Throw, slap and smash outside

Created: 07/23/2022, 17:00

By: Michaele Heske

"It's really cool to play on sand," said one of the young people who had tried the beach volleyball court before.

mhe © Michaele Heske

With a public beach volleyball court, the town of Dorfen now also scores with all outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Dorfen - "We have created a long overdue leisure and sports offer," says City Councilor Martin Heilmeier (LDW), initiator of the facility, at the press conference on Thursday afternoon.

"Really cool to play on clay," says one of the players.

He crouches down and shoots the ball over the freshly stretched net.

Throwing, jumping and smashing in the open air – the feeling is very different there than in the hall, says the youngster, who trains here together with his sports friends.

"The need is there," Heilmeier sees himself confirmed, because both places are occupied.

The courts are easily accessible on the Vilstal cycle path and can now be used daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

It took almost six years from the application to the city council to the inauguration of the facility.

"The search for a location and the approval process took time," says Heilmeier.

The municipal building yard built the system.

"450 tons of certified beach volleyball sand was heaped up on site," reports the manager of the building yard, Christian Salzeder.

The costs are around 58,000 euros.

A provisional fence is currently still protecting against animals, the final fence will be erected in autumn.

The Dorfen real estate agent Sperr und Zellner participates in the lease.

In addition, a "godfather for maintenance" is needed to a certain extent, adds Mayor Heinz Grundner.

The Dorfen Ski Club has taken on this task: "You have to stay on the ball - if nobody is careful, the weeds will grow rampant here," explains Sigi Pichlmeier, Head of the Volleyball Department.

Around 50 volleyball players play under his direction, half of them are young people.

Dorfen is one of the few large towns that has not yet had a public beach volleyball court, the trainer is now happy about the additional open-air offer.

“Until now, you could only play this trend sport in the outdoor pool, and there you have to pay an entrance fee.

Whether tournaments are also played at this location, in the middle of the green?

"We'll decide that in the coming year," says Pichlmeier.