of salt you’ll need to avoid getting dehydrated.
12. Have a place to stay. Chances are you’ll have so much fun one day that you won’t want to miss out on the next. Have plans on a place to stay whether it’s at a hotel or a friends place, just make sure you have a back up plan just in case.
13. Most importantly, HAVE FUN! This weekend gives you an excuse to party, so make the most of it! 🙂
If you have any other questions don’t be afraid to contact me through my Twitter account: @urango
Hope to see you all there!
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Entry #1: Geena Urango”s The 6 Man Party Timeline…
What’s better than Christmas, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and all the other holidays put together?
If you said your birthday, you’re wrong.
In the volleyball community, specifically Southern California, there is one weekend every summer that is the most anticipated time of the year. Many people have described it as being better than all the holidays AND their birthday put together.
Personally, I have had the honor of having my birthday on this epic weekend for the past 3 years, which has made it that much more special and memorable (or not…if you know what I mean).
What am I talking about? None other than the Charlie Saikley 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament in Manhattan Beach. Happening since 1957, this volleyball tournament, also known as the BIGGEST party of the year, has massively grown in popularity. I can attest to that. Two years ago you literally could not even see sand there were so many people on the beach, and it took at least 10 minutes to just walk past 3 courts.
My experience with 6-Man all began 5 years ago. Here’s a year-by-year break down of what I can remember from the 6-Man’s I have attended:
2007
It was the summer before I was about to start my freshman year at USC. I had a full-ride scholarship to play volleyball for the Women of Troy, and I was more than excited to start practice and school. Earlier in the summer I was asked by an alumni of the USC Women’s Volleyball Team to play for her 6-man team along with a couple other girls I knew from the team and volleyball community in general.
I had no idea what to expect. I mean, I have to admit that I felt pretty cool being on this team with players who I admired and looked up to. Showing up early that Saturday morning in our matching team outfits (pink bathing suits with lots of jewelry) was only the beginning. The rest…well…that’s quite a blur. From what I can remember, lots of bad volleyball, dips in the ocean, comical outfits, and partying. Two of my best friends were on the team and we made sure to stay attached at the hip, because knowing the crowd, and us, if we had lost each other, we may never have found one another. After a long two days, I was DEAD by Sunday afternoon.
…I started a countdown for the next 6-Man the next morning.
2008
I was not apart of a team this year, but I made sure to go with a couple of my best friends. We walked around a lot, watched a lot of volleyball, partied, and tried to tag along with teams we knew people playing on. My birthday was actually on the Saturday of the tournament, and there was nothing else I would have rather done on my birthday than spend it at 6-Man. Another blurry weekend…
2009
One of my best friends organized a team this year. We were called Team Mosebar (sponsored by her boyfriends healthy energy bars). Pretty much all of my closest friends were on this team (all of which are stud volleyball players), so it was a party from the second we were all together.
Although there was a little drama with playing time for some of the girls, some had their own problems (passed out in the sand after having a little too much to drink). Everyone was fine though, don’t worry.
One of the best parts about this particular 6-Man weekend was that a couple girls and I rented a hotel for the weekend right on the strand in Hermosa Beach. It was such a perfect location! It was a two-for-one package: close to the beach AND the bars!
Sunday was playoffs, and we were a few matches into bracket play when we found out we were up against a team with a couple AVP players. What a great match! So many people were watching with at least 4 rows of people lined up around our court. We played so well and gave the team a run for their money, but ended up losing on an ace. Right after the match finished my whole team circled up for a cheer and started singing happy birthday to me. Best loss ever J! We actually finished 11th in the tournament (which is way better than we expected) and got an automatic bid into the tournament the following year.
Don’t forget to unmute the slideshow to listen to the music.
2010
One trend I began to notice was that every year, 6-Man kept getting better and more fun, so I was super anxious to find out what this year would bring. This was the first year that I actually took part in the pre AND post parties that 6-Man has every year. I never realized it but the Hermosa bars are packed starting Thursday night. People go out not only Thursday though. They go out Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as
well! I don’t know how people do that. I personally had to take a break Friday night, and got talked into going out Sunday night only because it was my birthday at midnight.
I’d have to say though, I’m really glad my friends talked me into going out because it was one of the best nights I’ve ever had. Confession: a dance floor and a good DJ is my weakness.
Although our team didn’t make it to playoffs on Sunday, I don’t think we would have been able to play in the condition that we were all in.
All in all though, another successful weekend!
2011
Although the city of Manhattan Beach has gotten pretty strict over the years, the party has not ended…and will not end. You can find me this year on Team Smackeez, but get ready, because we are ready to make this another unforgettable week long party.
Another 6-Man is upon us! Brace yourself and prepare for quite possibly the best time you’ll ever have.
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