History

Beach Volleyball was introduced to the beaches of Santa Monica by Duke Kahanamoku when he relocated from his native Hawaiian islands (Outrigger Canoe Club) to become a beach guard at the Santa Monica Beach Club. At the Outrigger, the game was more or less “Jungle Ball” where a net was strewn between two coconut trees and played with a large soft ball. 

Two Santa Monica lifeguard brothers, Nate and Sam Shargo would visit the Beach Club and play this “beach volleyball” game with Duke and renowned surfer/waterman Tom Blake. These two brother’s took what was a relaxing past time in Hawaii to another level and never looked back.

Over the next several decades California beach volleyball became a way of life on the coast. When the surf was flat, you played volleyball. And vise-versa. As time elapsed, tournaments were developed and bragging rights from Santa Cruz to San Diego were being challenged at these events. Eventually true hero’s of the sport arose and the birth of the “King of the Beach” status became the entitlement many of yesterday’s gladiators of beach volleyball strived towards.

The first celebrated King of the Beach, in an era where beach volleyball graduated from a six pack of beer for first prize into real cash was Jim Menges in the 70s. There were other’s that proceeded him, icons like Henry Bergman, Gene Selznick and Ron Von Hagen, but is Jim Menges that darned the covers of magazines and earned sponsorship as the first star of beach volleyball.

Over the next several decades there has been a number of “King’s of the Beach, all whom have earned this right by conquering the game on (and for some of them, off) the court. Sinjin Smith, Randy Stoklos, Tim Hovland, Mike Dodd, and Karch Kiraly are the most recognizable, along with others that hailed the title at times like Adam Johnson, Jose Loiola , Scott Ayakatubby and Brent Frohoff.

The namesake grew in appeal such that the AVP, thorough an idea of Karch Kiraly and usage rights from the trademark owners of the KOB brand, Side Out Sport, launched an event which became the crowning jewel in both pay out and stature. The “King the Beach” tournament was at the culmination of each professional volleyball season, and veered away from the crowning of a winning team and enshrined one player as the King of the Beach for that season.

King of the Beach resonates today as it did when the ultimate King of the Beach - Duke Kahanamoku introduced the game to the Shargo brothers. At any time and on any given beach there is someone who is recognized at the King.

It’s good to be King!