This week's heat wave will help Port Moody's Kris McCrea acclimatize to the plus 30-degree Celsius temperatures in Porto, Portugal, where he will be competing in the U19 beach volleyball world championship July 11 to 14.
Wind is something he won't have to adapt to while volleying in the coastal city of Porto. McCrea currently trains with Sideout Beach volleyball club based in White Rock, where wind is an obstacle most days on the court.
It's a change of scenery for the 18-year-old who took a cue from his sister and started playing indoor volleyball eight years ago.
"I just thought it looked like a lot of fun," says McCrea. "Everyone was having fun. It wasn't just a one-man sport, everyone had to contribute."
A left side player, McCrea captained Dr. Charles Best secondary's senior boys' team to a perfect record in the regular season, only to be sidelined with an ankle injury during the district championships.
But he is now recovered and back this summer playing beach volleyball, which he was encouraged to pick up to help with his indoor game.
"I like the challenge of it," says McCrea of beach volleyball. "It's a lot different from indoor [volleyball]. There are different rules. There are only two of you. You have to take a lot more room on the court."
McCrea trains and competes as part of Sideout Beach club's competitive track. Him and his teammate qualified for the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships with a backdoor entry of sorts.
"It was kind of lucky," explains McCrea.
His team placed fourth during the tryouts to represent Canada at the beach volleyball worlds. Only the two top teams qualify for Portugal; however, the second and third place teams didn't want to go.
"I couldn't believe that it was actually happening," said McCrea when he got the call. "I've never gotten an opportunity like this - to be representing Canada."
McCrea figures he has stepped up his beach volleyball game after choosing Devon Dunn to play alongside him.
"I think he is more serious about volleyball, and more competitive," says McCrea.
Effective communication on the court is the key to success, he adds. But it also doesn't hurt that McCrea stands 6'5" tall.
"[My height] helps a lot," he says.
As for what else he can expect from the single-elimination tournament in South America, McCrea says teams from other countries have different playing styles. And McCrea and his teammate will have to win two or three games to qualify for the actual tournament.
When the sun sets on the beach volleyball season, McCrea will study human kinetics at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus to which he has received an athletic scholarship.
