Beating the Heat

AVP men's star Matt Fuerbringer discusses tips for combating warm temperatures on the beach.

By Matt Fuerbringer

Learning how to play in hot weather and hot sand can be a very painful experience. During the Hermosa Beach Open, Casey (Jennings) and I had toenails fall off from the heat of the sand and both of us overcame cramps before the finals. Despite these major obstacles, we were still able to win our biggest tournament to date. How did we do it?

Drink a ton of liquids. I like drinking water leading up to the event and then a mixture of Gatorade and water during the event.
Keep your body temperature down. Many players have heat strokes during hot events and don't even know it. Stay in the shade between matches and keep a wet, cool towel around your neck. During the match, I find it helps to wear a hat to keep the sun off your face and head. During timeouts, you can dip your hat in cold water for instant relief. Don't wait until you feel like you are going to pass out before starting.
Stay mentally tough. In the heat and humidity, you often have no appetite. You still must force yourself to eat. We drank water and Gatorade and grazed on energy bars and nuts during and between every match. Your body is telling you something when it starts to cramp, so play through pain if you can, but address your body's needs every time you get a chance.
When the sand gets really hot, there are a few options. Get the court hosed down if possible, put on sand socks, tape the toes, or put up with the heat and deal with it later. I like the court to be hosed down. But when it's not possible, I tape my toes and cover up sensitive parts most susceptible to blisters.

Remember to always stay aware of your body and know when to say when. Sometimes even with the best preparation, the harsh conditions can get the best of the toughest competitors.

Matt Fuerbringer

About the Author

Matt Fuerbringer is in his third full season on the AVP tour. Through the first eight stops in 2005, Fuerbringer, 31, and partner Casey Jennings were ranked third in the points standings and scored victories at San Diego and Hermosa Beach.