Friday, June 06, 2008

Soles4Souls will be the Official Charity of Beach Tennis Smash

Beach tennis will return to San Diego with the Beach Tennis Smash on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8. This is the second year beach tennis has been organized in San Diego, it will be at Ocean Beach Tower 3 at the corner of Brighton Avenue and West Point Loma Boulevard.

Beach tennis has been described as a combination of beach volleyball and tennis, creating an action-packed, fast-paced game. It is now in its fourth season in the U.S. since being launched by real estate developer Marc Altheim.


Soles4Souls was announced as the official charity of the Beach Tennis Smash. Participants and spectators are encouraged to donate shoes that have been “gently worn” to Soles4Souls, which then distributes them around the world to those in need.


“I got the idea to support Soles4Souls from last year’s marathon here in San Diego, whereby at the end of the race, runners had the opportunity to donate their shoes,” said Gretchen Magers, president of San Diego Beach Tennis Association. “Tennis players usually have lots of pairs of shoes but the beauty of beach tennis is you do not need shoes. So now you have a reason to donate them.”


Magers, a popular former professional-tour player who competed in all of the Grand Slam events, said the competition in the pro division will be very good. According to Magers, beach tennis has proven to be a popular transition for those players no longer on the tour.


For more information, call (619) 920-7075, or visit www.beachtennisusa.net.Those interested in learning beach tennis can do so every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Barnes Tennis Center, 4490 West Point Loma Blvd. in Point Loma.

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