Winter Beach Bash

Fired up for the Winter Beach Bash in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Been way toooooo long since Phil and I have played on domestic soil and this will be the first one in about a year and a half. We will be playing February 25th but will be in Grand Rapids from the 23rd to the 26th doing a couple of clinics and what not. Chances are it will be cold in Michigan but hopefully we can warm up that arena with some good beach volleyball. Hope to see some of my fans and friends out there.

Barefoot in Miami

I was in Miami for a couple of days this weekend to do some promotional stuff for Barefoot Wine. Great company by the way. I was supposed to play but obviously the injury kept me out. Thanks to Nick Lucena for playing with Phil for me. I know it was a pain in the butt for him to play with the big bald guy but I sure appreciate it. :) Good luck to them this weekend.

Cincinnati

Quick in and out trip to Cincinnati to do a clinic with Karch. Went great thanks to the help of Jeff Conover (coach of April and Jen), Mark Van Zwieten and Olaya Pazo (I think it was her?) Super hot in Cincinnati by the way. Sweatin' up a storm. Good to see a lot of people I have not seen in awhile too. Bob, Mario, Dale and more.
Going to Miami this weekend. A little bit longer trip though. I'll be there from Thursday until Saturday if all goes as planned.

Youth Clinic by Todd Rogers and Karch Kiraly, Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 3rd

Some details on the Youth Clinic Todd mentioned in his previous post :
Saturday, September 3rd:
http://www.usopenbeachvolleyball.com/index.php/schedule-of-events
•Men's & Women's Main Draw Continues
•Day Session runs 10:30a-5p
•Approximately 2PM - Youth Clinic Presented by Spalding Featuring Gold Medalists Todd Rogers and Karch Kiraly (included in the price of admission for all kids ages 8-18)
•Night Session runs 6-10:30pm
•Approximately 7:30PM - Kelley James Free Concert Presented by Corona Light Featuring recording artist Kelley James (included in the price of session admission)
•Saturday Tickets $20 per session
Hahana Beach, 7605 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45227, 513-272-1990
http://hahanabeach.com/

Thanks and Update

I am sure this will never get to them but I would like to thank all the people that offered to help me as I wandered through the various Euro airports in my trek from Finland back to Santa Barbara when I was injured. Many a person asked how they could help me, get me some water, and even a beer. Although they will probably never read this, I really appreciated all the offers of help. It also assures me that there are lots of people out there with good hearts who will offer up random acts of kindness.
Rehab is going very well. Walking almost without a limp and very happy about that. Helping out with my kids soccer teams and volleyball team and still able to get around pretty decently to show the kids who to do some of the skills. Nothing to gnarly but at least the easy ones.
I will be in Cincinnati doing a kids clinic with Karch tomorrow, Saturday. If you are around that area, come by Hahana beach park and say hello.

Surgery Update

Had surgery yesterday, Friday. Doctor said it went quite well. Was exactly what the MRI said, a torn miniscus. No damage to the ligaments etc... Was able to immediately put weight on my knee which I could not do before surgery. Taking it easy this weekend. Ice and rest and then Monday I will start up with Rehab. Big thanks to Dr. Gallivan who did my surgery. Only time will tell how things are but so far so good.

Injury in Aland

As most people already know, I injured my knee in Finland. Up to that point we had been playing quite well. We were in control of the finals match up 18-15 after I sided out and felt the tweak in my knee. Bummer but it happens.

I have actually had a slight tear in my miniscus for about 3 months now. Has been a pain in the arse, especially over the 6 weeks in a row we had, but got through with decent results. Felt great in Aland after that week off but in the finals it was bugging me and was quite stiff.

My season is done for the year as I will have surgery on Friday to repair the miniscus. Had a second MRI yesterday and saw the doctor to confirm that their is no other damage to the knee. The MRI came out with a healthy ACL, PCL, MCL etc... Their was further damage to the medial miniscus though which is why it hurt so damn much more than the little tear I had before. Good news considering an ACL would have put me back for 6 months and this should only put me out for a month or so. I was going to have surgery next week after the Netherlands anyways so now I am going a week earlier. Works out alright as I would have taken several weeks off from training to give my body some badly needed rest. Now it will just come a month earlier than planned and I start lifting and training in earnest when I normally start doing so in November.

That is the scoop.

Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser at FIVB Beach Volleyball Tournament in Aland, Finland August 18-21, 2011

FIVB web page

Men's Teams

Men's Results

Men's Photo

Live Scores

Women's Event

Austria and before and after

I was reminded by my friend Tom, the announcer in Austria, that I have been a bit lax in blogging. He is certainly right and I thank him for smacking me around and getting my head on straight. :) J/K.

Austria was as always, simply amazing. I have been there 9 out of 10 years or something like that and I am still amazed everytime I go. If every event were like that I'd try to play forever. But, they aren't so I won't. We didn't win the gold but took the bronze. Lost a tough one in the semis to Ricardo/Pedro. Had a very good game vs. Jake and Rosy. Really fun rallies. Always seems like that vs. them.

Before that we had won the previous 2 events in Stare Jablonki, Poland and Quebec, Canada. Poland is another spot similar to Austria. Little bit colder this year with some rain but still very nice in my book. Quebec was the best first time event I have ever been too. Promoter did a great job and the fans were great.

This season has been a tale of several mini seasons. 1st 3 events we were on top of our game winning the first 2 and taking second in the 3rd one to Alison and Emanuel. That was season #1. Then Phil sprained his ankle in Beijing and we had to forfeit and take a 5th. The following week at the WC in Rome we took a 9th and 2 weeks later we lost to Reckermann and Brink and took a 5th. That was season #2. Then in Switzerland we took a 2nd to Alison/Emanuel but beat Reckermann and Brink in the semis in a very good game. In Russia we took a 3rd. Then as you know we took 1st in Quebec in a bit of a watered down tourney and Poland with a full field and then 3rd in Austria. That was season #3. We have 2 more weekends in Finland and the Netherlands and hopefully we can continue with season #3 and maybe win 1 or 2. Hasn't been the season we were hoping for but not much we can do about a sprained ankle and other issues. It is what it is. I also believe that the teams keep getting better and better. Alison and Emanuel are playing the best on tour this year and Reckermann and Brink have both been healthy. Little mix up in the Brazilian ranks but whoever plays with Ricardo is going to be in the mix. The Polish guys are coming on really strong and the young Russians and Italians are always a threat. Bella and Patrick from Switzerland are contending to win tourneys. Of course you can't forget the rest of the Germans or our American compatriots either. The tour is deeper and stronger and is only going to get more so for next year. Good reason to open it up a bit but that is another conversation for another day.

Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser on cover of Volleyball Magazine, August 2011