WKRG News 5 - From high school to college athletes, it's not your typical day at the beach these days in Gulf Shores. "This is absolutely, from a beach volleyball community standpoint, this is a unbelievable hidden treasure," says Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championship executive director Kathy DeBoer.
This is the second year for the championships and they learned a lot last year. "No one can do this like you guys can do this," she says. "So we will be here another two years after this."
This isn't the first time the state high school track championships have been held here either. "We have some of the best athletes in the country and they are getting to compete right here," says Alabama High School Athletics Association president Steve Saverese.
Two thousand high school athletes are competing on a newly renovated, half million dollar track and improved facilities. "We have it certified this now to hold college events here," says landscape engineer Ed Norton.
The impact to the local economy is more than just dollars and cents according the sports commission member Beth Gendler. "What's really exciting is we get to show these gals and their families and fans their coaches our beautiful beaches and they're coming from California and Hawaii and from all over the country."
Adding to the impact, the volleyball championships will be televised nationally.
Gatorade flew in 100 coaches, trainers and athletic directors from 30 hockey organizations like Bank Hockey Academy and the Ontario Hockey League for the one day conference, held at the Hockey Hall of Fame, in hopes of turning them into brand ambassadors.
