Beachin' volleyball

I think there were a lot of pro volleyball players out on the hot sands of Ashbridges Bay Beach. I am not sure, they might have even been Brazillian. They may have been practicing for next weekends Not So Pro Beach Volleyball tour on August 12-14, 2011.

See more pictures after the jump.

Ontario Volleyball at Ashbridges Bay

Ontario Volleyball had a large competition down at Ashbridges Bay/Woodbine Beaches as players started in the light mist and heavy fog of yet another beautiful Toronto weekend. I didn't even see any visible sunscreen and the typical beach volleyball swimwear was replaced with winter parkas.

The competitions looked pretty fierce with mens, ladies and youth games on the massive beach - it looked like a colourful net farm and the crop was doing good (probably all that rain).

Don't forget Hope Volleyball: Toronto's Largest Charity Volleyball Tournament on the Toronto Island on Saturday June 18, 2011.

See more pictures after the jump.

Beach Volleyball

It didn't look like any organized beach volleyball games were going on in Ashbridges Bay, just a large amount of pickup games. From what I heard on a nice sunny, Sunday the beaches would normally be full of volleyball tournaments but the long weekend has a lot of people out of town. The games were coed and were a lot of fun to watch.



Most of the players really got into the games and the action was intense at times. Dives into the sand to return the ball or high jumping spikes and blocks as each team fought for supremacy.



Looking at row after row of multi-coloured nets shows how much people like to play volleyball on this beach.



The uniform of choice was bathing suits including this combo thong suit.




HOPE VOLLEYBALL

Billed as Toronto's largest one day Charity Volleyball Tournament the 22nd annual Hope Volleyball Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 12 on Centre Island in the Toronto Islands. If you want to play you need to register on-line by May 31. Individuals can even sign up and be placed on a team.

HOPE stands for Helping Other People Everywhere and the tournament gets about 6,000 players competing in the event.

Photo Vault - Hit the beaches

Winter has been very kind to us here in Ontario but even still it's time for Summer. Toronto is fortunate to be situated along Lake Ontario so there are a number of sandy beaches (see the following list) where Toronto goes to fly a kite or relax, put on their thongs to get some rays and then hit the water.



Bluffer's Park Beach with a great view of the Scarborough Bluffs.
Toronto Island:Centre Island Beach and the islands are a great place to spend a day.
Cherry Beach is also a favourite with dog owners.
Toronto Island:Gibraltar Point Beach
Toronto Island:Hanlan's Point Beach Toronto's clothing optional beach.
The Beaches:Kew - Balmy Beach
Marie Curtis Park East Beach
Rouge Beach
Sunnyside Beach
Toronto Island: Ward's Island Beach
The Beaches:Woodbine Beache home of the boardwalk and beach volleyball in Ashbridges Bay Park.




You can check out Toronto beach water quality here. You can also walk, bike or rollerblade on the waterfront trail.

Ashbridge Bay-Watch

Lifeguards are on duty along the beaches of Toronto and the citizens of TO are on hand to enjoy the refreshing waters of Lake Ontario. I didn't see any lifeguards running in slow motion but there were plenty in their towers and lifeguard stations; rescue gear and boats ready for action.

Keeping people safe from June 12 to September 7 (until 6pm) the lifeguard services is run by the Toronto Police Department.





The huge sandy area was full of beach volleyball nets with youth games by PVB Canada going on and a seperate area for the Not So Pro Sports summer beach volleyball tour.

Beach Volleyball at Ashbridges Bay

While it is still spring and the temperature was a little cool Toronto took advantage of a sunny weekend to head down to Ashbridges Bay Park - home of the forest of poles used to hold volleyball nets.


About one third of the courts were in use and some of the games were pretty exciting, it was like being at the Olympics although some plays do not always work out as planned.





The park was also full of people and some cute dogs supporting the charity walk Steps for Life: walking for victims of workplace tragedy.