It was a busy summer in the sand for Elijah Kim.
Already a standout player on the floor, the soon-to-be Grade 12 student at Richmond Christian was a member of the U18 Team B.C. beach volleyball program.
Kim partnered up with Burnaby’s Ted Graveson and competed in a number of events — highlighted by a second place finish at the Seaside Tournament earlier this month on the Oregon Coast.
“It was a fun experience,” said Kim, of his trip down south. “We played some good volleyball, including beating another B.C. team in the quarter-finals. In the finals we lost to a really good team from California and they were great guys too.”
It was Kim’s first summer of competitive beach since teaming up with Martin Prinsloo to win the U14 Nationals back in 2015 in Parksville. He and Graveson were winding down their U17 club season with Air Attack when they agreed to partner up for some local beach tournaments.
A couple of podium finishes were enough to convince them to enter the Team B.C. Selection Tournament where their strong play continued — placing in the top two.
“After couple years of a bit of a break, I decided to get back into it and Ted is one of my best friends on Air Attack,” Kim explained. “Beach is so much more of a mental game. First of all, you have to know your partner really well. But at this age, everyone is physically so strong and can hit so hard. It’s basically who can outsmart their opponent. That’s what I really like about it.”
Kim and Graveson have already agreed to team up again next year. Now it’s onto the high school season where Kim will have a leading roll with defending city champion Richmond Christian.
His outstanding play at setter resulted in Lower Mainland MVP honours and a Second Team All-Star selection at provincials as the Eagles capped one of their best seasons ever with a fifth place finish at the B.C. “AA” Championships.
Now with less depth, Kim will be counted on as one of the team’s top hitters.
“I will be swinging this year as oppose to setting. We’re going to be a little short on hitters and probably won’t be as strong as last year but I’m just looking to have a lot of fun with this being my last year with the boys,” said Kim.
He intends on continuing his career at the post-secondary level and there already is plenty of interest including Capilano University where U18 Team B.C. beach volleyball coach Dave Dooley happens to be in charge. Kim will also be training this fall at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo and has been offered a roster spot at St. Thomas University in New Brunswick.
Regardless of his final destination, Kim knows another summer on the beach will only enhance his indoor career.
“I think it really helps with my composure playing indoors,” Kim added. “Beach is such a game of patience.”
